| Gear for Hiking |
© Mark LaMonica. All Rights Reserved.
| Nature |
Text and Photography by Mark LaMonica
Here we are putting on our backpack with over 90 pounds of gear consisting of a combination of camera and camping supplies. There has to be another way right? Yes and No, the easy decision is to
off some that stuff and only take the essentials. For the average backpacking trip, I don't plan on taking pictures in the rain, simply because I'm miles from help and when it rains around here, it usually
has some serious lightning to go with it.
Ive had great luck over the years using the consumer level Nikon DSLR bodies and even bought the 2 most popular zooms (popular at the time). Everyone knows from reading the first article on the
Canon 1Ds, that my Nikon F5 weighed 3 pounds. Add the professional series lenses I was carrying, 17-35 f2.8 AFS, 28-70 f2.8 AFS and 80-200 f2.8 AFS for some extra poundage and we end up with
too much weight already. The solution was going digital and going consumer with consumer lenses. Digital technology has come so far over the years, that I'm able to make 13 x 19 prints from the
system pictured below and the D80 with 3 lenses, the 18-55 G II, 55-200 G VR and fast 50mm f1.8 AFD only weigh 3 1/2 pounds total. I get Nikon digital quality and less weight on my back, now that's
something to be happy about.
All of the Wine bottle pictures in my Gallery were taken with a combination of these lenses and the D80 body. I was able to pack the bottle, 4 SB800 units and my usual camera gear and hike to any
location I wanted knowing that I could get the shot with any of those lenses and the wireless Speedlights. I've had a couple of month's to be a Canon guy and use the 1Ds on location and in the studio to
get a feel for how the Canon system works. Comparing the older Canon to the older Nikon system, I find the Nikon to be a lot faster when it comes to making precise adjustments in focus and exposure.
Comparing the current Canon system to the old and new Nikon systems, I find Nikon hasn't made any backwards adjustments to the newer gear, they've just taken what works and improved on it by
making those precise adjustments faster. New or Old, you can't go wrong buying any Nikon film or digital camera. The only flaw with some consumer bodies is they will not work with the older AFD type
lenses. Be sure to check the specifications for lens compatibility before you buy a body and lenses.
off some that stuff and only take the essentials. For the average backpacking trip, I don't plan on taking pictures in the rain, simply because I'm miles from help and when it rains around here, it usually
has some serious lightning to go with it.
Ive had great luck over the years using the consumer level Nikon DSLR bodies and even bought the 2 most popular zooms (popular at the time). Everyone knows from reading the first article on the
Canon 1Ds, that my Nikon F5 weighed 3 pounds. Add the professional series lenses I was carrying, 17-35 f2.8 AFS, 28-70 f2.8 AFS and 80-200 f2.8 AFS for some extra poundage and we end up with
too much weight already. The solution was going digital and going consumer with consumer lenses. Digital technology has come so far over the years, that I'm able to make 13 x 19 prints from the
system pictured below and the D80 with 3 lenses, the 18-55 G II, 55-200 G VR and fast 50mm f1.8 AFD only weigh 3 1/2 pounds total. I get Nikon digital quality and less weight on my back, now that's
something to be happy about.
All of the Wine bottle pictures in my Gallery were taken with a combination of these lenses and the D80 body. I was able to pack the bottle, 4 SB800 units and my usual camera gear and hike to any
location I wanted knowing that I could get the shot with any of those lenses and the wireless Speedlights. I've had a couple of month's to be a Canon guy and use the 1Ds on location and in the studio to
get a feel for how the Canon system works. Comparing the older Canon to the older Nikon system, I find the Nikon to be a lot faster when it comes to making precise adjustments in focus and exposure.
Comparing the current Canon system to the old and new Nikon systems, I find Nikon hasn't made any backwards adjustments to the newer gear, they've just taken what works and improved on it by
making those precise adjustments faster. New or Old, you can't go wrong buying any Nikon film or digital camera. The only flaw with some consumer bodies is they will not work with the older AFD type
lenses. Be sure to check the specifications for lens compatibility before you buy a body and lenses.
