Photography Gear

[+Fiction]

Hi,

 

I'm curious as to what photography gear you all take with you while going out geocaching.

 

DSLR and tripod?

 

Multiple lenses?

 

Just a small compact camera?

 

Only use smartphone camera?

 

The great thing about geocaching is that it takes us to interesting places that we otherwise wouldn't have gone, and therefore creates a lot of great photo opportunities. For this reason I like to carry around my DSLR (Which is currently a canon 60D with 18-55 kit lense), and a gorillapod that I clip onto my backpack.

 

Ideally I'd like to at least upgrade my lense to something with more reach for photographing wildlife, but for now that's my simple camera kit.

 

What's yours?

[RuideAlmeida]

Usually I use my compact Panasonic Lumix FS35.

In events I also take my DSLR Nikon D3100 (with a 18-55mm and a 55-200mm lenses)... I'm still afraid to take it "into the wild".

I recently bought a Vivitar VPT1250 tripod and I'm very eager to make good use of it.

Edited May 10, 2015 by RuideAlmeida

[+cerberus1]

I just take a Exilim point n shoot.

These days, I'm often the only one with pics on caches, so no complaints yet.

My other 2/3rds gets a little fancier with a Nikon coolpix L120.

[+Harry Dolphin]

I like my Samsung ES80. Point and shoot. Good for non-techie dolphins.

[+T.D.M.22]

I usually carry a Canon T3, with a 18-55mm lens which is what I use most of the time. If I know I'm going to need some more zoom, I'll take me a 55-250mm lens. Honestly these get the job done 90% of the time, and the rest usually calls for an wider lens, and occasionally a super long shot.

 

A 2X extender would be my next lens purchase, to give me 18-500mm. I'm just not into wildlife photography enough to justify another whole lens.

 

I don't have a tripod, or even monopod, as lugging a lot of stuff around just takes all the joy away. Also my style doesn't require me to use one. I'm more of a street photographer, capture the moment and move one, rather than set up camera, speed lights, reflectors.

 

I've also used the camera on my iPhone 5s with decent success. Of course I can't exactly have the same control, but for random caching it works. I've also learned it is a decent replica for a wide angle lens, and the f stop is better than any of my lenses.

 

Like I said I only carry my long lens when I'm expecting to use it, but otherwise that's what I carry geocaching, at events, or any other time.

[+Ringrat]

I generally carry my Olympus OM-D E-M10. I have a pancake lens for it that does most of what I want, though last week while walking through several herds of bighorn sheep I was sure wishing for more zoom.

[+geodarts]

Canon 6D, Canon Sx280 HS, iPhone 6 - it depends on where I am going and what photos I anticipate taking.

 

I bring the 6D on some hikes. When we went into Horseshoe Canyon and The Great Gallery, I was not going to go all that way and not have the best chance to take the photos I wanted - a Koolertron rucksack camera backpack will even hold a Dolica compact tripod should that be needed.

 

But the Canon SX comes in handy on a kayak or a general hike. It has enough options to work in most situations. The iPhone can be fun to use, and I have a tendency to collect photo apps.

[+AustinMN]

Sometimes I bring it all, which is one of the reasons I use a mirrorless (Sony NEX-6). Everything is a little lighter and smaller but still lets me choose lenses.

 

When I say "all" that usually includes a tripod, but if I don't bring the tripod then I've got my monopod. I cache to find places to photograph, not the other way around.

 

Austin

[+Fiction]

Cool, it's interesting hearing about everyones kit and what they choose to lug around.

 

I guess it's largely a balance of mobility vs having the best gear for the job.

 

It's rare that I feel I need a tripod, but for the situations that I do, for longer exposures or timelapse photography, I'm glad I have my gorillapod with me.

[+AustinMN]

...It's rare that I feel I need a tripod, but for the situations that I do, for longer exposures or timelapse photography, I'm glad I have my gorillapod with me.

 

A good tripod is heavy. A better tripod is heavier. The best tripod is the one you actually use.

 

Austin

[+Fiction]

...It's rare that I feel I need a tripod, but for the situations that I do, for longer exposures or timelapse photography, I'm glad I have my gorillapod with me.

 

A good tripod is heavy. A better tripod is heavier. The best tripod is the one you actually use.

 

Austin

 

Very true

[+AustinMN]

I should have added some of my other gear.

 

Lenses, in alphabetical order:

• Minolta MD 28mm f/2.8
  
• Minolta MD 50mm f/1.7 (my fastest lens)
  
• Minolta MD 300mm f/4.5
  
• Quantaray 70-210mm f/4-5.6
  
• Rokinon 12mm f2.0 Ultrawide
  
• Sony 16-50mm kit lens (worst lens in the bag).
  
• Tokina 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5
  

 

Filters (most of my lenses are adapted to 58mm filter thread):

• 40.5mm circular polarizer
  
• 58mm circular polarizer
  
• 58mm 2-stop ND filter
  
• 58mm 2-stop graduated ND filter
  
• 58mm +1 close-up
  
• 58mm +3 close-up
  
• 62mm polarizer
  
• 72mm polarizer
  

 

Also:

• 4 camera batteries
  
• 2 USB batteries
  
• magnetic compass
  
• 18% neutral grey card
  
• Minolta SR-Mount to Sony E-mount adapter
  

[+JohnnyVegas]

I carry one of two Nikons, A D800 or a D750, my first lens of choice is a Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 and I might even carry my smaller flash a Nikon SM400. At events I carry both camera bodies and I also add my Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens. Plus extra batteries. This is a fair amount of weight but a lot less than when I was in Italy with a 35 pound camera bag on my back.

