{"id":205,"date":"2012-05-11T21:06:14","date_gmt":"2012-05-12T03:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/?p=205"},"modified":"2014-01-19T19:51:26","modified_gmt":"2014-01-20T02:51:26","slug":"outdoor-photography-gear-update-part-1-pocket-cameras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/outdoor-photography-gear-update-part-1-pocket-cameras\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor photography gear update Part 1: Pocket Cameras"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outdoor photography gear update Part 1: \u00a0Pocket Cameras\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This update addresses Pocket Cameras. \u00a0A follow on update will address Micro 4\/3 system cameras and lenses, including the new Olympus OMD E-M5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I almost never go into the outdoors without a camera.\u00a0 I love taking pictures of the places I visit and the things I do.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s climbing, hiking, fishing, or anything else in the outdoors, I like to have photographs to memorialize my trip.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the camera gear I use has evolved quite a bit.\u00a0 The biggest change came when I finally moved from film to digital cameras.\u00a0\u00a0 The change to digital has been a very expensive one for me.\u00a0 With my film cameras, I used the same SLR body for twenty years, and in that same two decades, only used three pocket cameras.\u00a0 With film cameras, there wasn\u2019t enough change or improvement in camera technology to entice me to upgrade my equipment very often.\u00a0 What I had worked well, and that was good enough.<\/p>\n

However, after I made the switch to digital media, I found myself switching and upgrading pretty regularly.\u00a0 I\u2019ve found the changes to digital camera technology to be significant enough that I\u2019m often enticed by the latest \u201cnew and improved\u201d camera, particularly pocket cameras.<\/p>\n

On my photography page, here,<\/a> I\u2019ve written a bit about the cameras I\u2019ve owned over the years, so if you\u2019re interested, you can see the progression of cameras I\u2019ve been using.<\/p>\n

This blog entry is a snap shot of the current state of my thinking with regards to camera equipment.\u00a0\u00a0 As camera companies continue to expand and improve their offerings, no doubt I will be tempted by some of them.\u00a0 For the time being, however, I\u2019m pretty happy with the state of the art in digital cameras right now.\u00a0 There are some excellent cameras available right now that work really well for outdoor pursuits.<\/p>\n

Pocket Cameras:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
(left to right) TS2, S100, LX5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometimes saving weight and space is the most important consideration and <\/span>you need a small camera that you can fit in your pocket. \u00a0 \u00a0For me, this typically involves climbing.\u00a0 If I\u2019m climbing something hard (hard for me anyway) or technical, I typically only take a pocket camera.\u00a0 System cameras with interchangeable lenses are nice, but on a difficult climb, I usually can\u2019t justify the weight and bulk.<\/p>\n

When it comes to digital pocket cameras, I currently own and use three different models, the Panasonic LX5, the Canon S100, and the waterproof Panasonic TS2.<\/p>\n

Panasonic Lumix LX-5 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong>10.9 ounces (with Optech case)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The LX-5 is the best all around pocket camera I’ve ever used.\u00a0\u00a0It’s an update to the highly respected LX-3 which I used for years prior to purchasing the LX5.\u00a0 The LX5 supports shooting in RAW format, and has a wide array of exposure controls, from full manual to full auto.\u00a0 Size of the LX5 is a little on the large size for a pocket camera.\u00a0 It will fit in a large pocket, but it\u2019s not as small as the Canon S100.<\/p>\n

The LX5 has a wonderfully sharp and bright lens.\u00a0 I has a zoom range of\u00a0 24-90mm (35mm equivalent) The lens is quite fast for a point and shoot, with a f:2.0-3.3 f-stop aperture.\u00a0 For a small sensor camera, the LX5 has very good image quality, including decent low-light performance.\u00a0 In camera image stabilization coupled with the relatively fast lens means that shooting at dawn and dusk is feasible, even hand held with no tripod.<\/p>\n

For examples of the LX5’s image quality, most of the photos on the page HERE<\/a> were taken with the LX5. \u00a0I have photos taken with the LX5 made into 16×20 enlargements and they look great.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Assiniboine. Taken with the LX5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ergonomics are also\u00a0decent. \u00a0The camera has a good grip “bump” that helps with handling. \u00a0There is also a very nice control dial that can be manipulated even when wearing gloves.\u00a0 In order to adjust exposure (my most common adjustment,) all you need to do is to press the dial, and then roll it to the right or left to increase (or decrease) exposure compensation. \u00a0I can do this even while wearing heavy gloves. \u00a0Likewise, I can easily manipulate aperture and shutter speeds the same way even with gloves on. \u00a0For shooting video, there is a dedicated button on top of the camera that allows for one-touch HD video recording.<\/p>\n

