![]() Glacier in Alaska taken with Nikon N90s from helicopter |
Gear We Use Like Hiking and Backpacking, Photography is one of my many passions. Whenever possible, I try to combine those hobbies. I own and use a large amount of Photography Equipment, each with a specific use. The equipment used for a car trip is much different than the equipment used on a 5 mile hike or the extreme hike up Half Dome. |
Camera
Systems
Full-size
35mm SLR - Nikon N90S
Mid-size
35mm Rangefinder - Contax G1
Compact
APS - Minolta Vectis 300
Film
Fuji
Velvia - 50 ASA Slide Film
Fuji
Provia / Sensia - 100 ASA Slide Film
Kodak
Gold - 100 ASA Print Film
Other
Accessories
Equipment
Cases
Photography
Specific Links
Nikon N90s - Full-size 35mm SLR
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Description
My primary camera is a
Nikon N90s. I have been using various Nikon camera systems for
over
20 years and I have been using the N90s since it was introduced in
1994.
While the N90s is not a compact camera by any means (especially with
the
MB-10 grip attached). It is however, a technically superb camera.
Primary Use
Because of the weight and
bulk of this camera, it is used for light hikes (flat trails or trails
less than about 8 miles) and car trips. Although I have taken it
backpacking I don't recommend it.
The "Hits"
The 3D Matrix Metering is almost always dead-on. The only time it has not been accurate is in severe backlit situations. | |
Accurate Autofocus - Originally I wasn't a big fan of Autofocus. I've since come to appreciate it. | |
Extensive Shutter Speeds - 30 seconds to 1/8000 of a second in 1/3 stop increments. | |
Awesome set of lenses |
The "Misses"
Heavy - Compared to the Nikon F5, this camera is light, but it is still heavy. When combined with the Nikon 28-70 f3.5-4.5 it weighs about 2.75 pounds. | |
Bulky - Even when not using the MB-10 grip, this camera is very bulky. |
Lenses Used
I use two lenses with
this
camera. My primary lens is a Nikon 28-70 f3.5-4.5D AF zoom.
The other lens I use is a Nikon 80-200 f2.8D IF-ED AF-S zoom.
Both
lenses are very sharp, with the fast 80-200 f2.8 possibly being one of
the best in it's class (it is also one of the heaviest in it's class).
Other Accessories
Lithium AA Batteries
- Lighter and longer lasting than Alkalines
MB-10 Grip - Makes
camera
easier to hold, especially vertically
Nikon N90s Camera Body Specifications:
Size | 6.1"(W) x 4.2"(H) x 2.7"(D) |
Weight | 26.6 oz. + 4 AA batteries |
Film Advance | 4.3 frames per second |
Nikon 28-70 Lens Specifications:
Weight | 12.5 oz. |
Focal Range | 28-70mm |
Minimum Aperture | f3.5 - f4.5 |
Nikon 80-200 Lens Specifications:
Weight | 45.9 oz. |
Focal Range | 80-200mm |
Minimum Aperture | f2.8 |
Contax
G1 - Mid-size 35mm Rangefinder
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Description
I purchased this camera
system in October of 1999 to supplement my Nikon system. The
primary
reason I purchased this camera was my desire for a small compact camera
that was optically equal to my Nikon System. Although I haven't
used
this system very long, it appears to have exceeded my expectations.
I started with the just the 28mm and 45mm. I liked the system so much, I had to get the 35mm, 90mm, and one of the small flashes.
Primary Use
The primary use for this
camera system is for long day hikes and overnight backpack trips.
It is almost one pound lighter than my Nikon system (G1 with 28mm and
45mm
compared to the N90s with 28-70 f3.5-4.5). Because I like this
system
so much, I have even started using it for travel photography.
Many
of my pictures of Egypt were
taken
with this camera.