[+Bohemian1966]

Since I am a photographer by profession when I am Geocaching I feel like I need to take a break and relax from all the gear so I just use my iPhone and if I want to get fancy I will bust out the OlloClip lens for it.

If am visiting someplace EPIC I will take my Nikon D800, 24-70 lens and my small Slik Table-Top Tripod. ( the Tripod is also awesome to help stabilize any hand held video I take with DSLR. )

[+hzoi]

When I am on a caching trip, I usually don't bring the full bag, just a photo backpack with:

 

Canon 5D Mark II

50mm f/1.2 L

16-35mm f/2.8 L

70-200mm f/2.8 L plus 1.4x TC

 

Sometimes I'll also bring the Canon 5D that has been converted to full-time IR.

[+JAKSolantern]

I usually just use my cell phone or a Nikon Coolpix that I always carry with me. They usually work out well enough for most things. Caching gear + camera gear would be overloaded in my book.

[+Touchstone]

Canon S100 here. Pretty basic point and shoot with a few bells and whistles.

 

My Wife is more of a shutterbug than I am. Her most common setup includes:

 

Nikon 1 J5

NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6

NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6

 

Although, even that is sometimes just too much gear at times. Here's what I'm looking at for the next option to buy:

 

[+hzoi]

Had never heard of the Light L16 before. Thought it was a prank because of the multiple lenses with the same focal length. Interesting concept, though. And at half the cost of, and a fraction the size of, my DSLR, it might be worth picking up when they start accepting orders again...

[+CFphoto]

I typically carry my main body (D4) with a 24-70 f/2.8. Sometimes if I expect to see wildlife I'll carry the 70-200mm f/2.8 instead, but not usually. Typically carried on a spider holster.

[+CFphoto]

When I go out I typically take my main body (D4) and a 24-70mm f/2.8. I wear it on a SpiderPro holster so that I have use of my hands but quick access if needed. If I'm going somewhere where I feel there is a high likelihood of cool wildlife, I'll sub out for the 70-200mm f/2.8 instead. Sometimes, if I know that the hike or destination will have something really special in terms of a photographic opportunity, I'll take the D750 instead.

[+Team_Vod]

Samsung Android Note 4 is what I use. Instant upload to my Google Photos account.

[+HCompleto]

My OnePlus One is my caching device, so it is always the fastest way to snap a picture

 

In terms of actual gear:

- Nikon D3200

- Nikon 18-105 lens

- Sigma 70-300 lens f4-5.6

- Tripod

[+lumbricus]

At the moment I'm using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000.

[SunCatRune]

I take my Canon point-and-shoot (ELPH 330 HS) almost everywhere I go. It lives in the pocket of my coat, etc. I also have a mirrorless Sony Alpha A5000, but am not used to carrying it a lot. I generally travel quite light, but if I think I am going somewhere special, or have something I want to capture, I will bring more gear.

[awya77]

I have a point-and-shoot Nikon P90 because the upgrade after that didn't have good macro capabilities. Unfortunately, my camera is going downhill and is going to die soon. I just recently order a macro lens attachement for my phone for when I'm not carrying my camera and due to it wanting to die. Hopefully I can eventually save up for a new camera!

[+tamike000]

My smartphone.. sometimes is the best option however,... I want to bring my Canon ti7. Difficult when you cannot find the right backpack or right Pack 2 have on your quest when you have a little dog and you need water and food too

[mathogre]

On 2/3/2017 at 9:23 PM, SunCatRune said:

I take my Canon point-and-shoot (ELPH 330 HS) almost everywhere I go. It lives in the pocket of my coat, etc. I also have a mirrorless Sony Alpha A5000, but am not used to carrying it a lot. I generally travel quite light, but if I think I am going somewhere special, or have something I want to capture, I will bring more gear.

I know this thread has been quiet for awhile, and I'm a noob here.  No matter, I have opinions on cameras.

 

I recently started here and found my first cache a few days ago.  My camera of choice to bring with me was my little Elph, the ELPH 330 HS.  It is a great little camera!  Why that?

 

I have a few cameras, including a couple full frame Canons with high end lenses.  Little Elph however wanted to join me, so she came along.

 

On a more practical level, I could bring a DSLR with a good lens, and likely I will sometimes.  I've used my pro gear to do lots of high end photography.  It's great for that.  It's also great for simple snapshots.  And yet the little ELPH 330 has an effective focal length range of 24-240mm, does pretty well in semi-low light conditions (ISO 3200 is its practical limit), is tiny, is macro capable, and it doesn't get in my way.  It is impressive in its own right.

[+Thot]

I carry a Canon PowerShot S120 in my shirt pocket.

 

 

Blossoms are about 1" across

 

Edited March 30, 2019 by Thot