Why Should I Bring My Camera When Hiking

ByCharles Wesley

I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “the best camera is the one that’s with you.” That means it doesn’t matter what type of camera you have, but rather how often and effectively you use it. But I think there’s more to it than just frequency of usage; carrying your camera on a hiking trip presents some unique challenges that might not be present in other situations.

For example, when hiking, we’re usually far from civilization and power sources. This post will help me leran the Best Should I Bring My Camera When Hiking. And even if we had access to electricity, our cameras could become wet or fogged up (or damaged) by rain or snowfall.

So my advice is this: If possible, bring your camera on hikes where you know there will be exciting subjects – like wildlife, waterfalls, or epic landscapes.  Leave your camera at home on most other walks where you’re unlikely to encounter exciting content!

Here are some tips for bringing your camera with you on the trails. It’s organized by the type of gear I use – but all cameras have something in common: they can stop working if exposed to extreme temperatures or moisture so keep them warm and dry.

Why Should I Bring My Camera When Hiking

Check your batteries

It’s essential to let the camera sit unused for 24+ hours to stabilize the internal temperature to room temperature before taking it out in the cold. Keeping spare charged batteries with you is a good idea, especially if you’re using something like an SLR that takes multiple AAAs instead of just one lithium-ion battery. Always bring extra batteries in the winter when you are hiking through snowy or rainy conditions. If you hike, you should be aware that How to wrap DSLR camera when hiking  for your.

Could your camera keep it safe?

Bring a case to shield your camera from rain, snow, ice – anything that could ruin your gear. There are models specifically made for the type of equipment you have. I use a poncho when there’s a chance of precipitation or doing something where there’s more potential to drop my camera (like climbing up a steep hill without using my hands). When hiking in the winter, I carry my camera inside my down jacket or wear it inside my waterproof shell with a soft-shell layer on top.

Plan your shots

Since you’re not carrying around heavy photo gear, plan out your photographic methods ahead of time, so you don’t have to stop walking to find a shot instead, if you’re hiking on a trail. 

(1) look for an exciting subject and position yourself in such a way that you can get more than one frame of it; 

(2) press the shutter halfway down to make sure your camera’s focus is set, and

(3) once everything looks good, click the shutter all the way.

Avoid using the LCD screen

The camera’s LCD screen creates an enormous amount of heat, so even if you’re wearing gloves, it might be dangerous to look at the screen for very long periods. If you’re trying to conserve battery power on your hike (a good idea!), detach the LCD screen from the camera body and try to use it indoors or behind a jacket while you’re taking pictures.

If your camera is compatible, consider using an external battery pack so that you can keep shooting for longer than if you were limited only by the camera’s internal power. Make sure to set the LCD screen brightness down so it doesn’t create too much heat; LCDs typically draw a lot of energy and can become warm in cold weather.

Resist the temptation to use your camera for other functions: navigation, communication, etc. Unless you have a smartphone with GPS capabilities (and extra battery!) I strongly recommend avoiding this – it’s unwise to trust your safety to non-waterproofed electronics

What other precautions should I take when hiking with a camera?

There are a lot of ways you can damage your delicate electronic equipment, so try to follow these guidelines:

Keep your batteries warm at all costs

Put them in a pocket next to your body if necessary. If you’re carrying the battery externally, wrap it in a scarf or handkerchief to protect it from rain.

Keep your camera as dry as possible

Keep your camera as dry as possible during hiking conditions (i.e., avoid cameras with water seals or fog sensors because you’re going to put them through the wringer). If you start noticing condensation (usually seen on the LCD screen), bring your camera inside to warm it up.

Carry your camera with you at all time

Carry your camera with you at all times, and make sure nothing (like rocks or ice) can directly accost the lens when hiking through rough terrain.

Keep your shots simple

Keep your shots simple. Don’t focus on anything more than a few feet away because the more complex pieces of machinery (lenses) tend to be more delicate.

Keep your hands warm

Keep your hands warm (fingerless glove liners work wonders for me), and make sure you can operate the camera with gloves on. It is essential both when it’s cold and during the summer months when I’m climbing steep mountainsides where it might get slippery.

Is there anything else I should keep in mind?

There are many ways you can damage your equipment, but using it at high altitudes has its challenges. When the atmosphere is thinner (less oxygen to breathe), there’s less pressure on any given object.

That means if you’re hiking up a mountain where the elevation is above 9,000 feet, you might have to adjust your aperture for the camera’s image sensor to receive an appropriate amount of light. This post will help you find about that How To Carry Camera While Hiking above 9,000 feet. However, most cameras are good at making this adjustment automatically by taking atmospheric pressure into account.

If you’re getting unusual lighting mistakes (like black bars in your pictures), then try checking the manual for how to change your aperture manually

Conclusion:

People buy camera equipment to take pictures, but they don’t realize that some things need to be considered and the quality of the equipment. so if you find yourself in a situation where your expensive equipment is being put through a lot of stress, it might be smart to keep a cheap point and shoot camera with you just for those situations.

The best camera is the one that’s with you, but it needs to be durable enough for your lifestyle. Don’t sacrifice safety for a high-quality picture because both are equally important.

Making sure you’re prepared means bringing extra batteries and keeping any water/moisture away from your equipment. Always bring your camera no matter how far or short of an excursion you are going on! It might come in handy at some point.