The biggest ergonomics issue with the LX5 is the lens cap.\u00a0 Rather than an automatically retracting lens cover, the LX5 has a lens cap that you need to remove by hand before you can take pictures, and replace when you\u2019re done.\u00a0 Luckily, it has an integrated keeper string to keep you from dropping it. \u00a0Another ergonomics issue is that the slider that sets image aspect ratio gets moved around easily, so you can find yourself shooting at 1:1 instead of 4:3 if you don’t pay attention to it.<\/p>\n

After much experimentation, the case option that I have arrived at that I like the best is\u00a0an Optech neoprene soft case.\u00a0 The specific model is the\u00a0Optech SOFT POUCH – DIGITAL D-SERIES\u00a0D-Micro.<\/a>\u00a0 The case provides good protection from bumps and shocks, but doesn’t add very much additional bulk or weight.\u00a0 Even with the case on the camera, I can still fit it into the smallish pocket on my windbreaker.\u00a0 The case has a strap that keeps it attached to the camera even when it’s removed, so you don’t have to worry about dropping it. \u00a0 \u00a0 Instead of the standard wrist strap that came with the camera, I added my own larger strap made from some cord. \u00a0I needed a larger strap because I often am using this camera while wearing bulky gloves and the stock strap wasn’t large enough to\u00a0accommodate them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
LX5 in Optech case on left, TS2 in Always On wrap on right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Battery life is pretty good, and I can take 200+ photos without depleting the battery, even in cold conditions.\u00a0 Build quality is reasonably robust and I\u2019ve never had any issues with malfunctions or failure to operate, even in cold conditions.<\/p>\n

Overall, I am extremely happy with the LX5 as a climbing camera.\u00a0\u00a0 It combines very good image quality, with pocketability, durability, good ergonomics, and a reasonably fast zoom lens.<\/p>\n

Canon S100<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(8 ounces including Always On wrap case)<\/p>\n

The Canon is another high quality pocket camera that has good optics, shoots RAW format, and allows full manual control over exposure.\u00a0 It has a 24-120mm (equivalent) lens that has even more zoom range than the Panasonic LX5, although the variable f-stop of f: 2.0 to 5.9 means the lens isn\u2019t quite as bright as the LX5 at the long end of the zoom range.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Canon S100<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What the S100 really has going for it is that it\u2019s small.\u00a0 While the LX5 is kind of large for a \u201cpocket\u201d camera, the S100 is really small.\u00a0\u00a0 This makes it easy to take along no matter what the circumstances.\u00a0 Ergonomics are good for such a small camera, and the controls are all pretty easy to use. \u00a0The front ring around the lens provides the ability to adjust exposure compensation (or shutter or aperture in the shutter\/aperture priority modes) and is easy to use with gloves on.<\/p>\n

My favorite case for the S100 is a neoprene wrap from Always ON.<\/a>\u00a0 It provides protection from bumps and scrapes, is light, compact, and easy to get the camera into action.\u00a0 You can wrap the neoprene around a pack strap and attache it to the strap if you want to carry the camera on your pack strap. \u00a0This is nice because you can keep the camera handy without needing a separate pouch\/pocket attached to the pack strap.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The S100 is significantly thinner than the LX5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I own and use both the LX5 and the S100.\u00a0\u00a0 Although both are good cameras, I find that I tend to take better pictures with the LX5. \u00a0Because of this, the LX5 is my camera of choice for mountaineering and climbing trips to places with spectacular scenery.\u00a0 It just seems to have a slight edge in terms of picture quality in my hands.\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t mean that I don\u2019t use the S100, however.\u00a0 Because of the small size of the \u00a0S100, it\u2019s my cragging camera of choice.\u00a0 Even if I don\u2019t have any pockets big enough to hold the LX5, I can always find room for the S100 in a small pocket, or strapped to my harness.\u00a0 So, even though I tend to prefer the LX5 for image quality, I actually use the S100 more, because I tend to spend more time cragging than I do mountaineering.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bell’s Canyon Granite (taken with the S100)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In truth, both the S100 and LX5 are good cameras, and a climber who can\u2019t be satisfied with either of these cameras probably needs to just start carrying a big DSLR, a micro 4\/3 system camera, or another of the large sensor\u00a0mirrorless\u00a0camera options.<\/p>\n

Panasonic TS2\u00a0 Waterproof Camera<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0(7.9 ounces including Always On wrap case)<\/p>\n

