Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

Hi Tiger, I have been a frequent hiker/photographer and agree with you about lugging around the oversize components to the SLR cameras. A couple of years ago I purchased the Canon EOS M to test the potential of using a smaller, more portable camera on my hikes. The EOS M turned out to be a less than great camera but it was, as intended, a learning experience.

Today, there are more choices than ever and no matter which way you turn, there's a lot of give and take involved:
The new Canon EOS M series doesn't impress me so I started looking for something else and narrowed the field down to either the Sony a6000 or the Samsung NX 500.

The Sony does everything you would want in the small package and has a good selection of lens' available.... BUT! it doesn't have a touch screen!!! So I reluctantly scratched it from my list.

I purchased the Samsung NX 500 and am impressed with the quality of the photos thus far (a 28.2 mp APS C sensor) but it doesn't have the wide selection of lens' available. The touchscreen is easy to learn and make the necessary adjustments but too many of the adjustments are buried deep within the menu structure. One feature I'm already excited about is the NFC link between the camera and my cell phone...WOW!

I hike the rugged Superstition Mountains around Apache Junction, AZ and have wiped out a couple of camera's already so I want to keep my cost's down as a $2,000 camera is out of the question.

Hope this offers a little insight, good luck and be sure to get a "hands on" approach to your choice.

jcboy3

If you want to go super light (and keep your 70D for other activities), then you might consider a compact camera. Look at the Panasonic LX100 or Sony RX100.

On the other hand, if you want a good weather-sealed interchangeable lens system for hiking, then look at Panasonic or Olympus micro 4/3 cameras. In particular, look at the Olympus E-M5 mk II and the Olympus 14-150mm lens.

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

Canon SX 50, not expensive, very light weight, great distance. Great buys on Ebay, but be careful, check feedback etc. Good luck.

CSand Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

I too have the 70d and plan to keep it. Love my macro and Lens baby which I use with 70d. Like you I love to hike and the weight I was lugging was just too much. Have purchased the Panasonic FZ1000 and I am just so pleased with it. So much easier and lighter. Search topics on HH as recently there was a post about the FZ1000 and all it seems believe it to be a very good bridge camera, light weight and a good lens and sensor. Sandy

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

How are you carrying the camera? Mindshift provides a number of hiking solutions including their innovative rational bags. The D70 is not where your weight is. It is likely in the lens. So choose one to take. If it is a 50 mm, you can easily stitch a pano to make up for a wide angle. You can get really close to your subjects like a macro. Need a little more distance, keep a small 1.7 TC in your bag as well.

Spread the weight around and it will not feel as heavy. If you switch to a FF mirrorless you will likely still have issues. Going to a point and shoot may work but you might be giving up IQ.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Get a Fuji XE-2 and a couple of lenses; My daughter had the same problem; she bought the fuji, and did s trek through Nepal- no problems at all !

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

may I say another dirty word "bridge". there are a number of quality cameras in this group.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I really like the Sony RX10 all-in-one bridge - read the reviews.

The Nikon 1 system is also worth a look.

The Canon SL1 also makes some sense with an older Tokina AT-X 24-200mm or Tamron SP 24-135mm.

eesileon1

I just bought a Nikon D5500. It is smaller than most other dslr's, with flip out touch screen. Same pic quality as 7100. Also, Canon SL1, also with touch screen. D5500 is a little bigger than SL1, but in my estimation, better.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

For mountain climbing or wilderness hiking trips I ended up with 2-3 cameras. One is the flat, minimal design, fitting into my shirt pocket. This smallest camera is almost like a credit card size (16 megapixels) with limited features, but always available. It is a necessity in winter - to keep the camera under your parka.
The next one, slightly larger, but still fitting into my shirt pocket that I like to take with me is one of the Panasonic line of "ZS" Lumixes. They offer RAW filing, EVF and are equipped with fixed Leitz zooms from 24-720mm.
The other design camera I also like to take with me is a larger camera with protruding lens barrel - like the very successful Canon XS50, but with larger sensor and tilting screen like Panasonic Lumix FZ1000.
The interchangeable lens DSLR cameras I gladly leave home. You don't want to miss pictures by changing lenses, right? That is besides the extra weight.
The mirror-less cameras (like Sony Alpha A7 II)have advantage for being smaller and offering many lenses from other manufacturers via simple adapters. However, the lens changing in the mountains I find always difficult.
I hope this will get you thinking what you might need in the Sierras?

Selene03

You are probably a lot younger and in better shape than I am so some of the larger mirrorless cameras might be better for you. I tried practice hikes with a canon 6d, but found there was no easy way to carry it and it started getting heavier as I got up the mountain.

I finally did whitney with and Sony RX100--1st model. I got beautiful pictures and what I liked about it was that I could carry it in a pocket and get it out easily when something amazing came up. We hit really bad weather--heavy rain and snow near the summit and experienced significant showers all the way down the mountain. The moisture didn't seem to affect the camera at all. It is what I use all the time now when I am not on level ground. I have an RX100-iii now, which is a great street camera, but I still like the original model in the mountains.

Ralloh Loc: Ohio

My lady and I are geocachers so do a lot of hiking. I leave my DSLR at home and take my Nikon P6000 compact camera (I hate to call them point and shoot cameras). It has just about all my DSLR has, including full manual, and takes great quality photos. I just carry it in a padded zippered case clipped to a belt loop with a carabiner. I know this is an older camera, but, you get the picture. Look into newer compacts. It really helps on those long hikes.

By the way, reading a lot of the responses, it looks like most didn't bother to read your complete post or somehow missed the question. Everything is about how great your camera is, or, how you can get a different DSLR for less money. Weight seemed to go right over their heads. Cracks me up.

Pixtaker

I recently ventured into the world of lighter equipment. I have both an Sony A6000 with 19mm, 30mm, sigma Primes, and a 70-200G lens. The system is surprising light even with the 70-200 lens. Love the camera but was intrigued by the Fuji X-T1. Have it with a battery grip which probably isn't necessary but it came with the camera and a 35mm f1.4 lens. I have since added a 10-24 wide lens and a 50-230mm zoom. I have a Raynox 250 adapter for the zoom which does incredible macro shots. The Fuji setup will all fit in one light weight back pack and is great for hiking. I probably will be able to get it all in my mountain backpack. Getting great shots with both systems. I think the controls on the Fuji are more photographer intuitive than the Sony's menus system and Fuji has a good select of great lenses. You might want to look at the new XPro2 as well as some of the other Fuji bodies. The Fuji lenses are all interchangeable. Fuji has a larger more moderately priced lens selection in faster glass than Sony has. I really like features of both cameras. Hope this gives you some ideas.

P.S. Since owning the Fuji, I really like how the company provides firmware upgrades when they develop new features. An upgrade to the focusing ability and other features was like getting a whole new camera. They seem to want to keep their existing camera owners happy.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

How right you are; you can go into the Fuji factory, see customer relations, get your firmware upgraded on the spot without any appointment, and a cup of coffee, all for free, ten minutes flat !

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Keep in mind you want to look at the whole system. While the SL1 body is small, it still uses the same APS-C sized lenses....which are not necessarily small (or light).

m4/3 fits that balance with small bodies and compact/lightweight lenses...and still give the average (to above average user) enough IQ to keep them happy.

I love hiking with the 7.5mm, 12-32mm, 20mm, and 45mm lenses. Between all 4 of them they are just a fuzz over 1 lb total and fit within a small pouch. Couple any of them with a body like the EM5ii or EM10ii and you have a very capable compact system.