I need some tips for shooting while hiking

[ulrichnelson]

I am a new "poster" but i have been following the RSS feed and browsing the forum for some time now.
But

This summer I am going to be going on a week long backpacking trip in the rocky mountains, and i was just wondering if there is anyone that could give me any tips on shooting while on a hike. I could use some tips on some gear to have, too.

Everything is appreciated!!!!



Oh yeah i have a Canon EOS 40D, the battery grip, and the EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

Thanks Again!!!

[RexK_Cozumel]

A monopod doubles as a walking stick. and make sure that you have a good pack for your camera/hiking gear. Nothing sucks worse that an ill fitting pack on a long hike. Except perhaps ill fitting boots.

Have fun on your trip and remember that while it is nice to have a camera around to take pictures of all the different scenes around you sometimes it is nice to just sit and enjoy the scene with out having to worry about capturing it on film. I see a lot of beginner photographers gete so caught up in all the technical details of capturing the image that they miss out of the enjoyment of actually being there.

[Jim Bryant]

A car washing chamois to clean your gear, plastic bags to store the lenses and body in. Plenty of CF cards and camera batteries.

[ulrichnelson]

Originally Posted by RexK_Cozumel

A monopod doubles as a walking stick. and make sure that you have a good pack for your camera/hiking gear. Nothing sucks worse that an ill fitting pack on a long hike. Except perhaps ill fitting boots.

Well here is another question:

I have an external frame pack and a KATA DR-465 Digital Camera Rucksack for a camera case.

I have been trying to engineer a way to connect the two, or somehow be able to carry my 40D comfortably while on the excursion.
Does you have any ideas or suggestions on how to do this?

Thanks again for the great suggestions already, and thanks in advance for any more help!!!

[oldwolf]

I'd forget the KATA unless you were going to pack that inside your external frame pack and use it when you set up base camp and go for short hikes with the camera. Trying to rig it up to your pack might throw off the balance of the whole thing and make your hike miserable.

Ideally you'd want most of the weight to sit on your hips. With the KATA secured to the top the weight will shift to your upper back or shoulders. With it attached to the back then the weight is going to be on your middle back or trying to pull you backwards. With it attached below the pack then the weight is below your waist and you'll be fighting gravity even more to keep yourself upright.

If you can afford it then get some type of camera bag attachment that can go on the waistband of your external frame pack. That would keep the weight around your hips.

You should also listen to what Rex says. Have fun on your trip. Don't be so caught up in capturing the scenery that you don't have fun. You can always put the camera at the top of your pack that you're carrying. Having to stop to take the camera out will give you a much needed rest as well so it's a win win situation.

[Doug Pardee]

Just curious: are you wedded to the notion of taking your 40D?

You could save an awful lot of weight and space by taking a compact or subcompact digicam, even with the extra batteries that you'd need to take. A compact digicam with a 1/1.7-class sensor can give daytime results that are surprisingly good.

The 40D weighs about 1.8 pounds… plus the weight of the lens and battery grip. A Canon G10 weighs about 14 ounces. A Nikon P6000 weighs about 10 ounces. An Olympus Tough 8000 weighs about 6-1/2 ounces. The G10 will give outstanding photos and has Raw capability. The P6000 will give outstanding photos in reasonably good light—an excellent compromise between image quality and size and weight. The Tough 8000 has a smaller sensor than the other two, but it will still give very nice photos in daylight—the charm of the 8000 is that it is darned near indestructible: waterproof, shockproof, crushproof… and is quite small and lightweight.

(I chose those camera models as examples that I'm somewhat familiar with. I don't claim that they're the only possibilities.)

[dcclark]

I would never take my camera bag hiking with me -- too much weight, not balanced at all, lots of wasted space. My typical setup is a single lens on my Nikon D40 (I go with a Nikon 18-200 VR), either near the top of the pack or around my neck if I'm actively shooting. The monopod idea is a good one -- even a simple walking stick can function as a monopod, just for basic stabilization.

When actually shooting, assuming that you will be making some excursions without your pack -- keep a filter of some sort on at all times, to defend against stray branches, water spray, gravel, etc. When going without my pack, I keep my camera slung across one shoulder, with the body in back of my hip -- for protection.

Finally, I agree that a pocket cam might be a good choice if you're worried about weight and space. But I do love having my DSLR with me deep in the woods -- there's a lot to be seen out there.

Good luck!

[ulrichnelson]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Just curious: are you wedded to the notion of taking your 40D?

I'm not quite wedded to taking it, but if I want a camera I have to. I don't have another camera at the moment... And I don't have much money, because I am going to be a college student in the fall, and I have other priorities before another camera.
Thanks for the thought though!

And thanks for all the help you all have been giving me, its helping me plan what and how to pack.