What Camera!

[mahyu]

I would like to know what types of cameras some of you have taken with you or will be taking on your treks on the Wall. SLR/P&S - megapix??

[Bryan]

Since light weight and compactness are priorities for me, I use a Canon Powershot SD770IS.

Originally Posted by Bryan

Camera

I used a Canon SD770 camera. It has a 10 megapixel sensor, image stabilization, and it’s amazingly small and light. The battery life is very impressive; I got over 700 images on one charge using the LCD display and turning the camera on and off over one hundred times. Image quality is excellent for both stills and videos. I was very pleased with this camera. The only problem I experienced with it was an inaccurate clock. Every day or two, I checked the synchronization of the camera’s time with the time on my GPS receiver. Over the course of 50 days, the camera gained about 12 seconds.

[Kim]

Weight is always an issue when hiking the Great Wall, however I would never go anywhere near the Great Wall without my Nikon D80 (Nikon DX 18-135 mm).

[chinoook]

Similar here. As a long distance GW walker weight is crucial to me. I have tried a lot but I arrived at a Nikon D40 (D90) and the 18-200 VR.


-chinoook

[boilface]

Sony A700 with 24-70CZ. Coupled with a tripod this is a heavy combo.

My backpack also contains my wife's A350 with 50mm lens.

Weight is important of course, but it depends what quality you're after.

[PWCCA]

I really need to get a new camera for the wall hiking myself. I currently have a Kodak 812s but its starting to show signs of overuse (plus the overheating in the sunlight whilst on wall trips is a big problem too). Anyone recommend a great one... professional but lightweight and hard-wearing?

[Kim]

Originally Posted by PWCCA

I really need to get a new camera for the wall hiking myself. I currently have a Kodak 812s but its starting to show signs of overuse (plus the overheating in the sunlight whilst on wall trips is a big problem too). Anyone recommend a great one... professional but lightweight and hard-wearing?

Since you do a lot of Great Wall hiking I would recommend a DSLR since this is much more versatile and more rewarding. Which one depend largely on how much you are willing to spend and how many pictures you take.

I'm planing to upgrade to Nikon D300 myself.

I just bought a Olympus E-P1 for non-Great Wall use, but that really offers great (near DSLR) quality in a small body (compared to the bigger DSLR), but the price is similar to the DSLR.

[PWCCA]

Originally Posted by Kim

Since you do a lot of Great Wall hiking I would recommend a DSLR since this is much more versatile and more rewarding. Which one depend largely on how much you are willing to spend and how many pictures you take.

I'm planing to upgrade to Nikon D300 myself.

I just bought a Olympus E-P1 for non-Great Wall use, but that really offers great (near DSLR) quality in a small body (compared to the bigger DSLR), but the price is similar to the DSLR.

D300, now thats a nice camera, I have had my eyes on that one and the Nikon D3 also.
When on the wall I do tend to take a lot of photos (400+) so I will need to get one that is very reliable and hard wearing, but also one that will take some very excellent and large photographs (I like quality)

[Kim]

Originally Posted by PWCCA

D300, now thats a nice camera, I have had my eyes on that one and the Nikon D3 also.
When on the wall I do tend to take a lot of photos (400+) so I will need to get one that is very reliable and hard wearing, but also one that will take some very excellent and large photographs (I like quality)

In the range of the D300 you don't get anything much better than that, so that would be an excellent choice.

No doubt that D3 is an excellent choice but unless you want to be a professional photographer I think D300 would be a better choice. First of all it is smaller and less heavy. Speaking for myself I would be a bit nervous carrying a 5000 USD (for the body alone) camera to the places I visit the wall, since the chances of damaging the camera needs to be considered.

[PWCCA]

Originally Posted by Kim

In the range of the D300 you don't get anything much better than that, so that would be an excellent choice.

No doubt that D3 is an excellent choice but unless you want to be a professional photographer I think D300 would be a better choice. First of all it is smaller and less heavy. Speaking for myself I would be a bit nervous carrying a 5000 USD (for the body alone) camera to the places I visit the wall, since the chances of damaging the camera needs to be considered.

Ha ha ha, very true... I am not the most careful of people, lol. Are there any types of devices that can be bought to protect the camera from direct sunlight? I tend to keep it strapped around my neck and because of the black colour it attracts the light and tends to overheat.