Do you use a camera on your adventures?

[NorthBorder]

I would like to set up a camera that is not too complex for when I shoot or hunt (or hike, fish, etc.). Have been watching videos on the DJI Osmo Pocket and the Hero 7. They look pretty amazing. I would like to hear from folks on how they deploy their cameras, what type of cameras, when they are hunting. With or with a hunting partner.
Thanks in advance

 

[jeepnik]

Heck for most of what you would want to do a good cell phone camera will suffice. Until you get into wanting to adjust things like F-stop, shutter speed, and ISO or change lenses you really don't need anything else.

 

[spazzy]

I always have my cell phone for emergencies and use it to take photos of success, failure or funny memories

 

[.308 Norma]

Before cell phones, we always use to carry those cheap, disposable cameras on our hunting, fishing, backpacking and climbing trips. I'm not sure if they're even available anymore, but they worked well for us.

 

[Armored farmer]

I just use cell phone cameras now.
They are so easy to share pics with others....even my thr friends.
Actually pretty good cameras too. Even apps available for capturing muzzle flash and other special effects. And I always have it on me.
...even when I'm just at home on a Saturday afternoon, cleaning the Boar's Nest!

 

[Deanimator]

While I'm a photographer, I have ZERO interest in doing video.

I did take a few pictures on a hunting trip to Missouri about ten years ago. I used a DSLR.

If the only thing I could use was a cell phone, I'd never take another picture again.

 

[Jessesky]

I bring my camera on most all my adventures. Typically these are hiking, most recently I did Zion and Yosemite. I myself have been shooting both cameras (and guns) for 10 years. One of the best parts about both photography and firearms is there is always more to learn you can never conquer the hobby. I myself use a canon 6D. However I have to carry an extra photography dedicated pack in addition to my camp equipment. And it’s about 17lbs that pack. DSLR’s are limitless as to the results and are the most modular. I myself shoot a canon 6D and carry a canon EF 17-35mm and 35-105mm to cover my range.

That said unless you want to invest the time to learn you’d be much better off with a point and shoot hybrid like a coolpix. Or go mirror less like the Sony’s. Even so, the point and shoots now are somewhat comparable to phone cameras. Though the sensors will never be near as large.

I added a few photos from Zion.

P.s. that middle photo is shot on an iPhone. Phone cameras can hold their own! It’s all about composition

 

[jmr40]

I don't think the exact brand matters, but I have one of these that usually goes with me.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fujifilm...hguid=1bd7bef1-c7c-169efb74edbea4&athena=true

Some cell phones are amazingly good and I take quite a few with my phone as well. It is easy to have photos on my phone to show and share with others. But I can get a lot better quality with a decent compact camera and those are the ones I download to my computer. The camera gives me better options to zoom in, video and use a tiny tripod.

 

[Iggy]

My wife bought me a cell phone over my objections.. It had a dadburned camera in it. I said that's one thing I'm sure I'll never use. That night we had a frog strangler of a rain storm and flash floods in the cricks.. Sure as heck the next day I was out there taking pictures of the washed out bridges and fences... Crow don't taste good no matter how it prepared..

 

[22250Rem]

Before cell phones, we always use to carry those cheap, disposable cameras on our hunting, fishing, backpacking and climbing trips. I'm not sure if they're even available anymore, but they worked well for us.

....... Back in the day I always had a single use, film camera in my backpack and over the years got a lot of good pictures of some memorable times. If something bad happened to it then at least I wasn't out a lot of money. I still see them in the local Wal-Mart and you can still turn them in there to get pictures developed. Although nowadays I carry one of those little Canon digitals that can fit in a shirt pocket and will serve me well for any pictures out in the field. I'm one of those dinosaurs that still uses a flip phone which takes crummy pictures. ETA..... Still have one of the single use ones here and if you are afraid to bring your expensive DSLR along for fear it may get damaged then these are a great alternative and hardly take up any space in your pack. Here it is with a round of .308 for comparison.

 

[.308 Norma]

Back in the day I always had a single use, film camera in my backpack

Yep, those are what I used to use. I couldn't remember "single use" - called them "disposable" instead.
Glad to know they're still available at Walmart.

 

[22250Rem]

At least they were at Wal-Mart a couple weeks ago when I was looking at them and reminiscing. Digital photography may be the king now but film isn't dead yet. Those single use cameras are still a great value, work good, take up very little space, and can go where more expensive stuff isn't worth the risk. Even those digital Canon models that fit your shirt pocket are over a hundred bucks IIRC.

