Weighted down by DSLR

[+FourFunKiwis]

Has anyone given up their dslr and shot only with their phone? Have you regretted it, or been tempted?

I do such little work with long exposures, & have PS & LR - the dslr just weighs me down.

Thoughts?

[+T.D.M.22]

I won't ever get rid of my DSLR. I think the question is where and how do you us it it. Are you talking while doing something else, caching or otherwise?

 

I've experimented with a gopro while caching and got some really good shots. And then it's light, and fits in a pocket. You're outdoors, and if it's in its case, you can drop it, bump it, whatever, without worry. Even if it breaks, it's still less than a lens (higher end, or zoom lens anyway)

 

I've also used my iPhone 5s. I think it goes to f2. I've also got some pretty good photos.

 

But with both of those, you are limited to little if any zoom, and auto exposure time, shutter speed etc.

 

I use a combination of all three. Usually using my iPhone for wide angle when I have only my 55-250 with me. I've also seen professional sports photographer do the same thing. If it's good enough for the guy that had $20,000 between one lens and the body, it's good enough for me.

 

But in the end, try just using a phone, and perhaps a little post editing with the photo shop app. You can adjust exposre and all that fun stuff. I had a picture on a national news agency that was taken like that. Try it, it's not like you're paying for film anymore.

[+AustinMN]

My main purpose in geocaching is to find interesting places to photograph, so the thought of leaving my camera is unimaginable. I went with mirrorless so that I could adapt a ton of old manual glass, and that means a lot less weight and a little less bulk.

 

But if your purpose is only to shoot a few images to attach to your logs, I can't see why a good smartphone can't do that job. Unless you jump though hoops, the largest image the site will display is 640 x 600 pixels anyway.

 

Austin

[+Boggin's Dad]

I have an Oregon 550, with the in-built camera. I find it prefect for taking photographs to upload to GC.com. The quality is good enough for online viewing on the website. If I wanted pictures for the family album, or to hang on the wall i would denifitely stick to the DLSR.

 

I have not looked at it particularly, but I believe the website Pocketlenses gives some good tips on getting the most out of this sort of camera

Edited June 25, 2015 by Boggin's Dad

[+The Leprechauns]

Last month, I traveled to Turkey, Israel and Jordan (and found several caches in each country). For the first eight days, I alternated between my Canon EOS DSLR and my iPhone 6 for pictures. Then, the battery ran out on the Canon and I left my charger for it at home. Pictures for the last four days of the trip were shot with the iPhone.

 

When I arrived home, I merged the two sets of pictures together so that, for example, all pictures taken in Bethlehem displayed as a group. When I showed my "slideshow" of digital pictures on a big flatscreen TV, and I couldn't tell the difference between the two cameras. Neither could my guests.

 

So, from now on, I'm comfortable with traveling on an Iphone alone anytime I'm going on a hike of any significant lengths. I would not say the same for an iPhone 5, which lacks the 8 megapixel resolution found on an iPhone 6. I was highly impressed with trhe iPhone 6's performance.

[+FourFunKiwis]

Last month, I traveled to Turkey, Israel and Jordan (and found several caches in each country). For the first eight days, I alternated between my Canon EOS DSLR and my iPhone 6 for pictures. Then, the battery ran out on the Canon and I left my charger for it at home. Pictures for the last four days of the trip were shot with the iPhone.

 

When I arrived home, I merged the two sets of pictures together so that, for example, all pictures taken in Bethlehem displayed as a group. When I showed my "slideshow" of digital pictures on a big flatscreen TV, and I couldn't tell the difference between the two cameras. Neither could my guests.

 

So, from now on, I'm comfortable with traveling on an Iphone alone anytime I'm going on a hike of any significant lengths. I would not say the same for an iPhone 5, which lacks the 8 megapixel resolution found on an iPhone 6. I was highly impressed with trhe iPhone 6's performance.

 

That's really helpful information, thank you!

[+geodarts]

I use my iPhone a lot and enjoy many of the photo apps for taking or editing pictures . . . From Long Exposure to Hipstamatic or Pro Camera. I tend to collect photo apps and some can do fun things. Iphoneography has become an art form and there are times when I prefer it to other cameras.

 

Still, there are situations where that is not enough, where the phone cannot capture what my other cameras do. So I have hiked many miles with the dlsr because I knew that the bucket list photo op needed that particular camera or lens, or I know that I need to pack my pocket camera because it will take the photo of the otter we meet while kayaking better than my phone.

 

So it all depends.