The "Hits"
The Lenses - The Carl Zeiss lenses for this camera are truly awesome. The pictures are tack sharp throughout and contrast is excellent. | |
Compact - This camera is very small. I can hardly tell I am carrying it | |
Light - The camera with two lenses (28mm and 45mm) is very light (about 1.75 pounds). The other camera system I was looking at was the Leica M6, which is awesome, extremely durable, but is much heavier. The Contax system gives up nothing in the durability area. |
The "Misses"
Autofocus - The autofocus system is difficult to use. Primarily because it's a hybrid rangefinder-syle camera without really any manual override or confirmation. It takes a while to master, but most are happy with it. The secret is to choose a high contrast object or edge to focus on. | |
Easy to mis-set - It's very easy to change the exposure compensation. I've accidentally set the exposure compensation resulting in unfortunate results. | |
Viewfinder - The viewfinder is smaller and darker than an SLR. This is typical for most rangefinders. When the 90mm is used, the image in the viewfinder is a little dark. Since I primarily use this camera outdoors, the viewfinder brightness doesn't bother me. |
Lenses Used
I use four lenses with
this camera, all are reasonably fast and razor sharp. For most
hiking
trips, I bring the 28mm and 45mm. Sometimes I take the 90mm, good
for that portrait shot or isolating a particular mountain range.
If I'm really strapped for weight or space, I'll just bring the 35mm as
a compromise. Either way the lenses are incredibly sharp and very
compact and light.
Contax G1 Camera Body Specifications:
Size | x"(W) x X"(H) x X"(D) |
Weight | 16.2 oz. + 2 CR2 Lithium batteries |
Film Advance | 2 frames per second |
Contax Biogon 28mm Lens Specifications:
Weight | 5.3 oz. |
Focal Range | 28mm |
Minimum Aperture | f2.8 |
Contax Planar 35mm Lens Specifications:
Weight | 5.3 oz. |
Focal Range | 35mm |
Minimum Aperture | f2.0 |
Contax Planar 45mm Lens Specifications:
Weight | 6.7 oz. |
Focal Range | 45mm |
Minimum Aperture | f2.0 |
Contax Sonar 90mm Lens Specifications:
Weight | 8.47 oz. |
Focal Range | 90mm |
Minimum Aperture | f2.8 |
Minolta
Vectis 300 - Compact APS
Description
This camera is primarily
used by Joy. We bought it to use as a very small, compact,
automatic
camera.
Primary Use
I've used this camera
only
on extreme trips, to save weight. When we hiked Half
Dome, I took this camera long. If you examine the pictures
from
that trip, you will notice they are optically poor. APS cameras
use
negatives that are about 25mm, which significantly smaller than
35mm.
As a result, the picture quality is inferior. Now that I have
purchased
the Contax G1 system, I anticipate I will no longer use this camera.
The "Hits"
Compact - This camera is very small. I can hardly tell I am carrying it | |
Light - The camera with two lenses is very light (about 1.75 pounds) |
The "Misses"
Image Quality - Poor when compared to my other two systems, but very good for a point and shoot. |
Specifications:
Size | 3.8"(W) x 2.4"(H) x 2.5"(D) |
Weight | 7.5 oz. |
Focal Range | 24-70mm (APS format) |
Minimum Aperture | f5.7 - f9.8 |
Fuji
Velvia - 50 ASA Slide Film
Of all the films
available,
Fuji Velvia is my favorite film. It yields highly saturated
images
(rich color) and it is high in contrast. This film is very slow
at
50 ASA so it requires proper lighting or a fast lens (such as my Contax
lenses). I shoot more Velvia than any other film.
Fuji
Provia / Sensia - 100 ASA Slide Film
I shoot Provia 100F or
Sensia (Provia is the professional version, while Sensia is the
consumer
version) when conditions do not permit using Velvia. It's an
excellent
film, but does not yield pictures as saturated as Velvia. The
Provia
100F is an incredible film with less grain than Velvia. When you
use a loupe, or blow up an image grain is almost non-existent.
Fuji
Astia - 100 ASA Slide Film
This is another of Fuji's
100 ASA Professional Slide Films. I only use this film for
shooting
portraits. It does an excellent job of rendering skin
tones.
Velvia is horrible at rendering skin tones, and Provia is only slightly
better.
Kodak
Gold - 100 ASA Print Film
I rarely shoot print
film,
but when I do, it's Kodak Gold.
Equipment
Cases
I store my camera
equipment
in Pelican cases. I use these same cases for transporting my
equipment
to the trailhead, which often involves a certain amount of
off-roading.
Pelican cases are durable, waterproof, and provide excellent
protection.
I store the Nikon system in a 1400 series case and I store the Contax
system
in a 1200 series case. I also use a 1500 series case to store
both
systems together.
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