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Your BEST Climbing Photographs

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715
drmartindell wrote: Whaaa? James....stubborn? I'd go with relentless.
Here's a "relentless" James shot for ya!

"In Alaska..."

The climber pictured in the Led by Sheep pic is Ian from OK. Glad you recognized your fellow Homer-ite though!
Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715
Jon H wrote:Dylan, you're going about this all wrong. If you just want to see some pretty pictures, then fine, you're on the right track, but it's a fools errand to try and pick the best camera based on the images you see in this thread. They won't tell you anything at all. It's simple: Buy whatever is on sale. Nobody makes a bad camera any more. They are all equally capable, the resolution wars are over, and lens prices have (more or less) achieved parity. It doesn't make your choice any easier per se, but that's the way it is. I made my living with Canon cameras for years. I'm in an entirely different industry now, but I would have no hesitation buying Nikon or Sony today (but would lean towards Canon or Nikon for reasons of ubiquity alone).
Thanks for the commentary... and for calling me a fool :)

To clarify, I am NOT looking to purchase a DSLR based on what one amateur enthusiast did one time with a good bit of luck and even more patience... That WOULD make me a fool.

I wanted to give people the opportunity to share some of their favorite shots and, along with them, provide info about their setup/ why they bought it/ if they're happy with it/ etc. I want to hear what members of our community are really out there shooting with, and why not give them a forum to show off a bit and raise some stoke?

It really isn't as simple as buying what is on sale... What about weather sealing? Auto focusing throughout video modes? Operability of controls while wearing gloves? Performance at temperature extremes? Weight considerations? (Ex: D3200 is close to 50% lighter than similar magnesium-alloy bodied cameras, but is possibly not as durable?/ Waterproof?!??!)

I guess I'm looking for specifics, so I'll aks a specific question; specifically:
When comparing the Nikon D3200 to the D7100 there is a key difference a climber should take note of: durability of the body material/ weather sealing. Does anyone have any experience with a sealed/ vs. unsealed bodies? Blowing Utah dust? Ice dripping in the park? Afternoon surprise storms in the rockies?
Would you recommend weather sealing/ am I going to destroy the cheaper D3200 faster because it is not sealed?

I've effectively answered my own question here, but I'm open to any/ all input...
Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

Locker, that B&W is fantastic!!! Nice contrast!

Is that Josh? Or the City?

Jason Kim · · Encinitas, CA · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 255

Questions that really, only you can answer, Dylan. No one knows the conditions you will be shooting in, how you will treat your gear, etc. Since it sounds like you have some fairly legit climbing goals in mind, I'd say that spending the extra money on a lightweight body, weather sealing, etc. will all come in handy, and might be justified if you've got a hookup with Nikon.

In my experience, having spent many days in the backcountry in adverse conditions, there are only two things that will keep your camera gear in good operating condition: be as careful as you can and hope for some luck. Water, dust, etc. will eventually find their way into your gear, sealed or not.

If it were me, and I was planning to invest in a new rig with the primary goal of making publish-worthy images during climbing trips, I'd buy a used version of a newer compact DSLR and a used zoom that covers something in the range of 22-100 mm (adjust for cropped sensor). Since the likelihood of damaging your gear beyond repair is very real, I wouldn't bother spending the money on new equipment, or an expensive body. Hopefully it will last you a season or two, and it won't be too painful to replace it after you smash your camera against a rock.

Kinesis ( kgear.com/store/) makes some nice accessories, including harness/strap systems that you might find useful. I use some of their stuff on extended backpacking trips when I'm carrying a ton of gear.

I appreciate your desire to raise the stoke, and I will happily play along! Here's a shot of the moon and Jupiter over Mt. Hitchcock, as viewed from the west face of Mt. Whitney. Unfortunately, I don't really have any shots that involve bona fide climbing since it seems I'm always doing one or the other (it's damn hard to make nice photos while climbing). I do have some photos that climbers might appreciate, though.

Moon over Hitchcock
Canon 5D2, Canon 24-105L. Shot at very high ISO while bracing the tripod against my body to combat some fierce wind.

Sunrise on Haleakala
Canon 5D2, Canon 17-40L. Sunrise from the summit of Haleakala, a standard tourist shot.

West Temple, Zion Nat'l Park
Canon 5D2, Canon 17-40L. Lying in my tent at sunrise, and everything started to turn pink. I stuck my head outside the fly and saw this scene directly above. I have never moved so fast to get a shot set up. The light was gone less than a minute later.

Jacob Dolence · · Farmville, VA · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 806




Steve Thomas · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 30


Pretty sure it was shot on one of the lower end Nikon DSLR's.

Things to consider:

1. Be in Greece
2. Don't be strong enough to avoid falling.
Clockwork Orange · · California · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 335
ArizonaB-Rad · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 5
Jason Maurer · · Colorado · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 790
Dylan Evans · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 20
rockandice.com/photo-camp-c…

Check out some awesome photos here, and (I hate to self-promote, but) vote for mine!
Jon C. Sullivan · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 30

Nice shots Jason! Im heading to shelf road this weekend if you want in...

