Kit for Backpacking

Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.
I would need a 300mm+ lens on the 300D to equal the range of the S3 and
this would cost me hundreds and take up most of my weight allowance.

The wife has kindly bought me the S3 for christmas and now I need to decide
on what accessories I will need to get the most out of it.

My immediate thoughts a

Lens Cleaning Cloth
Mini Tripod (Fixed, not bendy legs)
Bean Bag (empty)
Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)
4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like some
advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination
Are the tele/wide-angle converters worth considdering to give greater
flexibility?

Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the timer?

Thanks in advance,

John

John Ortt wrote:
Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.
I would need a 300mm+ lens on the 300D to equal the range of the S3 and
this would cost me hundreds and take up most of my weight allowance.

The wife has kindly bought me the S3 for christmas and now I need to decide
on what accessories I will need to get the most out of it.

My immediate thoughts a

Lens Cleaning Cloth
Mini Tripod (Fixed, not bendy legs)
Bean Bag (empty)
Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)
4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like some
advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination
Are the tele/wide-angle converters worth considdering to give greater
flexibility?

Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the timer?

Thanks in advance,

John

Although I haven't seen one in recent times, one of those
thingys that has a tripod head and a "C" clamp base for mounting the
camera on poles or tree limbs etc. might be useful on a backpack hike,
for use with the self timer to do self portraits.


Eric

John Ortt wrote:
Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and
equipment I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and
take an S3 IS with me instead.
I would need a 300mm+ lens on the 300D to equal the range of the S3
and this would cost me hundreds and take up most of my weight
allowance.

The wife has kindly bought me the S3 for christmas and now I need to
decide on what accessories I will need to get the most out of it.

My immediate thoughts a

Lens Cleaning Cloth
Mini Tripod (Fixed, not bendy legs)
Bean Bag (empty)
Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)
4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like
some advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination
Are the tele/wide-angle converters worth considdering to give greater
flexibility?

Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the
timer?

Thanks in advance,

John

Although I haven't seen one in recent times, one of those
thingys that has a tripod head and a "C" clamp base for mounting the
camera on poles or tree limbs etc. might be useful on a backpack hike,
for use with the self timer to do self portraits.


Eric
Hi John

I've no great advice I'm afraid but I did just trip over this on Amazon and
remembered your post so I thought you might be interested in this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Backpackers-...465098-2518236

Just had a thought, a lens pen might be good to have as well they seem to
work well, and aren't too heavy :-)
Also tape and whatever screwdrivers your camera needs might save some
grief - if you're a pessimist like me!

Re the mono pod question, do you hike with a stick anyway? if so I would
have thought a monopod/walking pole combo would make sense
Hope you have a great trip
Tim
--
http://www.timdenning.myby.co.uk/

John Ortt wrote:
Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.
I would need a 300mm+ lens on the 300D to equal the range of the S3 and
this would cost me hundreds and take up most of my weight allowance.

The wife has kindly bought me the S3 for christmas and now I need to decide
on what accessories I will need to get the most out of it.

My immediate thoughts a

Lens Cleaning Cloth
Mini Tripod (Fixed, not bendy legs)
Bean Bag (empty)
Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)
4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like some
advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination
Are the tele/wide-angle converters worth considdering to give greater
flexibility?

Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the timer?

Thanks in advance,

John

An excellent choice!

I have travelled extensively with the S2 IS, and here's what I have:
- Lensmate adapter with UV filter.
http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html . Makes the camera
somewhat more bulky, but protects the extending lens, the most
vulnerable part of the camera.
- A good firm camera bag that will accommodate the camera with lensmate
adapter. Buy the adapter first, and take the camera along when shopping
for bags. Select a bag which allows you to extract and replace your
camera with one hand... (Get used to slipping the camera's wrist strap
over your hand before extracting from camera bag! i.e. fit the strap to
the R.H side of the camera! )
- My ultrapod 1. http://www.pedcopods.com/products.htm. Its light
enough to fix to the strap of my camera bag, and attaches via its
velcro strap to any branch, chair, gatepost available. (The ultrapod 2
is significantly bigger, but overkill for the S2.). You can strap it to
the top of any available stick, and *bingo* - monopod.
- In the Miscellaneous section of my bag: Microfibre lens cloth, spare
memory card, spare batteries, a pair of those cheap throw-away reading
spectacles, mini USB cable, rubber extendable lens hood.

I have the Maha multi-voltage charger, with a set of international plug
adapters.

Good luck and have fun!

