Photography
Taking photos of your Hiking adventures has two advantages; it makes you stop and enjoy the view and it allows you to share the sights you saw with others.
Here's the type of photography gear that we like for Hiking and why we like it:
- Phone with Camera
- Digital Camera with Integrated Zoom Lens
- Phone Grip with Tripod Mount
- Small Tripod
- Note: click on any photo to enlarge it
- Note: click on any photo to enlarge it
Phone with Camera
iPhone
These days there is no need to lug around a heavy DSLR camera with a removable lens to take good photos of your hiking adventures. Everyone has a smart phone with a camera, so for close-up and panoramic shots these will do just fine. The criteria that we use to evaluate smart phone cameras are: 1) megapixel count, 2) auto-stabilization software and 3) all weather durability. Although there are differences between the iPhone and Android phones, any phone produced within the past 2 years meets all of the reasonable criteria for taking photos while hiking. So the only real issue is which phone you already have for daily use and is it in a case that will protect it on the trails. So take whatever phone you have and put it is a case that protects it to the level you think is necessary (shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, etc.,) and take with you. You can buy iPhones at Amazon or your local Apple and phone stores.
These days there is no need to lug around a heavy DSLR camera with a removable lens to take good photos of your hiking adventures. Everyone has a smart phone with a camera, so for close-up and panoramic shots these will do just fine. The criteria that we use to evaluate smart phone cameras are: 1) megapixel count, 2) auto-stabilization software and 3) all weather durability. Although there are differences between the iPhone and Android phones, any phone produced within the past 2 years meets all of the reasonable criteria for taking photos while hiking. So the only real issue is which phone you already have for daily use and is it in a case that will protect it on the trails. So take whatever phone you have and put it is a case that protects it to the level you think is necessary (shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, etc.,) and take with you. You can buy iPhones at Amazon or your local Apple and phone stores.
Digital Camera with Integrated Zoom Lens
Nikon Coolpix P500
If you are one of those people that likes to take high-detail photos of objects that are not close to you then in addition to your phone’s camera you need a separate digital camera; one with an integrated zoom lens and all of the software for capturing different scenes in different conditions. The criteria that we use to evaluate digital cameras are: 1) compactness, 2) zoom lens maximum magnification, 3) preset scene configurations, 4) capture speed and 5) price. For our purposes over the years we have purchased a series of Nikon Coolpix cameras. Currently we use a Coolpix P500 that has a 12.1 effective megapixel CMOS sensor coupled with a 36x maximum optical zoom and an additional 4x digital zoom. This integrated package allows us to take extremely clear photos from 100+ yards away. The fact that the zoom lens is internally housed in the compact camera that takes SDHC memory cards up to 32 GB makes it a really versatile and effective camera. You can buy the latest version of this Nikon camera (the P610 with 60x zoom) at Amazon; or - if you want an even greater zoom lens - the Nikon Coolpix P900 with 83x zoom.
If you are one of those people that likes to take high-detail photos of objects that are not close to you then in addition to your phone’s camera you need a separate digital camera; one with an integrated zoom lens and all of the software for capturing different scenes in different conditions. The criteria that we use to evaluate digital cameras are: 1) compactness, 2) zoom lens maximum magnification, 3) preset scene configurations, 4) capture speed and 5) price. For our purposes over the years we have purchased a series of Nikon Coolpix cameras. Currently we use a Coolpix P500 that has a 12.1 effective megapixel CMOS sensor coupled with a 36x maximum optical zoom and an additional 4x digital zoom. This integrated package allows us to take extremely clear photos from 100+ yards away. The fact that the zoom lens is internally housed in the compact camera that takes SDHC memory cards up to 32 GB makes it a really versatile and effective camera. You can buy the latest version of this Nikon camera (the P610 with 60x zoom) at Amazon; or - if you want an even greater zoom lens - the Nikon Coolpix P900 with 83x zoom.
Phone Grip with Tripod Mount
Shoulderpod S1
If you are taking photos with your smart phone’s camera while hiking on the trail it’s a good idea to have a secure way to hold onto and stabilize the phone/camera. The criteria that we use to evaluate phone grips are: 1) size, 2) stability, 3) weight and 4) price. For this job we have found that the Shoulderpod S1 is a great accessory. It clamps onto your phone and securely holds it upright while you focus on taking the picture. It only weights 6.4 oz and even comes with a handle, a wrist strap and a tripod mount in case you want to shoot photos off of a more stable base. You can buy the Shoulderpod at Amazon..
If you are taking photos with your smart phone’s camera while hiking on the trail it’s a good idea to have a secure way to hold onto and stabilize the phone/camera. The criteria that we use to evaluate phone grips are: 1) size, 2) stability, 3) weight and 4) price. For this job we have found that the Shoulderpod S1 is a great accessory. It clamps onto your phone and securely holds it upright while you focus on taking the picture. It only weights 6.4 oz and even comes with a handle, a wrist strap and a tripod mount in case you want to shoot photos off of a more stable base. You can buy the Shoulderpod at Amazon..
Small Tripod
Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod
For shooting photos with yourself in them, or photos at a distance that require zooming and stability using a tripod is a requirements. But hiking with a full sized tripod can be cumbersome. We’ve found that using a collapsible lightweight tripod is a good alternative. The criteria that we use to evaluate camera tripods are: 1) Stability, 2) collapsed size, 3) weight, 4) adaptability to different surfaces, 5) durability and price. After lots of searching we purchased the Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod. It has an adjustable pivot head that holds either our digital camera or our phone with the S1 mount. It has an innovative foldout tripod base that allows it to be used on uneven terrain. It comes with a strap so that you can attach it to other objects. We’ve found that using this tripod has really improved the sharpness of our long rang photos. You can buy the Ultrapod at Amazon.
For shooting photos with yourself in them, or photos at a distance that require zooming and stability using a tripod is a requirements. But hiking with a full sized tripod can be cumbersome. We’ve found that using a collapsible lightweight tripod is a good alternative. The criteria that we use to evaluate camera tripods are: 1) Stability, 2) collapsed size, 3) weight, 4) adaptability to different surfaces, 5) durability and price. After lots of searching we purchased the Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod. It has an adjustable pivot head that holds either our digital camera or our phone with the S1 mount. It has an innovative foldout tripod base that allows it to be used on uneven terrain. It comes with a strap so that you can attach it to other objects. We’ve found that using this tripod has really improved the sharpness of our long rang photos. You can buy the Ultrapod at Amazon.