Home Forums Gear Photography Best cameras for the outdoors

There are a lot of cameras on the market. In my opinion, and I have been selling cameras for over 42 years, these are the ones that we feel are the best value for the dollars spent. They are listed in no special order. I am here, along with our staff, to discuss which would be the best for your individual needs. Most cameras have great instant savings thru the end of the year and of course there is the forum extra we will do for you.



​Olympus OM-5 with the 14-150mm II lens

Nikon Z5 with the 24-200mm lens

Canon R50 2 lens kit

Sony A7 IV lens depends on what you are shooting



The Olympus OM-5 and the 14-150 II lens are both weatherproof. Not normal in a crop sensor camera. Other brands have very few, if any, weatherproof options in the weatherproof game. The Olympus built in image stabilization is the best in the business and their cameras focus faster then any other cameras under $3000.

Key Features

20.4MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Sensor
TruePic IX Image Processor
2.36m-Dot Eye-Level OLED EVF
3.0" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
DCI 4K/24p & UHD 4K/30p Video Recording
5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
30 fps Shooting, ISO 200-25600
121-Point All Cross-Type Phase-Detect AF
High-Res Shot, Live ND & Composite Modes
Weather-Sealed Construction
https://cameralandny.com/shop/om-sy...013b-2dc2-00163e90e196?variation=3297421







The Nikon Z5 outfit was made for wilderness and birding photographers. Both the body and lens are weatherproof, the camera has 2 memory slots and built in image stabilization



Key Features
24.3MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor
EXPEED 6 Image Processor
UHD 4K and Full HD Video Recording
3.6m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
3.2" 1.04m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
5-Axis Sensor-Shift Vibration Reduction
ISO 100-51200, Up to 4.5 fps Shooting
Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Dual SD UHS-II Card Slots


https://cameralandny.com/shop/nikon...0138-9698-00163e90e196?variation=2955359




The Canon R50 2 lens kit is ultra compact and comes with a compact multi purpose and a compact telephoto zoom. It has image stabilization, flip out screen and can handle a light rain.



Key Features
24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
DIGIC X Image Processor
UHD 4K 30p Video Recording
Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 651 Points
2.36m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
3.0" 1.62m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
15 fps Electronic Shutter
Multi-Function Shoe, UVC Livestreaming
RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM Lens
https://cameralandny.com/shop/canon...013b-93eb-00163ecd2826?variation=3387026





The Sony A7 Mk IV is great for stills as well as videos. Full featured, compact and with a 33MP sensor will do double duty for both still photographers and videographers.



Key Features
33MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS BSI Sensor
Up to 10 fps Shooting, ISO 100-51200
4K 60p Video in 10-Bit, S-Cinetone
3.68m-Dot EVF with 120 fps Refresh Rate
3" 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
759-Pt. Fast Hybrid AF, Real-time Eye AF
Focus Breathing Compensation
5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization
Creative Looks and Soft Skin Effect
4K 15p UVC/UAC Streaming via USB Type-C

https://cameralandny.com/shop/sony-...013a-2aae-00163e90e196?variation=3095384



Give us a call at 516-217-1000 to discuss what setup would be best for your needs. We carry the full lines of all the brands. I have listed the 4 best all around options at reasonable prices for each category.



Look forward to helping you



Joel

Tag

I reckon that part of the question should be "What are you doing outdoors?" For me, it is general hunting, hiking and wandering about ... my (English) granny would have asked, "What are you fossicking about this fine morning?" Add into that 3 or 4 serious snorkeling trips each year. The photos taken are primarily for my own enjoyment, and were good enough for the editors when I did that sort of thing.

For the snorkeling + I use the Olympus Tough camera. The optical zoom is limited to 4x, but with most snorkeling trips that is sufficient because I am not diving. I am snorkeling and using natural light for my pix. It has an additional feature that I occasionally take advantage of above the waterline. What it falls short in telephoto, it more than makes up in micro/macro pictures.

When I'm fossicking about on land, I'm using a Lumix/Panasonic DC-ZS80. I'm using the 80 because my dear wife appropriated the 70. It has a helluva fine optical zoom (30x) and decent macro features. I have disabled the %#@! touchscreen LCD and mostly use the viewfinder. By and large, an above-water camera without a viewscreen is KaKa. It also has a feature that I originally hated, but have adapted to my own uses. The LCD rotates so that the use can take selfies. Selfies being the curse of humanity which should be worth the death penalty, I assumed that the LCD would never be flipped over into selfie mode. Well, it isn't. but I have a few times happily flipped it up halfway. Being aged and not as agile as I used to was, it is handy to flip part way up and use when I'm taking a low elevation shot (think a toad sitting in the grass) and taking the picture as if I were using a Brownie of long ago.

And either camera will easily slip into a jacket pocket. There are places where carrying a camera will immediately identify the carrier as a target and having it in a pocket prevents me from identifying myself that way and it is also less easy to steal.

So that's me for starters, but I would add in TAKE LOTS OF BATTERIES. And what's the best brans? That sir is where I call upon your expertise.
RB

My Lumix Leica is a nice pocket camera. My grandson says, the best camera id the one you have with you.

Thanks for the information. Outdoors may be one thing, with wildlife being something else in regards to gear requirements.

Choosing a camera depends on what your going out there for. Hunting and fishing, your gonna have your hands full of other stuff you need to hunt and fish. Hunting and fishing I carry my Panasonic point and shoot. Lot smaller and lighter than a DSLR. Going out to just take photo's my point and shoot will be with me usually. Then the extra weight and bulk of my DSLR is no problem!

Panasonic point and shoot a great choice