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light weight hiking camera

Jeff Nolten
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · light weight hiking camera

Scott Stoness wrote:
my view is - r7 is heavier than r8 (rp), requires wider lens, has at least one stop less light performance, and 32 vs 24 does not matter much for handheld shooting. IBIS is not necessary for day time shooting. Buy the r7 for reach (32mpx on apsc is better than r5 cropped for resolution) if pressed for reach (not hiking). Only other >30mpx apsc similar sensor is m6ii but it has an older sensor and not lighter with available lens. Or buy R7 for hiking AND birding knowing that it's heavier.

Respectfully, my opinion differs from yours. I currently have the R5, R7, G1X3, and iPhone 15 pro. Prior to getting the R7 I had the M6II and 90D all with the 32 MP sensor. I can definitely see a resolution advantage with the 32 MP sensor which allows me to crop for more reach or magnification. For most situations 24 MP is plenty, agreed, but I can also see an advantage to the R5's 45 MP over my previous 5D4's 30 MP. I tried the R6II before the R5 but found it limiting compared to the 5D4.

IBIS allows me to use the non-IS 60 mm macro near 1:1 hand held. The claim is 4 stops of stabilization for non-IS lenses and only a stop for IS lenses, but it still helps. The vast majority of my shooting is hand held.

Ultimately each step lighter involves tradeoffs in features and specifications. This is where the purchaser has to weigh the differences against their needs. We can suggest our preferences but they remain just that. I think any of the lighter R bodies with the appropriate light weight lenses will work. I said why I prefer the R7 but I didn't suggest it should be the final answer. I've tried the FF 24-105 STM on the R5 and personally I prefer the 18-150 or the G1X3. If I'm going FF I want the 24-105 L and bear the weight.

My personal preference for day hiking with the possibility of wildlife is two bodies. The R7 + RF 100-400 and the G1X3. 3 3/4 lbs camera weight and no lens changes. I can deal with that weight easily. The R is over my shoulder and the G in a pouch reachable on the side of my pack next to my small Leica binoculars. Landscapes and wildlife covered quickly and easily. Previously I used an 80D then 90D with 70-300 II.

I've been using the G1X3 as my 1 lb minimalist camera for over 6 years and its 24 MP full APS-C IQ still compares well to the the other bodies in my kit. Its 15-45 lens betters any equivalent Canon Rebel or M kit lens I've compared it to. So I think that while current 24 MP sensors may be better spec'd on paper, they are pretty equivalent in use. My G always goes with me. I recently had it at the Vatican and could compare nearly identical images with my wife's iPhone 15 pro, both 24 MP and 24mm equiv. The G's images win hands down, especially the colors. The iPhone images don't stand up well at landscape distances. IMHO. However, its cameras are a real improvement over my previous iPhone 10.

Jul 15, 2024 at 12:34 PM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · light weight hiking camera

Jeff Nolten wrote:
Ultimately each step lighter involves tradeoffs in features and specifications.

That’s really one of the most important realizations. Every time you downsize you end up giving something up, but if you take everything on the trail you’ll pay a serious price.

(I once spent a few days in the Sierra backcountry near where John Sexton and Anne Larsen were base-camping and photographing. They each walked in and back out carrying, IIRC, 38 pounds of cameras, lenses, film, tripods, etc., plus camping gear. We walked together briefly on the way out and it was painful to watch them carry those loads. In another case, a different friend of mine went to Antarctica as a workshop instructor. This long time LF and MF photographer downsized to a 36MP Nikon with two lenses for that tip, and he came back with work that is exhibition quality.)

It helps to think realistically about how you’ll photograph and what you’ll like do with the photographs afterwards. If you are going to print larger than, say, 20” x 30” you can safely use a smaller sensor system with smaller lenses and a lighter tripod.

If you are going to walk five miles in then basecamp for a week, you might be willing to suffer in order to get more stuff into the backcountry… or hire pack animals or a local climber who wants to pick up a few bucks.