Sometimes, I need a camera that’s waterproof. \u00a0Usually, the time I need a waterproof camera is when I’m wading around in a fast moving creek while fly fishing and I slip and take a plunge. \u00a0Most cameras wouldn’t survive a dunking, but luckily, there are a few rugged models that are designed to be waterproof. \u00a0I’ve used a number of waterproof cameras over the years. \u00a0My current favorite is the Panasonic TS2. \u00a0The TS2 is compact, rugged, and takes decent pictures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
(left to right) Panasonic TS2, Canon S100, Panasonic LX5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Image quality isn’t up to that of the S100 or the LX5, but it’s pretty decent for a pocket camera and better than the other waterproof cameras I’ve used. \u00a0Unlike the S100 or LX5, the TS2 takes pictures in JPEG format only, so you don’t have the benefits of shooting in RAW format. \u00a0You also don’t have the control over exposure that the other cameras give you. \u00a0No aperture priority, no shutter priority, no full manual control.<\/p>\n

The TS2 is pretty small, just a tiny bit larger than the S100, so it easily fits into a shirt pocket. \u00a0One odd thing about the design of the TS2 is that the lens doesn’t retract and the clear lens cover is therefore susceptible to getting scratched if you’re not careful. \u00a0Because of this, I use the same Always On neoprene wrap<\/a> that I use with the S100 to protect from scratches.<\/p>\n

I haven’t gone snorkling with the TS2, but it’s survived numerous dunkings and occasional drops without any ill effects. \u00a0In addition to being able to survive unintended dunkings in water while fishing, waterproof cameras can be fun for candid underwater fish photos.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Brook Trout smiling for the camera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other Pocket Cameras<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Although I’d like to be able to own and use all the new cameras that are coming out lately, sadly I can’t afford to buy them all. \u00a0That doesn’t keep me from checking them out, however. \u00a0There are a few new pocket cameras that look like interesting options for outdoor photography. \u00a0I haven’t used any of them, but based on various web reviews, they look like contenders.<\/p>\n

The Sony Rx100<\/a><\/strong> is the new top contender for a high quality pocket camera. \u00a0Sony has shoe-horned a large sensor into a camera body almost as compact as the Canon S100. \u00a0Initial\u00a0reviews of this camera have been\u00a0overwhelmingly\u00a0positive. \u00a0If I were in the market for a new pocket camera (but I’m not) the RX100 would be my top pick.<\/p>\n

Fuji X10 <\/strong>\u00a0This camera is quite a bit larger than the S100 or the LX5, but it has a built in viewfinder in addition to the standard lcd screen. \u00a0Image quality appears to be very good from the pictures I’ve seen in various reviews. \u00a0 There’s been some talk about some “white orb” artifacts that show up in certain direct lighting conditions, but hopefully Fuji will fix this in a firmware upgrade. \u00a0 \u00a0The X10 seems like a very nice camera, but it’s just too large for me to really view it as a “pocket camera.” \u00a0If you don’t mind carrying a larger camera with you, however, it might be a good option.<\/p>\n

One of the best real world reviews I’ve seen of the X10 is HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another review HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Olympus XZ-1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The XZ-1 is Olympus’ entry in the high-end pocket camera wars. \u00a0It has a 28-112mm (equivalent) zoom lens with a very impressive f: 1.8-2.5 aperture. \u00a0The XZ-1 is slightly larger than the Panasonic LX5.<\/p>\n

In depth review HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Another review HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Waterproof Camera<\/strong><\/p>\n

Olympus announced a new waterproof\/shockproof camera with some interesting features and specifications. \u00a0See information HERE.<\/a> \u00a0Based on the information available, it doesn’t look like a huge jump forward in waterproof cameras, but looks very competitive with the Panasonic TS4<\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0If I were in the market for a waterproof camera, the Olympus would definitely be on my list.<\/p>\n

I’m a bit disappointed this camera isn’t more focused on the higher end of the pocket camera spectrum. \u00a0 What I’m waiting for is a waterproof camera that has the image quality of the S100 or LX5, with RAW file support and aperture and shutter priority and full manual modes. \u00a0 Until somebody comes out with a waterproof camera with these “enthusiast” features, I’m sticking with my TS2.<\/p>\n

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Outdoor photography gear update Part 1: \u00a0Pocket Cameras\u00a0 This update addresses Pocket Cameras. \u00a0A follow on update will address Micro 4\/3 system cameras and lenses, including the new Olympus OMD E-M5 I almost never go into the outdoors without a camera.\u00a0 I love taking pictures of the places I visit and the things I do.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,4,76,10],"tags":[88,84,89,83,85,207,82,86,81,87],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=205"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":678,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions\/678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}