Going up Everest
Discussion
A friend's brother is going to tackle Everest in a few months and needs a camera to take with him. It must be as small and light as possible but have panoramic facility, and I think geotagging would be nice too. I guess battery life is going to be an issue in those temps too. Can anyone recommend a suitable camera? Thanks!
I'd have thought a more rugged camera would be appropriate.
Pentax WG-1 was given a real beating on the Gadget Show, and kept going and going.
Well specced:
http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/digital-compact/optio-W...
Pentax WG-1 was given a real beating on the Gadget Show, and kept going and going.
Well specced:
http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/digital-compact/optio-W...
Dogsey said:
Surely this is a role call for Mrs Ted? Getting her to the top of the world would be ace.
It crossed my mind, but I think he'll have enough to worry about without carting a bear up there and remembering to take a photo of it at 29,000 feet... however I've offered to help pay towards the camera (he's already remortgaged his house) so I'll see if I get the chance. (Then again, I'd rather he took a big banner with my logo on it!) I think I'd be formally asking Canon or Nikon NPS / Grays of Westminster or even Nat Geo Soc for expert advice. Last thing one wants is to drag a (compact) camera all the way up there and it can't cope with the conditions or requires gloves off to use.
Neither D700 or D3 specs run to below freezing. Im assuming the compacts will be no different. Batteries will be a problem too as will condensation at -20 to 30 deg c.
I'm thinking light first, simple to operate & big buttons, sub-zero lubes and spare battery/s.
Pretty cold then... "The climate of Mount Everest is naturally extreme. In January, the coldest month, the summit temperature averages about -36° C (about -33° F) and can drop as low as -60° C (-76° F). In July, the warmest month, the average summit temperature is -19° C (-2° F). At no time of the year does the temperature on the summit rise above freezing." Then there's windchill.
Neither D700 or D3 specs run to below freezing. Im assuming the compacts will be no different. Batteries will be a problem too as will condensation at -20 to 30 deg c.
I'm thinking light first, simple to operate & big buttons, sub-zero lubes and spare battery/s.
Pretty cold then... "The climate of Mount Everest is naturally extreme. In January, the coldest month, the summit temperature averages about -36° C (about -33° F) and can drop as low as -60° C (-76° F). In July, the warmest month, the average summit temperature is -19° C (-2° F). At no time of the year does the temperature on the summit rise above freezing." Then there's windchill.
My BIL attempted it last year but was knocked back by HAPE, I'll ask him what he took. TBH though you'd be best off posting this on a climbing forum.
Some advice for him though. Make sure he fits chunky extenders to ALL his zips so that he can open close his kit with mits on. Simple thing, but digit saving advice.
The other is to make sure he's a very good self sufficient climber in his own right, very very familiar with all his kit before he goes, and attends some medical training on HAPE, HACE, Hypothermia, etc. - i.e. is not just an Everest tourist - as there is some horrendous s
t that happens on Everest; even if booked with one of the big names.
Wish him luck.
Some advice for him though. Make sure he fits chunky extenders to ALL his zips so that he can open close his kit with mits on. Simple thing, but digit saving advice.
The other is to make sure he's a very good self sufficient climber in his own right, very very familiar with all his kit before he goes, and attends some medical training on HAPE, HACE, Hypothermia, etc. - i.e. is not just an Everest tourist - as there is some horrendous s
t that happens on Everest; even if booked with one of the big names.Wish him luck.
rhinochopig said:
My BIL attempted it last year but was knocked back by HAPE, I'll ask him what he took. TBH though you'd be best off posting this on a climbing forum.
Some advice for him though. Make sure he fits chunky extenders to ALL his zips so that he can open close his kit with mits on. Simple thing, but digit saving advice.
The other is to make sure he's a very good self sufficient climber in his own right, very very familiar with all his kit before he goes, and attends some medical training on HAPE, HACE, Hypothermia, etc. - i.e. is not just an Everest tourist - as there is some horrendous st that happens on Everest; even if booked with one of the big names.
Wish him luck.
Very true... my old boss passed away whilst climbing everest in January 2006... an otherwise extremely fit man, he massively underestimated the physical stress of everest and succumbed to high altitude hypoxia, leaving behind 2 young children and a business that would never recover.Some advice for him though. Make sure he fits chunky extenders to ALL his zips so that he can open close his kit with mits on. Simple thing, but digit saving advice.
The other is to make sure he's a very good self sufficient climber in his own right, very very familiar with all his kit before he goes, and attends some medical training on HAPE, HACE, Hypothermia, etc. - i.e. is not just an Everest tourist - as there is some horrendous s
t that happens on Everest; even if booked with one of the big names.Wish him luck.
He went with a large budget expedition including former special forces people, sherpas etc, but not one of them thought to take a satellite phone and the delay in sending a sherpa down the mountain to get help proved fatal.
I'd be looking at a smaller format camera than an SLR purely for weight reasons.
Olympus are releasing a new camera in 2 weeks which is likely to be a micro 4/3 with weather sealing, so it'll be the smallest weather sealed interchangeable lens camera in the world, maybe worth hanging on to see what it is before buying now.
Olympus are releasing a new camera in 2 weeks which is likely to be a micro 4/3 with weather sealing, so it'll be the smallest weather sealed interchangeable lens camera in the world, maybe worth hanging on to see what it is before buying now.
Thanks all - and yes, no way is he taking a DSLR!
I've passed on the best info and now it's up to him to choose. I presume there will be a sherpa to take some photos too.
I can't give you his CV but he's not a day-tripper type; he attempted the climb a couple of years ago with a reputable outfit but was stopped by a stomach bug about 900 feet from the top IIRC. Hopefully he'll be luckier this time.
I've passed on the best info and now it's up to him to choose. I presume there will be a sherpa to take some photos too.
I can't give you his CV but he's not a day-tripper type; he attempted the climb a couple of years ago with a reputable outfit but was stopped by a stomach bug about 900 feet from the top IIRC. Hopefully he'll be luckier this time.
Well I spoke to my BIL today and he took a Ricoh digital compact with him. But, his comment was that they're all much of a muchness as pretty much most people had issues - shutter failing, etc. - regardless of make or model. He had shutter issues.
His advice was fourfold~:
1. Wear the camera as close to the body as possible on a lanyard to keep it warm.
2. Use a camera that takes disposable AA cells as they tend to withstand the cold better and charging packs can be a problem.
3. An odd one this, but he recommended fitting a pointer - he used a Bic pen lid - onto the lanyard so that you can operate all the buttons whilst keeping your mitts on. He said it was impossible with mitts on.
4. Take a disposable film for summit day in case all else fails.
And one final thing he mentioned. Make sure that the headtorch he uses has a remote battery pack; not one fitted to the head strap. Again he suggested mounting the battery pack close to your chest and having an extension wire to the head torch. Apparently most of the head mounted packs killed off their batteries very very quickly due to the cold.
His advice was fourfold~:
1. Wear the camera as close to the body as possible on a lanyard to keep it warm.
2. Use a camera that takes disposable AA cells as they tend to withstand the cold better and charging packs can be a problem.
3. An odd one this, but he recommended fitting a pointer - he used a Bic pen lid - onto the lanyard so that you can operate all the buttons whilst keeping your mitts on. He said it was impossible with mitts on.
4. Take a disposable film for summit day in case all else fails.
And one final thing he mentioned. Make sure that the headtorch he uses has a remote battery pack; not one fitted to the head strap. Again he suggested mounting the battery pack close to your chest and having an extension wire to the head torch. Apparently most of the head mounted packs killed off their batteries very very quickly due to the cold.
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