Ideal climbing camera?

Hi. I have been looking for a good camera for climbing over the years and have been very frustrated. Most "waterproof" cameras like the Olympus TG-1-6 or Nikon AW1 are made of lead (I think  Japanese manufacturers can't imagine someone using a waterproof cameras unless they're snorkeling in Hawaii). All phones take crappy photos at dusk and are made of eggshell porcelain. All waterproof cameras I've seen which aren't made of lead can't take a dusk shot, either.

The best one I've used thus fat is the Sony TX5, a camera that is over 10 years old and at 142 grams is about what I'd consider the limit weight-wise for my uses.

Is there anything better out there?

My most recent climbing camera was a FujiFilm FinePix F80 EXR.
Supposedly it will take decent photos in low light, but in dim enough light even a $3000 camera won't take nice photos.

I never looked for a waterproof camera.
I live in California and I'm a rock climber.
If the weather looks sketchy and I'm climbing anyway, I take a ziplock bag, and my camera goes in there if it starts to rain.

I moonlight as a wedding photographer, with the closet full of expensive gear to prove it. My iPhone 11 is capable of 75% of what my full-frame DSLR can do, including low light.

The ideal climbing camera is the one you can carry easily. 

Jared Chrysostom wrote: I moonlight as a wedding photographer, with the closet full of expensive gear to prove it. My iPhone 11 is capable of 75% of what my full-frame DSLR can do, including low light.

The ideal climbing camera is the one you can carry easily. 

This.  I own a nice DSLR and at one point had a large sensor point and shoot as well.  They're both a PITA to bring with you unless you're REALLY dedicated to the craft and more often than not I didn't have them with me.  Never mind the frustration with having to tinker with settings and exposure etc.  I shot Weddings for a while and know at least a bit of the craft.  For climbing I want the absolute dead easiest thing to pull out, snap and put away.  Modern smart phones are  close and on many levels, better.  It's been my exclusive camera on my last two big trips (lifetime highlights) and I had ZERO regrets only having the iPhone.  I'm not submitting to NatGeo or the Patagonia Catalog mind you...  I carry my phone in a padded "pouch" that rides on a chalk bag belt.  It's easily accessible and secure.  

Some examples - 

  

mattm wrote:

...  I carry my phone in a padded "pouch" that rides on a chalk bag belt.  It's easily accessible and secure.  

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of this setup would ya?

i'm paranoid of dropping mine on route and have been looking into ways of securing it via carry pouch and lanyard.

any additional ideas from others would be much appreciated.

JCS

jackscoldsweat wrote:

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of this setup would ya?

i'm paranoid of dropping mine on route and have been looking into ways of securing it via carry pouch and lanyard.

any additional ideas from others would be much appreciated.

JCS

I personally got one of the OtterBox cases that come apart into a plastic inner and rubber outer piece. I then took some thin cord, ran it through the charging port and hole on the back of the rubber piece. It all fits back together fairly well, then I carabiner that to a shoulder-length sling hitched/clipped to my harness. I’ve drop tested it a couple times while at home and the case didn’t come apart, so I feel pretty good about it. It’s a little bulky, so depending on how much gear I have on me, I put it in a fanny pack that I wear like a shoulder-length sling across my torso. I’ve also just put it in my pocket before and felt fine about that since it was clipped. 

I use a gopro 7 black. It's compact, doesnt weigh much, can fit on your harness (use a locker though) I learned a lesson on that one. Takes decent photos. 

If you look around, you can find cases with lanyard attachment points for most phones. Another good option is this:

​https://www.amazon.com/BLACKRAPID-Tether-Tab-Replacement-Smartphone-existing/dp/B0792G8F57​​​

I use one of these, usually just hangs on my neck inside my outermost layer.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074Y3JM65/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_gxHMEbYA6GRC1

They make some high-end point and shoot cameras with decent resolution like the Canon G15.  Nikon and Fuji, etc. make models with similar features.  The problem with a phone is resolution.  They are fine if you are only going to display your photos on the web.  If you enlarge them at all they fall apart.  For example, the resolution of an iPhone 7 is 750 x 1334 pixels.   A Canon G15 is 3000 x 4000.  

