Since you guys are very weight conscious and very diligent with what goes afield and what doesn’t, I want to know what most use for cameras? I plan to upgrade my phone soon, still packing an I-phone 4… I know laugh everyone else does too… A new I-phone will give me a better camera to use but those that do not use their phone and use a “real” camera what model are you guys using???

I need to do a better job of taking more photos on my hunts and I promised myself, this fall I would start.

I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 with 18mp and a 30x optical lense. It's probably heavier than most guys want to carry but it takes great long range photos. To use it at more than 20x, you really need a tripod, though. It's too hard to hold steady otherwise. The Gorillapods work very well and they're lightweight.
There are lots of very good but much lighter cameras out there but they won't have this much zoom.

A high power lens & lots of MP's offer another plus that most guys don't consider. If I see something live on the far hillside, I don't need a spotting scope. I take a pic at 30x, then blow it up on the camera screen. I can get it in for a real close look without having to pack a spotting scope.

Disclaimer: I don't overnight backpack but take a Canon G15 along with me quite a bit and for the size it is great.

Dense item though, not sure what it weighs.


The new smart phones are probably awesome but still haven't used a phone to take a pic in at least 6 years.

When I pack a camera I pack my Canon SX500 IS, small and lightweight. lately been using my phone and digiscope with my binos and monopod.

Many of the new cameras have GPS ability. If you take a pic, it will identify exactly where it was taken. If you email it or upload the pic to some place like Facebook, readers can read the metadata to get the GPS coordinates.
GPS in a camera does have it's drawbacks. With Panasonic, the GPS will continue to work even when the camera is turned off. That uses power plus if you carry it near another GPS unit in your pack, they can interfere with each other. As a result, I have it turned off on mine.

Recommending a camera depends in large pat what you expect out of photography. For me, My iphone 6 camera is no where near good enough for the results I want.

Anymore, I want a 1" sensor as a minimum, and really prefer a micro four thirds.

I run a Sony RX100 for backpacking and hunting.

Most cell phone cameras don't have an optical zoom. It's digital which is done by enlarging the pic and adding pixels between the existing ones. Digital is nowhere near as accurate as optical when the pic is enlarged. It's fine for emailing or facebook but it sucks for printing.