The tricky thing is that there isn’t one right answer. Every plus has its minus, but those pluses and minuses don’t necessarily have the same value for everyone. In the end I think one really needs to think this out in the context of their own work and their own willingness to suffer.

(I typically carry a pretty substantial setup for landscape photography, but we recently did a 80-mile walk on the Great Glen Way… and I decided to carry only an APS-C system with a single zoom lens.)

Jul 15, 2024 at 03:07 PM

AmbientMike
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · light weight hiking camera

I like to use Rebels hiking, they are really good, and have used the SL2 on 3k+ vertical hikes. To expand on a previous comment, I usually leave the 55-250 on there for any wildlife that might not stick around if I changed lenses, and it's light enough to do that

I use the 11-16 too, and that's usually the other lens kept handy. It is kinda heavy, the 10-18 would be much lighter, I just keep using 11-16, had it for years. Should probably use the 18-55 (usually kept in the pack) more, hard to lay off the uwa in the mountains, though

This gives 18mm or so to 400mm ff equivalent on the aps sensor. Not too heavy, full range of FL's, good macro. Hard to get lighter, though possible, this is really good though

Jul 15, 2024 at 03:56 PM

Jeff Nolten
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · light weight hiking camera

The original SL and 55-250 was my original hiking "reach". Very happy when that combo became available. Don't remember which G series was its companion back then, probably G10.

Jul 15, 2024 at 04:22 PM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · light weight hiking camera

The SL# cameras were almost a secret sauce back in the day. Folks might be surprised by how many (and who) used them.

They are just as good now as they were then, and if you have one and like it, keep on keepin’ on. If you need a real budget system, one of those could still be a fine choice.

On the other hand, if you are going to buy something new these days, it almost certainly makes sense to get something contemporary, which with Canon means an R-something that uses the newer RF lenses.

Edited on Jul 16, 2024 at 08:28 AM · View previous versions

Jul 15, 2024 at 06:24 PM

ISO1600
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · light weight hiking camera

I shot the heck out of a nice little SL1 kit back in 2014(?) for a summer in Korea and it was fantastic.

Back to the R bodies- the R7 did seem to come out same time as the R10, which I'm guessing also does not have the "AUTO" subject detection mode... You have to manually select the focus preference type (person, animal, vehicle, or NONE), and I find that if I'm on "Person" it does not work so great when i try to get a photo of my cats or a bird out the window. That minor delay of having to switch focus modes is a little bit annoying.

Even with modes properly set, I don't think the focus is as "grabby" or impressive as the newer cameras.

That being said, I still REALLY enjoy the R7 so far. I made a lateral move (some would say downgrade) from R8 to the 7, because I realized most of my non-phone photography has become telephoto and macro-centric lately. It will do more of what I want. And like others have said, the 18-150 is just a wonderful zoom, far more enjoyable than the 24-105 STM, and it's so tiny.

Jul 15, 2024 at 06:37 PM

Gochugogi
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · light weight hiking camera

ISO1600 wrote:
R50 (or R10) + 18-150

The R7 is a good bit chunkier than either, and has the previous generation AF system, which in my brief experience is NOT on the same level as even the R50- but the big battery, bigger EVF, and better controls are very nice. I'm very impressed with the 18-150.

The R7 and R10 were announced Spring 2022. The R7 was in stores by June and the R10 followed a couple months later that Summer. I went with the R7 because of the IBIS and the "chunkier" mechanical shutter. The AF system in the R7 and R10 is based on the R3, allowing tracking in all AF modes—spot, single expanded, area, etc. The prior generation AF is the type used in the R6 and R5—tracking only in a dedicated whole screen mode.

Jul 15, 2024 at 07:10 PM

Jeff Nolten
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · light weight hiking camera

ISO1600 wrote:
Back to the R bodies- the R7 did NOT come out same time as the R10 and R50, it is from the same generation AF as the R5 and R6.