Brian wrote: They make some high-end point and shoot cameras with decent resolution like the Canon G15.  Nikon and Fuji, etc. make models with similar features.  The problem with a phone is resolution.  They are fine if you are only going to display your photos on the web.  If you enlarge them at all they fall apart.  For example, the resolution of an iPhone 7 is 750 x 1334 pixels.   A Canon G15 is 3000 x 4000.  

iPhone 7 is 12MP or 3000x4000  Same as my iPhone 8 and the G15.  Sensor size will matter as will the heavy handed processing in most phones but for most, not enough to offset the cumbersome issues.  YMMV

I love my Sony RX100. I have owned the version 2 and currently have the 4. You can find them used on Adorama or a similar site for a few hundred. It fits in my pocket, is the best point and shoot I have found, and is way better than an iPhone. Hit me up if you want to know more!

I also have a RX100 mark III and it takes much better pictures than an iPhone. However, I have a lot more iPhone pictures from climbing because it's always with me...

Are you trying to shoot raw? Are you editing in lightroom etc? Are you okay with lugging multiple lenses and spending a crap-load on glass? Then you should look into DSLR's and learning how to use/edit with one....very worth it when you use them correctly and know how to edit. 

it seems like that is the opposite of what you are looking for, in which case a modern phone with a waterproof case is by far the most logical, and honestly best option. Iphone 11, Galaxy s20 and pixel4 all have pretty insane cameras. I have a pixel 3 and I'm extremely impressed with the quality of photos that it takes. I don't really see an argument to use a point and shoot camera over one of these phones, as they are just another piece of gear to carry with you and are usually outperformed by the phone.

What phone do you currently have that is shooting so bad? It might not be a bad time for an upgrade. 

What do you want to do with your photos? Upload to the web for social media? Get a newish smartphone then. However, if you want to print or view pictures on big screens, no smartphones even come close to an entry level DSLR from 10 years ago. Physical sensor size and lens quality will always be the dominant factor in image quality, something obviously compromised in phones.

That said, look at the Lumix LX100 or RX100. Both have great (fixed) lenses and are super small (maybe a half liter?). I've taken my LX100 on many trips and am always glad to have higher quality images of certain vistas (I like to print photos). For me a small point and shoot is definitely worth chucking in the bag. It just depends what your use case is.

Max R wrote: I also have a RX100 mark III and it takes much better pictures than an iPhone. However, I have a lot more iPhone pictures from climbing because it's always with me...

Ditto for the RX100.  I have a Mark 7 and the one-tenth second autofocus capability is invaluable for those one-handed action shots.  Unfortunately, it's very pricey.  The older models have come down in price a lot though as others have mentioned.

I have a Fuji Xt3 and love it. It comes with one of the best free lenses on the market. Picked it up on B&H I believe.  Having the better free lenses made my decision easier when comparing it to the Sony A7iii. If you want to upgrade to a zoom lens in the future, then Fuji is the way to go.

AJ wrote: However, if you want to print or view pictures on big screens, no smartphones even come close to an entry level DSLR from 10 years ago.

Are you sure about that? I would love to see a comparison that makes this clear. 

I just drilled two tiny holes in the sides of the bottom of my Otterbox case, then slid some very thin and strong cord in the holes after applying superglue to the cord and case. Been dangling this thing off my body for countless pitches.

jackscoldsweat wrote:

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of this setup would ya?

i'm paranoid of dropping mine on route and have been looking into ways of securing it via carry pouch and lanyard.

any additional ideas from others would be much appreciated.

JCS

Niteize has the best tether setup imo. You can just purchase the part that attaches inside the phone case if you prefer to use accessory cord to attach to you. https://www.niteize.com/product/Hitch-Phone-Anchor-Tether.asp 

I really like the Leica Q. Very high quality photos for the physical size and super robust.