 

[Giver of Doom]

Yes I do, it is a Nikon D610, this pic was taken while both my Kayak and the Crane was in motion, with a Nikon 200-500 5.6 zoom lens

 

[BWS]

Yesterday in a medium hard rain.....

Out for a hike/hunt,7-08 130g cast,cell phone pic.

 

[Bfh_auto]

View attachment 835036

Yes I do, it is a Nikon D610, this pic was taken while both my Kayak and the Crane was in motion, with a Nikon 200-500 5.6 zoom lens

That is amazing.
To me the cell phone camera took the place of the disposable camera. Comparing them to a real camera is like comparing a Ford explorer to an Escalade.

 

[Robert]

Let's try to keep this in the vein of hunting and firearms and not turn it into a discussion on cameras. That would be off topic...

 

[bearleft]

oops!

 

[Tommygunn]

View attachment 835036

Yes I do, it is a Nikon D610, this pic was taken while both my Kayak and the Crane was in motion, with a Nikon 200-500 5.6 zoom lens

That's one beautiful picture of one beautiful bird!!!!!!

 

[NorthBorder]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I really didn't specify but was interested in video. My bad. A friend got permission from Montana FWP to use his drone to take video of his of his hunts (kinda like a guy behind him with a camera, not to spot animals) but drones are noisy and trees get in the way. I know a smart phone would work...until the battery dies. But I would like to set up a Go Pro or an Osmo or other camera for the hike in, the stalk, and hopefully the shot (as well as the dialogue).

 

[1MoreFord]

I don't take many pictures at all these days but back when I did I used Nikon's mostly.

My best camera body is a D300 backed up with a D40 as my "light" body with an old D70S(that I can't seem to part with) that was my first body and still have an assortment of lenses.

Some time ago I acquired a little Olympus point and shoot for when I want to carry less than a DSLR and need/want more than a cell phone.

 

[CapnMac]

Since the primary focus in your hands is your rifle, it's probably not a good idea to be fumbling about with a one or two-hand device.

Unless one is scouting territory out, in which case, you can split attention between binos, camera, and eyeballs. And, for scouting, photos let you examine a given image is greater detail than you often can give in person.

Now, if you think that you might run across views/images that might be worth sharing, then the answer is probably a head-band or bill-clip GoPro. (Another option is to use a walking stick/monopod mount.)

Now, GoPro occasionally gets a bad rap. And, I get that, compared to a 'serious' video camera it's kind of like a cheap cellphone camera. The output is occasionally hard to edit, and sometimes hard to single-frame screen capture (that gets to technical details on the cam set up that are not germane here).

Now, the latest edition GP have motion/blur correction, and are very miserly about memory storage. The form factors (how big/bulky they are) have really improved.

And, none of this is any guarantee that all your footage is a pretty boring hike through the woods, or the hills and valleys, or just over the lip of the blind seeing nothing. But, if you do see something, you'll be able to find it again. At least in POV (point of view) format if on a headband.

Are there competitors to GP? Yes, but, you almost need to use GP as a learning tool to know whhich of the alternatives are better for you. And, better for you, is a critical distinction.

 

[Hookeye]

Wish I had video of the buck I shot last yr....shot on the run
Years ago I popped a 10 pt and actually had a video camera set up.
But I forgot to hit the big red record button.
Got the deer though.

Dunno if I'd put camera work ahead of bullet work.

Part of the risk I guess.

GoPro and similar POV make the critters seem far away (even when not).
Tactcacam is IIRC fixed 5X...........but people mount them to bows/guns and screw up the followthrough of video.

I don't like all that wiggle.

Think a reg video cam on decent swing arm to be better.
With maybe a Tactacam on hat (two cameras).

Not on gun or bow.

 

[roval]

the gopros are good for close ups well as surrounding landscape and pov footage but is not good for further smaller objecta or animals further out.

 

[Bob Willman]

I always carry a camera NOW. The one time I did not, I was slowly walking around the perimeter of a small woods. As I turned the corner I thought I saw eyes near the ground about 200 yds. away. As I slowly approached there was a horned owl perched on a small log laying on the ground. When I got within 30 yds. I started talking quietly as I approached further. I got within 8 ft. of the owl and got down on one knee and we had a one way conversation for a minute or so. The owl was about 2 ft. tall. As I got up and walked away he turned his head and watched me walk away. I have regretted not having my camera since. My camera now is a Sony Handicam combination video and still camera.

 

[mcb]

Like others I always have a mobile phone with me so that does 90% of what I need. I have used a Go-Pro a bunch videoing USPSA matches but only tried it hunting once or twice hunting. I just upgraded to a Pixel 3 recently and so far the camera in that phone is pretty remarkable. Took the below picture coyote hunting this weekend.