[+Crow-T-Robot]

I use my iPhone a lot and enjoy many of the photo apps for taking or editing pictures . . . From Long Exposure to Hipstamatic or Pro Camera. I tend to collect photo apps and some can do fun things. Iphoneography has become an art form and there are times when I prefer it to other cameras.

 

Still, there are situations where that is not enough, where the phone cannot capture what my other cameras do. So I have hiked many miles with the dlsr because I knew that the bucket list photo op needed that particular camera or lens, or I know that I need to pack my pocket camera because it will take the photo of the otter we meet while kayaking better than my phone.

 

So it all depends.

 

Pretty much my reply, minus the multiple photo apps. I hike around with it in my camera backpack all day and sometimes never take it out. But, I want it with me for that one shot if needed. My phone takes "ok" photos but it's nowhere close to the quality of a good dslr. I like photography but it's a very casual hobby for me.

[+lumbricus]

For my Waymarking trips a good zoom is very important, I never tried an I-Phone 6 but can image that the zoom isn't very strong (e.g. Unique weathervanes). So my Lumix is still my daily partner for taking pictures and the phone is my first choice for calling someone.

[+kunarion]

I have no camera phone, but I usually grab the Sony pocket camera. There was a cache near a road, and I vaguely wondered if I may see snakes in the forest there. And I nearly stepped on this rat snake at the trail head. Took a bunch of photos, then went to get my DSLR. When I returned, the snake was gone.

 

Photos may look great regardless. But most DLSRs have advanced features such as saving ".RAW" files which make photo editing a breeze. With the DSLR, I can crop it in tight, with complete freedom of color correction.

 

 

That was taken with a Sony DSC-WX9 Cyber-shot. It turned out fine. It even was featured on a Geocaching calendar.

[+Viajero Perdido]

Consider something in between: a "point-and-shoot" of the kind that looks like a half-size DSLR, with a real lens with real physical zoom. A Lumix in my case, it takes fantastic pictures.

 

I take snaps with the phone too, but they just don't compare. (Look at the tiny lens - how could they?) I can often spot phone pictures a mile away.

 

DSLRs are just waaay too heavy and bulky for my liking.

[+FourFunKiwis]

Wow! That snake is impressive!

Thanks for your thoughts everyone I might have a go with my daughters point and shoot next time I'm out and about and see how that goes.

[+kunarion]

I might have a go with my daughters point and shoot next time I'm out and about and see how that goes.

Whatever you do, bring a camera. The snake picture is just an example of why I at least carry the pocket camera, even if I don't expect anything photo-worthy.

[+AustinMN]

I might have a go with my daughters point and shoot next time I'm out and about and see how that goes.

Whatever you do, bring a camera. The snake picture is just an example of why I at least carry the pocket camera, even if I don't expect anything photo-worthy.

 

+1.

[+Ambrosia]

I can't imagine giving up my dslr. We have a really nice point and shoot, and my husband has a really nice phone. But I'm usually disappointed with those pictures in the end. I can just do so much more with my dslr.

 

I was worried about buying a dslr because I have health problems and didn't think I could handle the extra weight. But I guess I'm just stubborn about my photography. I bought a really nice strap that can be used across the shoulders rather than hanging from the neck (which really hurts me), which has been a huge a life saver.

 

I've taken my dslr on up to eight mile all day hikes multiple times. I took it with me to India for a month and hauled that thing around with me all day long.

 

You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

[+kunarion]

pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Last year I brought the DSLR with its attached telephoto lens into the woods to check my more rugged caches, glad I did. I nearly stepped on a curled-up, motionless fawn. My Sony Cybercam would not have been able to handle that tricky photo session.

Edited July 21, 2015 by kunarion

[+Ambrosia]

pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Last year I brought the DSLR with its attached telephoto lens into the woods to check my more rugged caches, glad I did. I nearly stepped on a curled-up, motionless fawn. My Sony Cybercam would not have been able to handle that tricky photo session.

So pretty.

[+Viajero Perdido]

My Sony Cybercam would not have been able to handle that tricky photo session.

I don't know what a Cybercam is without looking it up, but a mid-size point-and-shoot with a decent lens (as I suggested above) could easily have taken that picture, for about half the weight/size of an SLR.

 

If it was in the right place, of course.

[Stompy]

I use a compact Canon Powershot they give pretty good photos and don't weigh you down. https://www.flickr.c...geocachetrails/

[+Think Tink]

I gave up lugging the big SLR around on hikes and vacations quite some time ago. Switched to a high end point and shoot that does *most* of what the SLR can, albeit, it can't quite match a 70-200 2.8 lens...

