From: ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Backpacking camera
Date: 8 Apr 92 17:07:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: rsg1.1992Apr8.170753.5475
Organization: Not!

In article <1992Apr3.234419.12597@ms.uky.edu> miles@ms.uky.edu (Stephen D. Grant) writes:
>>The article on lightweight cameras is in the August, 1990 issue of
>>Backpacker magazine, pages 54 to 55. It reviews about 8 different cameras.
>>        Steve Snyder            | This space for rent, inquire within. 
>
>Could you possibly give us a run-down of the results?
>At least mention the cameras reviewed, and the overall winners?
>Thanks...

Here goes...

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From August 1990 Backpacker magazine, pages 54-55.

Article titled "Small Wonders... Compact Cameras for the Trail" 
by J. Michael Wyatt

Reprinted without permission (sorry!)

   How many times have you hesitated to dig your camera out of your pack
for a single quick landscape shot? How often have you passed on grabbing
a trailside candid of a companion? Ever leave your camera safely stowed
because of dust, rain, or snow? Ever want to travel lighter and leave
that expensive, full-sized, weighty 35mm SLR and lenses home, but bring
back great photos of your trip?
   It's time you took a hard look at the world of point-and-shoot compacts.
These plastic-bodied, fixed-lens wonders have taken the photo mass-market
by storm by cramming more and more into smaller and smaller packages.
   They offer such features as:
-Sophisticated programmed autoexposure systems.
-Automated built-in flash. Some models even offer intellegent flash systems
that automatically compensate for backlighting.
-Compatibility with DX-coded films so you don't have to remember to set
the film speed.
-Weatherproof (and sometimes even waterproof) bodies.
-Tele-wide dual lenses or zoom lenses. More and more point-and-shoot models
are offering a combination of autofocus telephoto and wide-angle lenses.
-Autowind and autorewind.
-Autoloading film. Just open the back and drop in the film casette-- a
real boon to fumble-fingers.
   But do these high-tech handfuls have anything to offer those of us
who put image quality before convenience? They do, indeed. From the user's 
end, these compact, lightweight cameras are simple but sophisticated
and produce images of a suprisingly high quality. Granted the lenses
probably won't beat your SLR's 50mm lens in a head-to-head test, but
they will produce prints and transparencies suitable for all but the
most critical uses. And the spontaneity these convenient pocket cameras
bring to your on-the-trail picture taking will help ensure memorable
images. After all, the real test of a camera is how often you return
with pictures, right?

    TIPS FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY

   All of these microelectronic wonders have one thing in common: a
total dependence on batteries. To avoid cold-weather battery lockups,
use fresh batteries and keep an extra set in a warm place like an
accessible interior pocket. If you plan to do a lot of cold-weather
shooting, make sure the camera accepts lithium batteries; they offer
considerably improved cold-weather performance over alkaline batteries.
   Dual, telephoto, and wide-angle autofocus lens cameras offer the
greatest versatility for backcountry use.
   If you canoe, kayak, or hike in wet or dusty conditions, consider 
a weatherproof model; it will resist the entry of dust, grit, condensa-
tion, fog, and light rain. If you're particularly fond of bad weather,
take a hard look at the more water- and weather-resistant waterproof
cameras.
   If you plan to take self-portraits or long exposures, be sure the
camera has a self-timer and tripod socket.

[DESCRIPTION OF CAMERAS FOLLOWS]:

[All are autofocus, with programmed auto metering, autowind, autoload,
and autorewind. All weights are without batteries.]
[Prices not given]
                                                           A-Self timer
                                                           B-Tripod socket
                                                           C-Weatherproof
                                                           D-Waterproof