Hmmm, I have both the R5 and R7 and briefly tried the R6 Mk II. The R7 AF configuration is identical to the R6II and later. With the R5, tracking is one of the AF modes. while with the R7 and others, tracking is independent of focus area. With the R5 I have a back button focus configured for whole sensor area tracking. With the R7 I have that same button configured for tracking on/off which applies to any focus area currently in use. The R5 and R7 are definitely not of the same generation. While the R10 release date was a month later than the R7 (R50 was April of 2023), both were released after the R3 which, I think, set the current standard for R body AF mode configuration. I have the R7 set to track animals and it tracks both animals and humans equally well in that setting. I can't compare actual performance to R10 and others but so far the R7 has worked well for me; as has the R5 with its configuration differences. I have to adjust a bit when I switch bodies.

Edit: Thanks Gochu, I'm a bit behind you in posting.

I'll also add that B&H now has the Sigma RF-S 18-50 f2.8 in stock. I just ordered one in time for ComicCon next week. The lens doesn't have IS so IBIS on the R7 should help with this lens. I'll experiment with it over the next week or so.

Edited on Jul 15, 2024 at 07:38 PM · View previous versions

Jul 15, 2024 at 07:12 PM

ISO1600
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · light weight hiking camera

Yall I noticed my error and I think I edited my reply while you guys were both typing.
I know the R7 can track in any mode. The difference is the automatic subject priority that the R50 and R8 have. I cannot find a way to enable/use that on the R7. If you haven't used it, sorry, but it just works better.

Jul 15, 2024 at 07:37 PM

Jeff Nolten
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · light weight hiking camera

ISO1600 wrote:
The difference is the automatic subject priority that the R50 and R8 have. I cannot find a way to enable/use that on the R7.

Is this the video mode where it keeps track of a person going in and out of the FOV? Yes that's a post R7 feature, I think its also post R10.

Jul 15, 2024 at 07:41 PM

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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · light weight hiking camera

Negative, this is a photo feature too. When you are in stills mode, and go to "Subject to detect"- it has the little graphic of the running dude, cat, car, and OFF.... on the newest bodies, it also has A or Auto or something. In that mode, it "just works". I didn't trust it at first on my R8, but after shooting a few months found that it allowed me to focus on the shot a lot more, and the camera got out of my way.

Jul 15, 2024 at 08:04 PM

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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · light weight hiking camera

https://cam.start.canon/en/C011/manual/html/UG-06_AF-Drive_0060.html#AF-Drive_0060_4

"Subject to detect" auto mode is the new stuff I'm talking about.
For any of you old timers who've been shooting Canon a long time, I think this is just a big of AF capability/ease of use change as when Canon introduced 45-point Area AF with the EOS 3 back in '98.

Jul 15, 2024 at 08:12 PM

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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · light weight hiking camera

Also, my RF-S 10-18 just arrived, and holy **** this lens is hilarous. R10 + 10-18 + 18-150, and if you want something faster maybe add the 24 or 35/1.8 IS, would be an awesome 3 lens kit. If you're going to mainly be concerned with shooting in decent light, just the two zooms would be fine, and give you coverage from 16-240mm equivalent.

Jul 16, 2024 at 12:21 AM

BokehBeauty
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · light weight hiking camera

I bought the R8 with the 28mm. F2.8. The weight, colors, AF are a dream (better than the R5). It is lighter than my Fuji X100T with wide angle adapter. Only emotional “issue”, it’s Canon ugly.

Jul 16, 2024 at 12:26 AM

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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · light weight hiking camera

BokehBeauty wrote:
I bought the R8 with the 28mm. F2.8. The weight, colors, AF are a dream (better than the R5). It is lighter than my Fuji X100T with wide angle adapter.

When I was travelling Thailand last month, the R8 and 28 were a great combo for sure!

