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Anyone like photography and skiing?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi hi, I got back into skiing last year after a long time away (skis I skii'd with family until I was 16 but then couldn't afford it until my 30s) but it's like riding a bike! I'm right back to it and have rediscovered his incredible it is!

I like taking photos and using them in my home. I want decent quality photos but don't want to ski with my fancy camera and massive lens wink

What do keen togs do? We have a go pro which isn't used much but seems like it might be a good option as it is so small and light.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@bobcat, wouldn't call myself an expert, or overly keen, but when I've wanted decent photos in the mountains I've taken my micro 4/3 camera with a pancake lens. Fits in my jacket pocket, or a small pocket of a backpack, and gives much better photos than a phone, compact or gopro-type camera.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@bobcat, check out the snowheads camera club in the apres section. I'm sure they can advise.
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The easiest option is to get yourself a higher-end smartphone. Most of these now have cameras that can rival compact cmeras on everything except optical zoom and provided you check you're saving at max resolution are more than good-enough for 10x8 printing. You'll probably want to buy one of the camera apps from the app store too, as these tend to give you more control than the default one that comes on the phone.

Next up would be a good quality compact - but unless you really need a bug optical zoom I think you'd be better off adding £300 to your next phone budget rather than spending it on a compact.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
bobcat wrote:
... I want decent quality photos but don't want to ski with my fancy camera and massive lens wink
What do keen togs do? ...

The first point there identifies the contradiction. Advertising aside, small sensors just can't compete with larger ones when it comes to image quality. It's the physics.

Keen photographers do what it takes to achieve the quality required. In my case I use a chest bag when I'm shooting, which makes the size of the gear less of an issue (and means there's zero faff, which to me matters a lot). I used to carry Canon 1-series cameras which are a Kilo or more. These days I've switched to the Sony Mirrorless, which is half the weight and has better AF and image quality).

I suppose you could look at a range of things, and stop once you find something you think has acceptable quality:
  • GoPro with Protune on/ standard smartphone
  • compact digital camera
  • bigger digital camera


Whilst size isn't everything, sensor size is fairly important and bigger is better. If you're not interested in shooting raw and using Lightroom then probably a phone will be fine.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
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Something to keep lithium batteries warm on cold days is worth having, it's amazing how much battery life can deteriorate below freezing.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I do like shooting raw and developing photos myself but I would also worry about falling and damaging expensive gear
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
generally speaking a decent lens is better than lots of megapixels, but a good camera doesnt necissarily mean good pictures, its what you see through the lens thats make a good picture, if you got a good eye for a picture then you cant really go wrong whatever camera you use.
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I wouldn't dream of taking good gear skiing. Weight, falls, drops, theft and condensation when coming in out of the cold would be my worries
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I take my DSLR skiing with me and dont overly stress/ worry. I will say I dont have super expensive/ high end camera gear, but its still a canon 750d and a couple of lenses. Being in the mountains is one of the most photogenic places I'll go and I wouldnt want to miss out on that.

I use a dakine heli pro 20l, with my camera and lenses in individual lowe alpine soft cases. the camera case and lens case sit pretty snug in the bottom of the bag so dont move around too much.

As for damp/ condensation, I make sure I keep some silica gel pouches/ crystals in the bags and let the camera come up to temp gradually when indoors.

I dont carry my camera with me every day, but usually on 1 or 2 days I'll stick my kit in my bag if i think the weather is looking decent. I reckon there's more chance of my dropping it on the floor in normal use, than damaging it in my bag when skiing. Just be aware that once you have camera kit in your bag you sit further out from the chair when on a lift, meaning you need to sit kinda squint or take the bag off altogether.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I always find taking panaramas a good way of getting better quality end product. instead of getting the whole landscape in in one exposure take individual portaits and stitch them together post production.

You can get some very nice point and shoots, still a few hundred pounds mind, but you won't have to worry about changing lenses, dropping lenses, getting snow in the body, breaking it, whatever.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Frosty the Snowman wrote:
I wouldn't dream of taking good gear skiing. Weight, falls, drops, theft and condensation when coming in out of the cold would be my worries

Each to their own, but I've never damaged a camera snowboarding in... quite a lot of seasons.

