Single lens for backpacking?

[dlambert]

I'm in the early stages of planning a backpacking trip for the summer of 2012. I'll be on the trail for around 10 days, covering about 100 miles with a full backpack. I'm not going to want a lot of extra weight along, so I'm considering my options for photo equipment. Earlier this year, I took my Panasonic FZ-28 on a 10-day canoe trip, and it fared well. The zoom range was excellent, but I would have loved a bit better quality in the photos. Since then, I picked up a used Canon 30D, so I'm going to have to choose between these two cameras for the trip.

• Option 1 - stick with the FZ-28. It's light, and the zoom range is hard to beat. Downside: this camera doesn't quite have the quality of a DSLR.
• Option 2: Take the Canon. This is more weight just in the body, obviously, and it can't shoot video like the Panny can. If I take this camera, I'd have to seriously consider a lens like Tamron's 18-270, because I just can't see carrying a bunch of big lenses.

I'd appreciate any thoughts from someone who's tried to carry camera gear on an extended hike, or from someone who's used the Tamron (or similar) lens.

[BCampbell]

Those superzoom lenses rarely have very good image quality; honestly, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between something shot on a DSLR with one of those and a good quality digital compact.

If you don't want to change lenses, I don't see the point in bringing the DSLR. Look for a good compact or "prosumer" fixed-lens. The lens you're looking at is over $500; for that price you can get some excellent models. You might even want to look into a micro 4/3rds, if you can find one with a lens you'd be happy with, which will still be smaller and lighter than the 30D.

Takinga DSLR on a trip like that is a big commitment, and I personally think if you do that you should use it to fuller ability than just slapping on a so-so superzoom lens.

[dlambert]

Yes, that's my dilemma, exactly. As I indicated, I've already got an FZ28 with several spare batteries, cards, etc., so I'd have to see another superzoom P&S do something a lot better than that before I'd consider swapping the FZ28 for an FZ38, FZ45, or some other variety of P&S. FYI, these are some of the shots I got with the FZ28.

Regardless of lens, the 30D is faster to power up, faster to focus, focuses more accurately, performs better at higher ISO's -- all the stuff that DSLR's do better than P&S's. When conditions are ideal, the FZ28 actually performs admirably close to the 30D, but in my experience, conditions are rarely ideal. I just feel like I might have a little more headroom to pull off some challenging shots with the 30D that I might not be able to get with the FZ28.

I think at this point, there's probably a very good chance I'll end up using the FZ28 based on weight alone, but I've got a while to debate with myself yet!

[Henry Wilt]

Have you thought about getting a strap like the Black Rapid?
From everything I've read about them, i.e. user reviews rather than advertising blurb, they make carrying the camera a lot more comfortable and accessible. It might mean you could carry the 30D with a decent lens and not feel too weighed down and still get the shots you're after.

Just my 0.02$.

[sk66]

Take the FZ.
The "point" of the trip is backpacking, not photography. The FZ will be more than adequate to "document the trip" and capture a "rare opportunity" shot (probably a scenic).

[dlambert]

@Henry -

I've got an OpTech harness that seems to do a pretty good job stabilizing the camera while hiking. I just picked up a LowePro TLZ 50 AW that I'm going to try hooking up like this for backpacking. I think this will do a pretty good job of securing the 30D while I'm hiking. I'll use this setup for some of my prep hikes to get a feel for the weight.

@sk66 - I certainly experienced this on the canoe trip. During the really interesting parts, we were so busy with whatever was going on at the time that there was just no chance to stop and get any photos. Too bad, though, as there were some scenes that probably would have made great action shots. I hope that with the TLZ mounted in front (regardless of which camera I carry), the camera will be more easily accessible, and this time, I won't have a paddle in my hand when I want to get a shot off (unless I'm really lost!).

[Michael_2010]

If your goal is to document your journey, maybe something like a helmet cam would serve your purpose better. If you are hiking the trails in search of a great photographic capture, it might be worth the trouble to carry better equipment. A backpack full of camera bodies and lenses does definitely get heavy.