My Camera -and our love/hate relationship

gini007 · Saturday at 11:17 AM

Hi- amateur photographer here and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

J Willhaus · Saturday at 11:31 AM

How will you secure your camera? Will you carry it around with you after you reach the albergue? I would just go with the phone since it is easier to carry around, however, I am not a photographer and my photos are just for me to look at later.

steve392 · Saturday at 11:39 AM

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Francis from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

In the past I've used a camera pouch on a belt if I only take one lens on a trip or walk.

But after a while I found it a bit cumbersome so I bought another smaller camera for trips where I want a camera that does everything I need and that sits in my pocket.
I bought a Canon SX740HS. Great little camera and takes up no room or weight.
I hope this helps in some small way.
Good luck.

dick bird · Saturday at 2:02 PM

Take a quality compact that fits in your pocket. I’ve dropped lots of cameras. Every time it was taking them out of their case. Cartier Bresson used a 35 mm Leica, no extra lenses, and take the best photos of the 20th century with it. It’s you that takes the pictures, not the camera.

Ladybaguette · Saturday at 4:23 PM

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

I’m currently on the Camino Frances and I have the Canon M50 with me. I have it clipped to a front strap on my back pack and it’s been fine and not annoying! To be fair, it’s quite small so I can easily store it in my backpack when I get to the albergues. I’ve never had any safety issues so far. Personally I’m so glad I brought it, there are amazing views to capture ESPECIALLY from SJPP to Roncesvalles!

Tim-F · Saturday at 5:19 PM

Check out the Sony RX100VA. A lot of camera in a small package.

C clearly · Saturday at 5:24 PM

gini007 said:
afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some

There are numerous things you might miss, at least some, and you can't take them all ! However, you will gain in other ways. Only you can decide which compromises make sense for you.

CaminoPhotos · Saturday at 5:55 PM

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

Nikon Z50 is the perfect little travel camera. I took mine in 2022 for the entire Frances. I recently returned from my second Camino where I took a Nikon Z9 with 24-70mm lens and a couple of primes. No regrets, now I have amazing images to remember the trips by.

You can get a quick release clip for your pack, or my preference was a strap and have it around my neck, although I found I had it in my hand 80% of the time, as I walked.

gini007 · Saturday at 6:07 PM

CaminoPhotos said:
Nikon Z50 is the perfect little travel camera. I took mine in 2022 for the entire Frances. I recently returned from my second Camino where I took a Nikon Z9 with 24-70mm lens and a couple of primes. No regrets, now I have amazing images to remember the trips by.

You can get a quick release clip for your pack, or my preference was a strap and have it around my neck, although I found I had it in my hand 80% of the time, as I walked.

What lens/lenses did you use with the Z50. That’s what I was planning to take ?

Bartman · Saturday at 6:22 PM

I'm very happy with my Osmo Pocket v.1 takes excellent pictures from a non-professional photographer. They're up to version 3 now which I think is just called the pocket 3 made by DJI which is a major manufacturer of drones. So they've taken a drone camera and mounted it on the handheld basically a small stick that can fit in your pocket hence the name. I have not used version 3 but I'm very happy with the one I have.

Bartman

gini007 · Saturday at 6:59 PM

C clearly said:
There are numerous things you might miss, at least some, and you can't take them all ! However, you will gain in other ways. Only you can decide which compromises make sense for you.

appreciate the reminder - it is definitely not lost on me -

stevenbl · Saturday at 8:24 PM

I am currently on the Norte with a Z6ii, 28-70 lens and use the peak design clip to the front of my pack so it is accessible at all times. I also have their strap and hand strap attached - to cover all possible situations

Personally I am not a fan of changing lenses whilst walking - additional lenses weigh and you invariably get dust on the sensor . Why I only take a multiple purpose lens.

Sherpa47 · Saturday at 9:20 PM

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

Hi, take your camera! In my opinion an absolute must.
I took a Nikon D7000 with Nikon 18-200mm lens. I carried it in a small camera case which had a loop on the back. I threaded my backpack waist belt through the loop and thus the camera was always ready for action.
For security I slept with it in my sleeping bag!
Do take your camera, the Camino is a unique experience and your pictures will give you a life time of memories.
Ps: make sure you keep looking behind you you in the morning, you will capture some great sun rises!
Buen Camino!

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

CaminoPhotos · Saturday at 10:40 PM

gini007 said:
What lens/lenses did you use with the Z50. That’s what I was planning to take ?

I had a Meike 35mm f1.4 prime and the kit 50-250mm.

Jarrad · Sunday at 4:08 AM

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

You mentioned you have an iPhone as a potential compromise. I use an iPhone Pro and, honestly, I cannot rationalize bringing a camera along as well. Although I do love my cameras, I can get amazing quality pictures with the iPhone. Yes, there are some things I can't do with it and other things that I need to trick it into doing to get what I want, but on the whole it's still very good. I just upgraded to the 16, should be delivered any day now, can't wait!

mrosenlof · Sunday at 6:35 AM

Making photos has always been a big part of my discovery when in a new place. I find that just by carrying a camera and thinking about photos, I see the place in greater detail. I walked most of the Chemin du Puy last year and carried a Pentax MX, a small film SLR from the early 80s. I took an 85mm f/2 lens and a 28, but I could have done the whole trip with just the 85. That focal length matches well how I see things. I shot 14 rolls of B/W film in about 7 weeks of walking. I clipped a carabiner to a backpack strap and looped the camera strap through that. Worked well for me.

