[pct-l] camera

[Patrick Beggan]

I'll stick with my 17-85 for both monetary purposes and familiarity.  
It's worked great so far (It's not L glass but then again it didn't  
set me back the price of a used car, either...).

And a graduated ND filter is replaced by HDR -- just get two exposures  
and mesh them together when you get back. Besides the fact that a  
graduated ND filter can only handle flat horizons (mountains are  
definitely not flat, although you can get close) not to mention it's  
only a few stops difference between the dark and light sides of the  
filter, often the difference in light at sunset is even greater than  
that -- I mean, it works, but its too specific a context to be worth  
hauling on your back. Take an HDR and be done with it.

And don't go on about HDR, I don't like it either but if you know what  
you're doing it doesn't have that unrealistic look (don't use  
automatic settings and accept the defaults, for one. ex: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meta474/1471965793/in/set-72157602308407620/ 
  )

Most other filters are the same thing, a luxury. Not a necessity,  
which is what you should be thinking about carrying. :P

Can't afford to buy another camera anyway so it's SLR or nothing at  
this point.


On Jan 21, 2008, at 2:43 PM, Paul wrote:

> On Monday 21 January 2008 18:44, Patrick Beggan wrote:
>> Obviously you wouldn't bring all those lenses on a thru-hike. Besides
>> the fact that a lot of them are redundant (do you really need a 50  
>> AND
>> a 28-200 AND a 70-300 AND a 500?) you really only need one versatile
>> lens.
>
> Agreed, there is redundancy in focal lengths, so I'd probably settle  
> for the
> 50mm and 70-300mm - Maybe throw in a 2x teleconverter for the extra  
> distance.
>
>> Obviously you need to compromise if you want to get out of this
>> without a crushed spine.
>
> Certainly - That's just one reason the TLR and 1/2 plate cameras are  
> staying
> at home ;)
>
>> I'm bringing my DSLR (Digital Rebel XTi) and an EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6
>> IS, an extra battery and three 2GB CF cards. Leave the charger in my
>> bounce box. That's not so much weight, in fact it's probably only 30%
>> more than a P&S with an extra set of batteries.
>
> Forgot about the EF-S lens - 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 at 230g. But it looks/ 
> feels
> cheap'n'nasty and only fits a DSLR body.
>
>> As for stabilization I use a beanbag (
>> http://www.amazon.com/POD-Camera-Platform-Bean-Bag/dp/B00009UTQ3 ).  
>> The
>> bottom has a velcro strip you can open and dump all the beans and  
>> carry it
>> empty (must be an ounce or less, empty) and just fill it with sand,  
>> dirt,
>> pebbles, whatever when you need to use it, then empty it back out for
>> carrying.
>
> Heard about these before - Might have to take a look at them one day.
>
>> And the only filter you really need is a polarizer, anything else is
>> just extra junk.
>
> Got to disagree with you here. A graduated ND filter is useful for  
> cutting
> down on an over exposed sky. One or two other filters are handy with  
> a film
> body, although redundant if you concentrate on digital imaging and
> postprocess with Gimp (or photoshop).
>
> On balance, that Canon G9 sure does look tempting (if only it had a B
> setting).
>
>
> Regards, Paul.
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