Son up a mountain

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Robscoulding

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Rob
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Hi everyone.

Could anyone help me please ? My youngest son has somewhat foolishly agreed to do a sponsored climb up to Everest base camp next year...... He is after a camera that I guess is robust, takes decent pictures and uses batteries that dont rely on a usb port or power monkey. I have around £150 to spend. Would any one have any ideas please ?

Many thanks Rob
 
The Nikon L610 uses AA batteries, but I did read a review saying they only lasted for about an hours shooting. Still, although I can't comment regarding how robust it is, I'm sure he could stick a few packs of duracells in his backpack to keep it going! :)
 
Have you any idea how many photos he'll be taking?

The Canon S100 is small, takes very good photos for it's size, has great build quality but the battery only takes about 200 shots before dying. The good news is you can get spare ones for as little as £1.56. The bad news is, the cheapest, new S100 you can buy in the UK (that i've seen) is £220.
 
Rob, firstly, welcome to the forum!

Now for a little advice. Can't help on camera choice apart from general advice. His hands are likely to be cold, so as few buttons to press as possible (after setting up in the warm somewhere!) and the few there are could do with being big and well marked. Weather proofed will be an advantage just in case it gets dropped in the snow (working on the principle that if anything can go wrong, it will!) and many of the modern tough cameras (although personally, I would avoid the brand that uses Tough as a model designation - my "waterproof" one wasn't, despite me being extremely careful with seal mainenance etc...) are waterproof (down to 10m or more), drop proof (from 1m or so onto concrete seems to be the claim) and work in the cold (down to -10 degrees Centigrade seem to be the norm). I would keep the camera inside at least the outer jacket and as close to the skin as possible while allowing reasonably fast access without exposing too much to the cold! Any spare batteries, whether AAs (alkaline or rechargeable) or Lithium Ion should be kept as warm as possible too - the electricity production is a chemical reaction and that slows down in cold conditions.

I'm sure he doesn't need telling that anything he takes up should be brought down again - there's an old saying "Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints." Above all, I hope he has a gret time and brings back plenty of great memories (and stays safe!).

Nod.
 
Welcome to the forum. I think it might be worth getting some advice from a specialist mountaineering supplier. There are a few manufacturers producing tough ruggedised digital compacts as Nod says.

It's worth bearing in mind that Base Camp is a bit of an oxymoron where Everest in concerned! There are two base camps on Everest, the North and the south depending on his route. Both are around 17,000 feet and depending on the time of year, temperature and wind chill effects on the batteries will be the biggest issue to consider and after that ease of use with gloves on. Another factor is the viewfinder, big and bright, at low temperature he won't want to be putting his eye to an optical VF.

I should say I have had film and digital cameras shut down at considerably lower altitudes in the alps, although this was a few years ago and I think battery technology has Improved massively in the last few years.
 
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Any camera will do, it doesn't require any actual climbing to get to base camp. Just make sure it goes in a decent bag.
 
As far as I understand it the base cap walk is fairly easy, in the sense it's certainly not technical. As mentioned by Mahone, any compact will do.

And he's not foolish, it's not particularly dangerous (occasional landslides take the route out but very rare) and he'll have some stunning views most of the time. Just make sure he's reasonably fit* and he'll be fine.

*And by that I just mean he can walk for a few miles easily and isn't unfit.


Nod said:
Rob, firstly, welcome to the forum!

Now for a little advice. Can't help on camera choice apart from general advice. His hands are likely to be cold, so as few buttons to press as possible (after setting up in the warm somewhere!) and the few there are could do with being big and well marked. Weather proofed will be an advantage just in case it gets dropped in the snow (working on the principle that if anything can go wrong, it will!) and many of the modern tough cameras (although personally, I would avoid the brand that uses Tough as a model designation - my "waterproof" one wasn't, despite me being extremely careful with seal mainenance etc...) are waterproof (down to 10m or more), drop proof (from 1m or so onto concrete seems to be the claim) and work in the cold (down to -10 degrees Centigrade seem to be the norm). I would keep the camera inside at least the outer jacket and as close to the skin as possible while allowing reasonably fast access without exposing too much to the cold! Any spare batteries, whether AAs (alkaline or rechargeable) or Lithium Ion should be kept as warm as possible too - the electricity production is a chemical reaction and that slows down in cold conditions.

I'm sure he doesn't need telling that anything he takes up should be brought down again - there's an old saying "Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints." Above all, I hope he has a gret time and brings back plenty of great memories (and stays safe!).

Nod.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have the camera inside bear me if it's cold...You take it out and it will have issues with condensation. Just have the spare battery close to your body and swap it out occasionally. It needs to get VERY cold before things start go awry (other than batteries) on cameras. For example at -30 my parents bridge camera LCD started slowing down, no problems with the LCD on the 400D though. It's not likely to be anywhere near that cold on the route though, wind chill will be a factor but that doesn't affect camera equipment... Remember, if it's for organised charity it won't be very technical or dangerous, much like Kilimanjaro, you just need the ability to plod along if you're a bit unfit.

EDIT: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1611070

Nice thread on Lonely planet. Basically it could get a little chilly but not particularly cold, it's more the rain you'll have to look out for... Make sure he takes some shorts too...
 
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I found access to power supplies very easy to come up in the Everest area 5 years ago so I'd imagine its even easier today with phones/ipads etc around, the lodges generally charge a small fee.

In terms of lens coverage I think Everest is an area you want a pretty wide range for the landscape, your climbing though a massive valley for several days and a 24mm equivalent rather than a 28mm equivilent would probabley help capture it.
 
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