its4pjw Loc: flintshire GB

Check out Pentax quite a bit of their DSLR line up is weather sealed.

Agedwell Loc: Austin

I'm wondering why you want a DSLR because they are all heavier than I think a backpacker would want.

Please let me suggest a Nikon Coolpix P7800. We're talking ounces instead of pounds and it's a "serious" camera with all the functionality of a DSLR for $550. You'll need an extra battery, but real waterproofing can come from a zip-lock bag.

The standard 3" LCD screen is frequently useless for outdoor photography and eats batteries. Therefore, the P7800 has a tiny, high-res, LCD viewfinder built in. I like it so much I'm thinking of trading in my P7100.

jimni2001 Loc: Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA

I think that without any DSLR experience you will be happier with one of the super zoom bridge cameras. They are light and will do everything that, at your skill level, you would get with a DSLR. The Canon SX50HS and the Fujifilm Finepix S1 would both serve you well and the learning curve is way less than with a DSLR. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Old Salt Loc: relocated to Pennsylvania from Maine

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Old Salt Loc: relocated to Pennsylvania from Maine

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I'm a Nikon shooter, but I have had Pentax in the past and found that they are first-class. Pentax are more durable, physically smaller and lighter weight. They have a range of excellent lenses. And they are "weather resistant."

Scotchman Loc: SE Michigan

It again depends on how much you are willing to pack and what you want to shoot. Pentax has quite a few excellent Weather Resistant models. Download the manuals and read them for any model you consider. Learn the feature set to find if it meats your needs.

WG-3 or WG-4 as a compact ruggedized snapshooter. The 4 offers Shutter priority and both offer with/without GPS

K-500, K-50, K-3

All 3 are similar but feature-set progresses with price. Backward compatible with a history of lenses from even the film days. And stabilization is in the body so that even the 50mm off a manual SLR K-1000 is stabilized...

All three have various options for emergency AA battery use as well (great for vacations!)


Even PCs are not the only tech-world dominated by a Big-Two!
W vs A, N vs C: Even Cameras have a linux option!

geezer7 Loc: Michigan

You need to decide what your priorities are regarding weight, convenience and image quality.
My wife and I have trekked around Mont Blanc in the Alps a couple of times. A link to a trip report is http://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/MontBlanc2012
We used a Canon S90 that is very light and easy to carry. I used a small case that easily fit on the sternum strap of my backpack. Obviously more up-to-date point and shoot cameras are now available. It is very inconvenient to have to open your backpack to retrieve your camera.
Here is where priorities are important. Last year we camped and day hiked at Glacier National Park and used the S90. It was great for landscapes but not so great for wildlife photos due to the limited telephoto range.
My son-in-law has the Canon SX50 which has impressive range but would not be convenient to carry on a sternum strap.
If weight is a priority a DSLR may not be the best choice. I believe the current version of my camera is the S120. Other manufacturers has similar offerings of equal quality.
To summarize, decide how much weight you want to carry, how convenient your carrying method should be, how much reach you want (wildlife are often far away), and what image quality you want. Another factor is if you want to shoot in RAW.
Don't forget that if you are camping you may not be able to recharge batteries so you will need to carry spares.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Ditto MtnMan. Would be thinking bridge camera for this trip.

amehta Loc: Boston

I wonder if renting a camera might make some sense, if the better options (OM-D E-M1/E-M5) are more than you want to spend, or something you don't expect to need in the future.

MtManMD Loc: Beaverton, Oregon

Also consider a Canon PowerShot ELPH. I've had one for a number of years and often carry it places when/where I wouldn't carry an SLR. I wish I would have had it on the many backpacks and climbs where I either struggled with the weight of an SLR, or had to leave it behind due to the weight and space. I will take it on hikes, such as the Highline Trail in Glacier, where I carry an SLR with long telephoto, and take the ELPN for scenic and wide angle shots without the weight of other SLR lenses.

It is very capable with 12x Optical Zoom, 16.0 Megapixel, 1080p Full HD video, small but long-lasting battery, etc. And fits in your shirt pocket! With a really small belt pouch for it, it would strap to your pack waist belt or shoulder/sternum strap for quick easy access and weather protection.

amehta Loc: Boston

Suggestions have been all over the place, with good reason: we don't really know enough about your goals?

So the first thing is to describe your options, in approximate order of size/cost (ILC=interchangeable lens camera):
1. point and shoot
2. advanced compact (higher priced compact)
3. bridge camera (superzoom, but non-ILC)
4. mirrorless ILC
5. DSLR
The bridge camera superzooms lenses have at least a 8x focal length range, generally between 30-50x.

I would add to geezer7's list: what is your trade-off between size, convenience, image quality, and cost?

If you can answer these two questions, even vaguely, I think the suggestions will be much more useful to you. Good luck, and have a great trip! BTW, when are you going? Temperature can be a factor for cameras.