Model     Lens     DX     Flash      Size      Weight   Battery   A  B  C  D

Canon   |Zoom XL  |50- | Auto with   6"x3.6"   20.8 oz  two 3v    Y  Y  N  N
Sureshot|39mm f3.6|3200| backlight    x2.6"    (590 g)  lithium
        |  to     |    | correction
        |85mm f7.3|    |
============================================================================
Minolta |Dual 35mm|100-| Yes (can    5.8"x3"   14.1 oz  one 6v    N  N  Y  1
Weather-| f3.5 &  |1000| be dis-      x2.6"    (400 g)  lithium
matic   |50mm f5.6|    | abled)
Dual    |         |    |
============================================================================
Nikon   |35mm f2.8|50- | Auto        5.2"x3.2" 17.0 oz  two 1.5v  Y  Y  Y  2
Action  |         |1600|              x2.2"    (482 g)  alkaline*
Touch   |         |    |
============================================================================
Olympus |Dual 35mm|50- | Auto with   5"x2.5"x  7.9 oz   one 6v    Y  Y  Y  N
Infinity|f3.5 &   |3200| backlight     1.8"    (224 g)  lithium
Twin    |70mm f6.3|    | correction
============================================================================
Pentax  |Super    |25- | Auto with   5.7"x3.3" 24 oz    two 3v    Y  Y  N  N
IQZoom  |38mm f4  |3200| backlight     2.6"    (680 g)  lithium
105     |to 105mm |    | correction
        | f7.8    |    |
============================================================================
Ricoh   |Zoom     |64- | Auto with   5.5"x2.9" 12.7 oz  one 6v    Y  Y  N  N
Shot-   |38mm f3.5|3200| backlight    x2.1"    (360 g)  lithium
master  | to      |    | correction
Zoom    |76mm f6.7|    |
============================================================================
Vivitar |35mm f5.6|100-| Auto        4.2"x2"   7 oz     one 3v    Y  Y  N  N
AF 1000 |         |1000|              x2.5"    (198 g)  lithium
============================================================================
Yashica | Built-in|64- | Auto with   5.1"x2.7" 9.7 oz   one 6v    Y  Y  Y  N
  T-3   |CarlZeiss|1600| backlight    x2"      (275 g)  lithium
        | 35mm    |    |
============================================================================

footnotes: 1- Submersible to 15 feet
           2- Submersible to 10 feet
           *- No lithium batteries
============================================================================

   CARDBOARD AND DISPOSABLE: SINGLE-USE CAMERAS

   Have you ever wanted to haul your SLR out in a downpour or expose your
point-and-shoot to a 40 mph sandblasting, just to get a few exposures of
how well your tent was holding up (and your tentmate wasn't)? "No way!"
you say. "Water, sand, and cameras just don't mix!" How about letting the
kids loose with a lens for a while? "Even worse!" you say. "They'd be back
with a bag of broken glass and a few mangled gears."
   Now there's an answer: the new single-use cameras.
   These lightweight and inexpensive one-way cameras are constructed of a
cardboard box with a plastic interior. They come already loaded with film
and produce suprisingly good-quality images with a plastic fixed-focal-
length lens and fixed-speed shutter.
   Two members of Kodak's family of single-use cameras are of particular
interest to backpackers. They're each priced under $14.00 [U.S.], weigh
around three ounces, and offer features previously available only in
expensive specialty cameras.
   My favorite is the panoramic Stretch 35. The camera comes with 12
exposures of Kodak Gold 200 and uses a 25mm f12 lens to produce
3.5"-by-10" pictures - twice the width of standard negative.
   A great backup for stormy weather is the Weekend 35. This waterproof
camera comes with 24 exposures of Kodak Gold 400 and is wrapped in a durable
plastic cover that will keep things dry to a depth of 10 feet.
   The obvious question in this time of overflowing landfills is why would
BACKPACKER plug a throwaway product? "These aren't throwaways," says Kodak
spokesman Mike Sullivan. "It's a closed loop - the cameras come back for
processing." Early this year, Kodak established a program to help photo-
finishers recycle 35mm casettes and plastic film canisters, and as we 
went to press, they were finalizing plans to recycle the plastic interiors
of their single-use cameras. "At first, it's going to cost us more money,"
admits Sullivan, "but it's obviously the right thing to do."

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