Long Backpacking Trip -- Need a P&S to Replace my DSLR

[zachwass2000]

Hi,
Next fall I will be going on a 30+ day backpacking trip in the southwestern US and I need a more lightweight camera to replace my Canon 30D. I will sorely miss having good wide angle, low light and manual controls, and I am hoping to get as close an experience to the SLR as possible in a new camera. Hopefully this thing will weigh less than a pound. RAW mode is very important to me, as are manual controls. I'm not sure I need a viewfinder, especially if it won't be optical. Hopefully I will be able to get a wide enough focal length that I can capture the desert landscapes. Also, because I will be isolated, AA batteries would be a plus. Optical image stabilization would be very nice because I will not be able to carry a tripod. After a bit of searching, it doesn't seem that all these needs can be met in one camera. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18S is the closest I've found so far. Any recommendations?
Thanks a lot,
Zach

[KCook]

Get over RAW. Small P&S sensors and RAW simply do not go together.

wude Kelly

[kgosden]

Since you are going to the SW USA I would get over the AA's and buy a decent solar charger. Brunton has a pretty good line, not cheap, but they should work well for you. Add a camera battery charger for cars and you should be all set for weeks. The Panasonic is a nice camera if you can live with the EVF and ISO under 200.

[AlexMonro]

You don't say anything about wanting long zoom, but that's one of the main features of the FZ18, adding significantly to the size and weight. If wide angle and RAW are primary requirements, you might want to consider the Ricoh GX100.

[Benjamin2007]

Have you considered a Fuji Ultra-zoom, particularly those fitted with a Super CCD, i.e. which is larger than the standard compact CCD, e.g. the S6000fd (which was very popular) or the S9100. Both are RAW capable.
The basic stat's are:
S6000fd: 6MP 0.588" (1/1.7") SuperCCD, 10.7x optical zoom range (28mm-300mm equiv), shutter speeds from 30secs-1/4000sec, max aperture of F2.8-F4.9, ISO100-3200, full manual controls, 2.5" LCD, EVF viewfinder, 4xAA's, 58mm filter thread, xD memory cards, 600g

DCRP review of the S6000fd can be found here:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_s6000fd-review/

S9100: 9MP 0.625" (1/1.6") SuperCCD, 10.7x optical zoom (28mm-300mm equiv), shutter speeds from 30secs-1/4000sec, max aperture of F2.8-F4.9 (same lens as the S6000fd), ISO80-1600, full manual controls, 2" Tilt LCD, EVF viewfinder, 4xAA's, CFII or xD memory cards, 650g

Imaging Resource's review of the S9100 can be found here:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S9100/S9100A.HTM

The latest version of this type of camera from Fuji is the S100fs and DPReview's review of that can be found here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms100fs/

Hope the above may be helpful.

cheers,

[AndyfromVA]

I can understand your desire for a long zoom, battery powered camera. You'll be able to get some great nature shots in the desert and a long zoom will be essential.

The Panasonic FZ18 uses a lithium ion battery, so I wouldn't select that one. However, the Fuji S8100 and S8000 run on AA batteries so they would meet your needs. I'd go for either of the Fuji's.

[David Metsky]

30 days away from a charger pretty much means you'll need AAs and some sort of solar recharger. Or, you'll need to bring 5 sets of Enloops, possibly more. The only two current cameras that support RAW and AAs are the Olympus 560/570 and the Ricoh GR. The other option would be to look for an older Fuji S6000 or S9000 if you can still find them. The other option is to buy 5 or so proprietary batteries, which will cost a fortune.

But ultrazooms are larger and heavier. Unless wildlife is a major subject I'd go for a smaller, lighter camera like the Canon A720 or the Nikon P50 with an optical viewfinder and full manual controls. That will allow you to turn off the LCD and save power, which is critical on a long trip like this.

[David Metsky]

Actually, with the CHDK hack you can have RAW on the A720, plus get a real battery meter. That might give you all you want in a single package. You could also go for the A650 that gives you a bigger image sensor and the fold out LCD.

[KCook]

Admittedly, this is a radical solution. But just pick up a nice vintage 35mm camera and scan the shots later. This completely eliminates the battery issues, and weight is still less than a DSLR. Which brings to question, how much good quality resolution do the scanning outfits offer with 35mm film? Just wondering ....

Kelly

[raven15]

I highly recommend the Canon A720IS, I used the A710IS a number of times for similar trips. It is quite possibly the best "compromise between everything" camera available, with AA batteries, 35-210mm lens, optical viewfinder, and "manual controls". It is more than capable of taking wildlife pictures, you just have to have it ready for when wildlife presents itself. Basically, it is my experience that this is the ideal camera for the situation you just mentioned. However, it will in no way remind you of an SLR.

The next best choices would be the Canon S5 and A650, I think.

Yes, AA batteries are a requirement. Though the solar charger could work, I'd prefer AA's. Don't want to rely on a solar charger during a spectacular sunset in the middle of dusty nowhere for a month. That just seems way too complicated to me, you could haul 10 AA batteries or Eneloops for the same weight and much less hassle.

[westslope]

Actually, with the CHDK hack you can have RAW on the A720, plus get a real battery meter. That might give you all you want in a single package. You could also go for the A650 that gives you a bigger image sensor and the fold out LCD.
Good to know. Just ordered last week an A720 with airmile points. Where can I find the CHDK hack?

The G9 shoots RAW and sports the same relatively large sensor as the A650. The G9 provides more control for serious photographers. I don't like the grip but may get over it and buy one soon all the same. Expensive.

If you are looking for any kind of resolution and quality, I would personally ignore the superzoom P&S digitals, unless you plan on religiously using a tri-pod.

[David Metsky]

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

[AndyfromVA]

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

[westslope]

Thank you David and Andy. If the hack works with the A650, then, for my purposes, the A650 is a better camera to haul along on long backpack trips than the G9.

The hack would furnish a power meter and the ability to write RAW.

The A650--as opposed to the G9--provides the curled grip and additional weight to make quality single-hand shots when more hands, support or a tri-pod cannot be used.

Incidentally, I found this page on Wikipedia that summarizes Canon PowerShot CCD sensor dimensions and a bunch of other information in an easy-to-read format:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_PowerShot_A650_IS

[KCook]

curled grip and additional weight to make quality single-hand shots when more hands, support or a tri-pod cannot be used. Err, optical IS easily compensates for that ....

[westslope]

To add:

The A650 lacks a hot-shoe but currently my thinking is that deploying a full blown dSLR makes more sense than gussing up an otherwise compact, light P&S with a cumbersome external flash.

===========================

K. Cook: No, I don't believe that the IS feature will completely compensate for a flimsy grip and lighter weight.

For starters, IS cannot compensate for a poorly framed subject, or missed shots due to delays caused by fumbling.

As for image quality on the margin, I have a hard time believing that tremble no longer impacts IQ. Am on the verge of acquiring some first hand experience with IS so should likely reserve judgement but intuition suggests that every automatic compensation or correction comes at a price. At the moment of exposure, image enhancement is never free.