The condensation issue is easy to solve - leave the camera in a bag until it's warm, or if you want to get it out quicker, wrap it in a hotel towel.
Really big cameras are waterproof anyhow. Even toy cameras (eg the Rylo ) don't need any particular protection, in my experience.
I have shot professionally day-in day-out in wet snow without any issues, even with "lightweight" camera gear.

Batteries aren't as bad as they used to be, but I like having two, then you just keep one warm in your pocket and swap them around
anytime one "runs out". Once it's warm again, magically it's not run out at all.

The problem with using backpacks is the "faff" time is much longer.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Phone all the time (reasonbly decent camera as far as phone goes)

Dslr some of the times. I only use compact zooms for skiing. Not the “best” quality but much improved over a phone camera.

My camera is quite a few years old. So I’m not too stressed over it. If I break it, I’ll be getting a far more updated replacement for not much money! Smile
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
philwig wrote:
Frosty the Snowman wrote:
I wouldn't dream of taking good gear skiing. Weight, falls, drops, theft and condensation when coming in out of the cold would be my worries

Each to their own, but I've never damaged a camera snowboarding in... quite a lot of seasons.

The condensation issue is easy to solve - leave the camera in a bag until it's warm, or if you want to get it out quicker, wrap it in a hotel towel.
Really big cameras are waterproof anyhow. Even toy cameras (eg the Rylo ) don't need any particular protection, in my experience.
I have shot professionally day-in day-out in wet snow without any issues, even with "lightweight" camera gear.

Batteries aren't as bad as they used to be, but I like having two, then you just keep one warm in your pocket and swap them around
anytime one "runs out". Once it's warm again, magically it's not run out at all.

The problem with using backpacks is the "faff" time is much longer.

No, I get that and can see how many would make it work. I do well not to kill myself on a chairlift without a camera bag attached. I also break anything with ease. It would end in disaster for me. I don't ski that opften and would rather ski than faff (as i would undoubtedly faff)
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
For years taken a Panasonic Lumix (tz18 in my case, but there are much newer ones available, and similar cameras in other makes; the size is the real point). Super zoom, 4/3 sensor (I think), produces decent enough shots, easily fits flat in a pocket. No faff or hassle at all. Never had condensation or any other issues, can be used on P mode and just quick point and shoot with white balance and exposure compensation easily pre set or adjusted for snow, sun etc.

Also consider modern mirrorless cameras which have aps-c or better sensors and are just about as small and light (depending on lens chosen). I have a Canon EOSm with 18-55 kit lens, very small, will just go in a pocket, certainly easy in bum bag or sac. Has the advantage over the Lumix of easily taking polarizing or UV filter on the lens. Better option if I want to go taking night or in resort shots, less good for quick shots whilst on piste.

As someone said above, keep batteries (inc a spare) well insulated against cold (bit of old fleece, old sock and/or and bubblewrap works for me) and ditto camera (also wrap against shocks).
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Specialist backpacks like my Evoc CP26 means the 'faff' of accessing a well protected DSLR is minimal. Pretty sure you can get an EVOC CP pack which is just a zip on for an ABS vario too.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@bobcat, smaller sensor mirrorless get good sports performance, Olympus Pen for compact, EM for SLR analogy, Sony. Many are weather resistant or indeed proof. As you will have plenty light, typicall, you can get compact quality long range zoom.

I may take my rather big Oly E-520 out tomorrow, I have a 600mm effective zoom which is perfect for skiing.

Micro 4/3s gets you a lens like this: which is super compact for what it does

My version is full 4/3s and rather bigger Sad
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I've taken a dSLR a few times and found it a faff TBH so now just take a Fuji X20 which I find far better.