Jul 16, 2024 at 12:30 AM

Gochugogi
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · light weight hiking camera

I shoot single point or spot and place it on my intended subject and let it track as needed. I don't trust the camera to recognize my subject—gets it wrong too often. Albeit I did set "Subject to track" to "animal" and that seems to stick well to butterflies, flowers waving in trade winds, guitars and the rare human I encounter. Heck it works well on landscapes and art work (forgot to turn subject to detect off). I've also tried subject to track "none" and, oddly, it still tracks surprisingly well. Apparently the camera determines the main subject automatically from how you compose shots, but doesn't try to detect a specific type of subject.

My R6 MK II has the "Subject to track" auto setting but I just leave it on animal. If tracking fails I toggle tracking off. I find R6 MK II AF a notch more "sticky" than the R7. Both cameras have difficulty locking on guitar strings if close to horizontal (have tilt the camera to focus).

The R6 MK II and R7 have the same generation AF system but with wee differences and improvements in the R6 MK II. I don't own the R50 but it looks like basically the same AF system as the R7 but with some omissions of advanced features and a few minor improvements. I almost bought a R50 a few weeks back but it didn't feel comfortable in my hands and was missing the AI servo case tweaks (Case 2 and Case 4 are my favs for certain critters) so I bought another R7 (my prior R7 had an accident).

Jul 16, 2024 at 02:03 AM

Jeff Nolten
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · light weight hiking camera

ISO1600 wrote:
Also, my RF-S 10-18 just arrived, and holy **** this lens is hilarous. R10 + 10-18 + 18-150, and if you want something faster maybe add the 24 or 35/1.8 IS, would be an awesome 3 lens kit.

I took the 10-18 to Italy and used it a few times. It seems pretty sharp and would make a good landscape addition to a kit like you are talking about. It is tiny and has IS and covers the missing 15mm of the 18-## kit lenses. There is also the RF 16 f2.8 of the same size, no IS, that would do close to 15 if one shoots raw and tweeks the lens corrections in post.

I really like my R7, but I use it as a general purpose body with lenses up to the 100-500 and as part of my R5 kit. But, to the OP's question and to reiterate a bit, I too would go with an R10 + 10-18 + 18-150. The R50 is only two oz lighter and its controls look too simple for my needs. I think the R10 could ergonomically handle an RF 100-400. One could easily go with just the 18-150 (~1 2/3 lb total), since these bodies have a nice cellphone like panorama builder and focus stacking to go with the 18-150's close focus ability. If my G were to die I'd seriously consider this.

Jul 16, 2024 at 10:40 AM

ISO1600
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · light weight hiking camera

R10's improved controls over the R50 would certainly be welcome. I kinda wish i would have splurged the extra (very minimal) cash to get the R10 on that last Canon Refurb sale when i picked up the R50.
ALTHOUGH, the R50 does have a few small but notable software/UI tweaks over the 7 and 10 that I like.

Jul 16, 2024 at 06:42 PM

mawz
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · light weight hiking camera

ISO1600 wrote:
R50 (or R10) + 18-150

The R7 is a good bit chunkier than either, and has the previous generation AF system, which in my brief experience is NOT on the same level as even the R50- but the big battery, bigger EVF, and better controls are very nice. I'm very impressed with the 18-150.

I'd agree.

That said, the R7 has the same generation AF system as the R10 and R50, only the R100 has older AF Algorithms but the sensor readout is slow and has lots of pixels, which limits the performance vs the 24MP cameras.

Jul 17, 2024 at 02:27 PM

ISO1600
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · light weight hiking camera

The R50 has newer AF capabilities than the R7/10. If they are the "same generation", can these be rolled out via firmware updates? Probably could, but I would not hold my breath with Canon.

The R50 and R8 AF is better than earlier cameras. To debate this is to say "I have only used the older cameras, and read about the newer ones".

Jul 17, 2024 at 06:02 PM

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