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

Love the Chasm Lake lighting and the timing in Greece! Keep 'em coming (and keep informing about your kit!)

one of Durango's sexiest angles
Kit: same Olympus pointer-shooter as earlier

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715
Jason Kim wrote:Questions that really, only you can answer, Dylan. No one knows the conditions you will be shooting in, how you will treat your gear, etc. Since it sounds like you have some fairly legit climbing goals in mind, I'd say that spending the extra money on a lightweight body, weather sealing, etc. will all come in handy, and might be justified if you've got a hookup with Nikon. In my experience, having spent many days in the backcountry in adverse conditions, there are only two things that will keep your camera gear in good operating condition: be as careful as you can and hope for some luck. Water, dust, etc. will eventually find their way into your gear, sealed or not. If it were me, and I was planning to invest in a new rig with the primary goal of making publish-worthy images during climbing trips, I'd buy a used version of a newer compact DSLR and a used zoom that covers something in the range of 22-100 mm (adjust for cropped sensor). Since the likelihood of damaging your gear beyond repair is very real, I wouldn't bother spending the money on new equipment, or an expensive body. Hopefully it will last you a season or two, and it won't be too painful to replace it after you smash your camera against a rock. Kinesis ( kgear.com/store/) makes some nice accessories, including harness/strap systems that you might find useful. I use some of their stuff on extended backpacking trips when I'm carrying a ton of gear.
Jason,

Thank you so much for your informed, civil, constructive, and thoughtful responses! Good advice and coherent logic are attributes found few and far between on the pages of Mountain Project, and I (and hopefully everyone else) appreciates valuable contributions such as your own.

Despite the lack of sealing, I think the weight savings the Nikon D3200 affords combined with the palatable price tag (and the previously mentioned point of inheriting nice glass!) put it ahead of the pack in the race for the best entry-level DSLR. If I stumble across a deal on a used one then hoorah!

Thank you also for the carry-system recommendations! I've always been concerned with straps failing and dropping essentials into the depths and fishers of hungry desert towers... I'll be sure to invest appropriately.

Cheers,
-Dylan Weldin

One for the road:
The golden hour on top of my first hungry tower. She only ate one #1 link cam this day. Didn't like the taste and spat it out on rappel :)
Climbers clearly visible on the Rectory summit after smiling our way up Fine Jade
Jason Kim · · Encinitas, CA · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 255

You're welcome, and likewise. You know what works well for me - I carry a very lightweight silnylon dry bag (I think it weighs a couple of ounces) and if it starts to rain or it's really dusty, I just shove the camera inside. I don't like carrying a dedicated camera bag because they tend to be bulky/heavy, and as you mentioned before, you need to have your gear out and ready to use at a moment's notice. You can use a jacket or whatever gear you're already carrying for padding, if you really need it. Be creative, and don't worry about getting some scratches on the body.

Kinesis makes some nice quick release clips that attach to your backpack straps, and I use these to keep the camera at chest level. It takes some getting used to, and it sucks at times, but it works much better than storing everything inside a bulkier pack that is hard to access. When called for, I also use a big fanny pack (dork factor alert) which is actually really convenient.

I swear, fanny packs are the bomb. It is a shame that they look so awful. I had a neon yellow T&C fanny when I was a kid. I miss that thing.

If you do much in the rain/snow, you can buy silica dessicant packs in bulk for pretty cheap, and these are very useful in damp or humid conditions. You can even recharge them in an oven, so they last a long time.

And finally, if you're doing much in conditions below freezing, those small chemical hand warmers can be used to keep your batteries warm. I've had fully charged batteries die in a matter of minutes, if it's really cold out. You need 2 or 3 and then you can rotate them as they die (warm them up and they spring to life like a zombie).

knowbuddy Buddy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 225
La Corsa De Gallo
I didn't take this but I'm in it. And you can't get here by car or plane, only packraft or foot.
RyanJames · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 505

Amazing Arizonan stone!!!

Yeah, baby!

Eric Rich · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 155
Ryan Kempf · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 371
Mo Flo Than Go
Not BEST photo ever, but shows what you can do on the cheap.

Equipment-Iphone 3G. Not bad for a camera that also plays music.
fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

I'm too lazy to haul around a DSLR. I think my POSs do OK with the right lighting/settings. These were taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 or Fuji F80-EXR.

Cathedral Traverse from Cathedral Peak, Tuolumne Meadows

John D on our Icarus lunch break, Eldorado Canyon

Mike C on our Evolution Traverse recon, High Sierra

GMBurns · · The Fucking Moon, man, the… · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 470

Ramblin' Rose - South Platte



Entrance to the Gorge in El Chorro, Spain


Near the start of Epi
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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