/M

On Jan 2, 8:22 am, "John Ortt"
wrote:
Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.
I would need a 300mm+ lens on the 300D to equal the range of the S3 and
this would cost me hundreds and take up most of my weight allowance.

The wife has kindly bought me the S3 for christmas and now I need to decide
on what accessories I will need to get the most out of it.

My immediate thoughts a

Lens Cleaning Cloth
Mini Tripod (Fixed, not bendy legs)
Bean Bag (empty)
Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)
4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like some
advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination
Are the tele/wide-angle converters worth considdering to give greater
flexibility?

Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the timer?

Thanks in advance,

John

I'd prefer my DSLR, but I mosttly canoe camp, gota save weight when
hiking. The only real down side of the S3 is if you have subdued light
and have to up the ISO.
I would use a monopod as a hiking pole. I have a nice Gitzo 6 extension
that has a great grip.
Not sure about the Canon S3 on how wide it goes. If its wides is 28mm
I'd forgoe the auxillary lens, if its widest is 35 or worse 38 I'd get
the WA lens. I really liked them with my old 995 Nikon, even the
fisheye adaptor. Get the Canon WA add on, most of the after market add
ons are crappy.
Don't worry about a UV filter, but look into a polarizer, takes away
glare and takes the edge off noon sun. B&W, Hoya, Canon would be fine
for filter brands.
For batteries have 2 sets of 2500-2700 NiHMs and a set of AA Lithium.
Enjoy the hike.

Tom

On Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:22:12 +0000, John Ortt wrote:

Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.
I would need a 300mm+ lens on the 300D to equal the range of the S3 and
this would cost me hundreds and take up most of my weight allowance.

The wife has kindly bought me the S3 for christmas and now I need to decide
on what accessories I will need to get the most out of it.

My immediate thoughts a

Lens Cleaning Cloth
Mini Tripod (Fixed, not bendy legs)
Bean Bag (empty)
Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)
4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would suggest a couple of sets of lithium ion AA batteries to pack with
you. What good does a battery charger do on a backpacking trip?


I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like some
advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination
Are the tele/wide-angle converters worth considdering to give greater
flexibility?

I have previously used them on a Kodak DC210+ and they gave acceptable
results. It's hard to tell until you've used it.



Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the timer?

Thanks in advance,

John

On 1/2/07 8:22 AM, "John Ortt"
wrote:

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.


How long a trip? Where, what time of year?

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.

Have you considered one of the water resistant point-and-shot cameras? If
not, you might want to take a water


Bean Bag (empty)

Why, almost anything will work, an empty baggie, a clothing bag, etc.

Battery Charger (Universal Voltage with Car adapter)

Will you have you car with you? I thought this was backpacking? I know
people who take solar battery chargers on long trips.

4 spare rechargable AA batteries

I would also like to fit a UV filter and lens hood but would like some
advice on reputable brands to go for (I am wary of E-bay).

A couple of final questions:

Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination

How about a hiking stick with a threaded camera mount on top?

tomm42 wrote:
For batteries have 2 sets of 2500-2700 NiHMs and a set of AA Lithium.
Enjoy the hike.


I'd also suggest testing the camera's battery life beforehand with
whatever kind of batteries you'll be taking, so you know how
conservative you need to be in shooting (or how many batteries to take).

John Ortt wrote:
Should I take a full size monopod or rely on the mini tripod/ beanbag
combination

For backpacking I'd leave the monopod home.

Is there any way to remote trigger the camera other than using the timer?

Don't know, but if there is, it will be in the manual that came with
the camera.

Also maybe to take:

Extra memory card(s) (unless you have a laptop in a car that you'll
visit from time to time.)
Camera bag - I like one as small as possible that fits the camera and
batteries, etc. Good padding is nice to for that time when you
bang
the bag against a rock by accident.

I ALWAYS wear the camera bag on a strap across the opposite
shoulder - never on a belt loop (I've had loops tear off), and never
on the same shoulder as the bag. That's asking for trouble.

Alan

Moro Grubb of Little Delving wrote:
John Ortt wrote:
Hi Everyone,

For months now I have been asking questions about what camera and equipment
I should take on my long-haul backpacking trip this year.

I eventually (and reluctantly) decided to leave my 300D at home and take an
S3 IS with me instead.

...snip..

One resource I've found useful for my S2, (and presumably most tips
would apply to your S3):
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10364

In a nutshell:
- Use "P" mode, and set exposure compensation to -2/3.
- Don't rely on AWB. Use one of the WB pre-sets (sunny/cloudy/etc) or
use custom white balance.
- Avoid ISO 400. Even if you have noise ninja.

HTH

/M