Has a built in ND filter for some neat water shots

[+FourFunKiwis]

Built in ND?!? A little bit of gold right there!!

[+hzoi]

When I can get depth of field like this on a phone,

 

 

 

or infrared effects like this,

 

 

or long exposures like this,

 

 

 

 

I'll consider relying on it rather than my DSLR.

 

Until then, when I absolutely need to go light, I'll trust my phone, but otherwise I'm happy to carry my DSLRs and lenses. Heck, they're easier than when I shot manual focus and had mostly fixed focal length!

[+shizelbs]

For me the solution to not wanting to lug around a DSLR and lenses was to buy a proper backpack made for lugging around all the gear. Has good support and enough weatherproofing. I got one of the Clik Elite bags.

[+J Grouchy]

I have no camera phone,

These days I think that requires a lengthy and deliberate search. I didn't even think there were any phones out there without at least a basic camera function.

[+geodarts]

While camping at Lake Tahoe last weekend I had my DSLR, a pocket camera (powershot sx710) , and an iPhone. There are things the iphone will not do as well as the others - and I do not feel weighted down if I have the right equipment for what I want to do - but some of the photos I took with the phone are among my favorites.

 

 

Edited June 13, 2016 by geodarts

[+FourFunKiwis]

While camping at Lake Tahoe last weekend I had my DSLR, a pocket camera (powershot sx710) , and an iPhone. There are things the iphone will not do as well as the others - and I do not feel weighted down if I have the right equipment for what I want to do - but some of the photos I took with the phone are among my favorites.

 

 

 

No way... THOSE Are off a camera phone? What kind do you have?

[+AKCrazyCrickets]

We switched from a Canon 5D to a Sony a6000 Mirrorless. It's about 1/5th of the weight and 1/3rd of the size and way less expensive, but has almost parallel functionality and quality. It was a change from FF to a crop-sized sensor, but the reduction in size has more than made up for it.

 

It's definitely worth looking into for those like us that can't bear to give up their DSLR.

[+AustinMN]

No way... THOSE Are off a camera phone? What kind do you have?

 

Far more important than the camera is the skill of the person using it. An excellent photographer will get better photos from an iPhone than a typical snapshot shooter would get from a $45,000 Hasselblad.

[+Ambrosia]

I'm without a DSLR now. Either my camera died, or my battery. I used to have three batteries, but managed to lose two over time, and so I'm not sure what the culprit is, because my camera won't turn on. I need to borrow a battery from someone and find out. I feel naked without the camera.

 

For a while (about the first half of this year), we didn't have a camera at all, except for our phones. And both our phones have terrible cameras. Terrible. We finally broke down and got a decent point and shoot from Costco. It's not too bad, and it fits in the pocket.

[+geodarts]

No way... THOSE Are off a camera phone? What kind do you have?

 

iPhone6, but both were taken with LongExpoPro. ProCam is my normal app for taking pictures with the phone. I suppose phone apps could be a separate topic - I tend to collect both editing and camera apps.

 

I recently left my pocket camera on the beach where we launched our kayaks - either that or it fell out of the console hatch. It happened to be just before my birthday and I received a Canon Powershot SX 720 HS. So far I like it a lot - and now I make sure it's case is hooked before launching or after any stop. Given my track record, I am not going to take the DSLR out on the water.

Edited August 9, 2016 by geodarts

[+wmpastor]

No way... THOSE Are off a camera phone? What kind do you have?

 

Far more important than the camera is the skill of the person using it. An excellent photographer will get better photos from an iPhone than a typical snapshot shooter would get from a $45,000 Hasselblad.

 

Both of the photos seem to use a fairly slow shutter speed, shown by the soft rendering of the moving water (with excellent sharpness overall). Given the bright light, especially in one of the photos, it seems that the photographer overrode auto settings, probably with aperture priority or shutter speed priority (or full manual settings).

 

Well done, and noteworthy for smartphone photos!

 

Edit: *Then* I read geodarts' follow-up - that LongExpo Pro worked wonders!

Edited August 10, 2016 by wmpastor

[+wmpastor]

No way... THOSE Are off a camera phone? What kind do you have?

 

Far more important than the camera is the skill of the person using it. An excellent photographer will get better photos from an iPhone than a typical snapshot shooter would get from a $45,000 Hasselblad.

 

Probably the most important decision with a photo is composition. The good news is that that doesn't require a penny of extra equipment. Just have a good background behind the subject and avoid distracting, irrelevant and ugly items cluttering things up. Just getting in closer helps in many cases.