That said I was in Val one year when the Frostgun Invitational was on and the 70-200 proved to be quite handy Happy
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I always take my Panasonic Lumix with mechanical zoom and aperture/speed adjustability and reasonable video. Some of my best 'opportunist' shots have been with this. But it only does jpgs and not raw, which is often annoying. I also take a Canon full-frame DSLR with f2.8 28-70mm plus polarising filter. My best shots have been with this. On occasion, I've brought the Canon 100-400mm zoom and this has produced some great action shots and some of my best 'wallpaper' photos.

I've found it pretty difficult to get good action shots without a fairly 'long' (i.e. 200mm or more) mechanical telephoto lens. I just seem to be too far away and it's very hard to be positioned close enough.

As a compromise, I do tend to decide on it being a 'photo day' for the big equipment: usually when I'm a bit skiied-out and want to take it easy, and happy to 'waste' time on composition and searching for just the right shot.

We also tend to have at least one day out on foot - it's surprising how different the experience is. You get a very different perspective (metaphorically) for some reason. We'll use the area skipass and without the pressure to atually ski, you can find there are more shots near to the lift stations than you might have realised. Some of my best landscape shots have come from these excursions. Where we are, I can get up to 3300m metres quite quickly, as I'm not carting-around a pair of skis and poles and clomping slowly around in ski boots. Getting down is pretty fast if you can get a sequence of lifts down - and the lifts will be empty going down as well, so you have a decent platform for taking photos.

We also snowshoe more now on bad visibility days, and this gets you away from the crowds very quickly, but without a lot of effort. And the shots will be different too: more nature and little sign of people. So that's another option.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I take my 7D out skiing and dont stress about it. As others have suggested condensation is only a risk on returning to a warm environment, in and out a bag isn't going to be an issue.
The mountains are some of the most beautiful scenery you will ever experience and for the cost of being there i am not going to leave my camera at home unused.
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My skiing setup is sony A7II with zeiss 35/2.8

Comact enough to fit into jackets pocket. 35mm is good for both landscapes and environmental portraits. FF image quality just doest compare with anything a spamrtphone can give you.

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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I use a Samsung S4 Zoom camera/phone. I is a camera with a phone rather than a phone with a camera added. Take a look at the photos on Les Arcs Winter facebook page as most of them are taken with this very small camera. It works great. Has proper zoom x10 plus loads of other features. I do not think they make it any more, but if they do or you can find one it is worth buying. It can take good videos as well if you add a big memory card.

https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Sony Action Cam for video. Super compact and easy.

Panasonic Lumix GX80 micro 4/3 camera with a variett of prime and zoom lenses.

Lenses in my backpack.

Camera with whichever lens I'm using at the time on a neck strap inside my jacket.

Easy to zip open and shoot.

Plus keeps the camera and batteries warm.

Pics in the Japan thread.

Had plenty printed in magazines, so no issue with quality.
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Thanks for all the replies! I am remembering photography forums now - it's all about expensive gear Very Happy Could I have chosen two more pricey hobbies? Laughing
I have an old used Canon 5D, nifty fifty and 35-105 mm f 4.5. And I generally shoot raw. I wonder if just a pancake lens would do? I'd love a micro bridge camera but couldn't justify both a new camera and a new lens (plus ski holiday!).
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@bobcat, I've almost the same as you, 5D Canon but with 35-135 lens, plus 50mm 1.8 and it's really been everywhere. Sensible precautions to stop it being damaged but make it available to do what I want with it see it out in most environments.

Suggestion for secondary camera is a Canon S120 compact, huge amount of facilities packed into such a small compact. Worth a look, that really does go everywhere with me.

Suggestion for different lens to offer something in contrast to the others, a manual focus Tamron 90mm macro which you can equip with adapter straight to EOS, so still full frame coverage with infinity focus. Really sharp and has floating first element to keep it so right down to minimum distance. Superb for portrait too along with nuture details on the mountain.

Having worked in photographic labs, the biggest compromise seen when people want to use images is camera movement on still shots, normally vertical. Some basic support (even leaning on ski pole) pays big dividends for enlarged imaging.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I've had a small Pentax Optio WG-3 waterproof camera for many years for use in the mountains where a DSLR is too bulky, it's also not bad for macro shots.
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