I don't think I saw anybody using other than a cell phone for photos. I used my cheap google phone for color photos and for blogging. The gîtes in France are a little different from how I understand the albergues in Spain to be. I didn't call attention to my camera, but it isn't particularly valuable either. It stayed in my pack overnight.

Donna Sch · Sunday at 6:52 AM

I've used a Peak Design camera clip on my front strap which works well. And it also fit into the front bag of my Aarn pack for days when the weather looked a bit dodgy. You can get Aarn photography balance pocketstoo.

Tim-F · Sunday at 1:30 PM

mrosenlof said:
Making photos has always been a big part of my discovery when in a new place. I find that just by carrying a camera and thinking about photos, I see the place in greater detail. I walked most of the Chemin du Puy last year and carried a Pentax MX, a small film SLR from the early 80s. I took an 85mm f/2 lens and a 28, but I could have done the whole trip with just the 85. That focal length matches well how I see things. I shot 14 rolls of B/W film in about 7 weeks of walking. I clipped a carabiner to a backpack strap and looped the camera strap through that. Worked well for me.

I don't think I saw anybody using other than a cell phone for photos. I used my cheap google phone for color photos and for blogging. The gîtes in France are a little different from how I understand the albergues in Spain to be. I didn't call attention to my camera, but it isn't particularly valuable either. It stayed in my pack overnight.

The MX is a lovely little camera. It's the camera I had as a teenager, until it was stolen. I bought another a couple of years ago for a trip down memory lane.

Interesting about 85mm being your preferred focal length. I think I'd have been using the 28mm. Years ago I just used 50mm, because that's what I had, and was perfectly happy. I do wonder if using a smart phone to take photos has altered my way of seeing the world.

howardd5 · Monday at 12:08 AM

gini007 said:
Hi- amateur photographer here (who misspells things in post titles when not wearing glasses!!) and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in at about 500g. Main issues are how best to carry while on trail so it’s readily accessible to actually use- and then managing it off trail- especially sleeping and securing in albergues - and it’s just slightly too big for most smaller waist/crossbody bags and I don’t love the shoulder clip set up that a lot of other hikers use. So - take or not to take? I have iphone and lenses that I can take as compromise but afraid I’ll miss my camera - at least some - just curious what other photographers have done and how it worked out - so any advice/ thoughts would be welcome.

Don’t take it-

William Garza · Monday at 2:28 PM

Take it and enjoy your hobby,passion,memory touchstone.

A bit of wisdom.
Scrub every bit of brand identifier on every piece of equipment you will carry.

Thieves and lowlifes dont have to know models, just names,branding or general shapes.
Paint over branding...write down serial numbers of what you take..1. It will help the cops id in case it ends up in a pawn shop
2. It will help you in any dispute of ownership
3.insure.

A very many here are not photographers and are blind to why someone would take one..the "my phone takes equally as good picture"

Well...it absolutly does not.
My S23 Ultra takes up to 200 mp photos and 8k videos
High end ..highest end.
Social media nerfs photos to fit the page
IG,FB whoever..so it looks good enough for biff and buffys poodle on the beach in playa di mar
But try anything to expand and poof
All gone.
But ime.preaching to the choir here.

Its weight in your pack,no one elses
my batteries last about 4-5k shots each
Take enough or a charger

Phones will never ever take the place of a proper camera.
Now that ive stirred the pot have a great day!

gini007 · Monday at 11:10 PM

Thank you!! Im pretty settled on taking it.

William Garza said:
Take it and enjoy your hobby,passion,memory touchstone.

A bit of wisdom.
Scrub every bit of brand identifier on every piece of equipment you will carry.

Thieves and lowlifes dont have to know models, just names,branding or general shapes.
Paint over branding...write down serial numbers of what you take..1. It will help the cops id in case it ends up in a pawn shop
2. It will help you in any dispute of ownership
3.insure.

A very many here are not photographers and are blind to why someone would take one..the "my phone takes equally as good picture"

Well...it absolutly does not.
My S23 Ultra takes up to 200 mp photos and 8k videos
High end ..highest end.
Social media nerfs photos to fit the page
IG,FB whoever..so it looks good enough for biff and buffys poodle on the beach in playa di mar
But try anything to expand and poof
All gone.
But ime.preaching to the choir here.

Its weight in your pack,no one elses
my batteries last about 4-5k shots each
Take enough or a charger

Phones will never ever take the place of a proper camera.
Now that ive stirred the pot have a great day!

I appreciate the wisdom!

gini007 · Saturday at 11:17 AM

Hi- amateur photographer here and doing my first Camino starting next week (Frances from SJPP) and have been back and forth regarding taking my smaller Nikon with prime lens set up which weighs in...

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My Camera -and our love/hate relationship

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