Going hiking - quick question

kman

kman

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Going on a hiking trip next week to Snowdonia hopefully. I'm taking a smaller backpack and considering only taking a 50mm prime with me up the mountains (this is because I have a smaller backpack now and will struggle to fit everything in!).

Question is, will such a prime be still fine to capture some nice landscape shots or am I going to miss having a wider-angle zoom option?
 
What other lens do you have?

It probably won't be that bad but I'd suggest it may be a bit of a no mans land lens, I normally use either wide or long for mountainous areas.
 
kman said:
Going on a hiking trip next week to Snowdonia hopefully. I'm taking a smaller backpack and considering only taking a 50mm prime with me up the mountains (this is because I have a smaller backpack now and will struggle to fit everything in!).

Question is, will such a prime be still fine to capture some nice landscape shots or am I going to miss having a wider-angle zoom option?
Click to expand...

You are going to miss having a wide angle!!

The views (if the cloud base is high enough) are stunning! Last time I was there it lifted just long enough to see the trig point!!
Which path will you be taking?
 
I spend a lot of time taking pictures in Snowdonia and the majority are taken at around 17-20ish mm on a crop sensor. I think you'll find 50mm very limiting, depending on where you intend to walk of course.
 
I took some nice landscapes with my 80-200mm so a 50mm will do fine, just back off and take your shot :)

The one below is at 200mm on an 1.6 crop body for an effective 320mm!

4383407920_28048e0eab.jpg
 
micloi said:
I took some nice landscapes with my 80-200mm so a 50mm will do fine, just back off and take your shot :)

The one below is at 200mm on an 1.6 crop body for an effective 320mm!

4383407920_28048e0eab.jpg
Click to expand...

But don't step too far back if you are on the edge. :nono: Personally I leave my Nikon D80 and lenses behind when trekking in Snowdonia and take my Panasonic FX500 instead.
 
50mm isn't a good choice IMHO, Snowdonia has some great scenery and you really need something wider to do it full justice. Like Dudie I use the 17-25mm focal length for the vast majority of my shots.

Simon
 
I used to take my 50mm when tromping round snowdonia. It was the only lens I had. Now i take it as its lighter :)
4241944641_fe1b9d47f4.jpg

was taken with the nifty 50
as was
4241951099_bdff8b67b3.jpg


If your lucky you might get some specters this weekend:
3919692864_4e4b65dddc.jpg

Its the right sort of weather at the moment.
If your happy with the 50 then you will get some great images and have good time.
It isnt to great for climbing pics but is pretty good for walking.
 
Hmm right well if its not the 50mm prime then I've got the fast Tamron 17-50 and the lighter Nikkon 18-70. Probably take the 18-70 then.

As for routes, PYG track and if the weather is good go over the Crib Goch ridge too, then PYG or Miners on the way back down. Can't wait!

I've been up the Miner's Path and down Llanberis before but it was a while ago.
 
I think I probably shot 80% of my first 15 years of hillwalking shots on a 50mm lens and 35mm film - of course for the first 5 years worth, that was all I had :) That said, with the kit you've just said, I'd take the nikon kit lens, and have fun on Crib Goch :)
 
Mountainpengiun, those are some fantastic shots!

kman, take a zoom if you can as it'll be worth the extra weight. I regularly drag the slr and zoom up rock climbs and the weight pays for itself in the long run.





4715625398_69a05a773c_b.jpg
 
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