[Coach]

My friend will be starting the AT this summer. I want to give him a digital camera to capture his experience.

I want to, however, have him send me the pictures he takes and I will publish them/print them etc.

What is the best method/camera that we can do this--without him physically sending me the camera, but instead exchanging full and empty memory cards?

Any suggestions on a specific camera? Nothing too fancy, but something that will be able to work this method as well as a battery life that will last him long enough until he gets to a place where he can charge it up, etc.?

Thanks for your help.

[icruise]

You'd porbably want a camera that uses compact flash memory, since it is the cheapest and easiest to find, and he's also probably want one that can use normal batteries. That way you can bring plenty of entry batteries and also buy more just about anywhere. I don't have any specific recommendations beyond that.

[wallinbl]

I have the Canon S230. It is about the size of a deck of cards. The more important feature is that it has magnesium frame, so it is sturdy. It uses CF cards, so you could send them back and forth.

The battery lasts me about 100 pictures, and I have a spare, so I can get 200 pictures without rechargin. You could actually send the batteries back and forth with the cards.

[-Q-]

There are mail drops along the AT that you might be able to use. I know your friend could mail you the full cards but I'm not sure if you'd be able to mail them back to him.

[escher]

Originally posted by Icruise:
You'd porbably want a camera that uses compact flash memory, since it is the cheapest and easiest to find, and he's also probably want one that can use normal batteries.

I second the recommendation for normal (AA) batteries. Even though AAs don't last as long as rechargeable batteries, you can buy them at any convenience store and don't have to carry a charger. I highly recommend the Canon PowerShot A70 in that respect.

As for mailing back pics, I'm not sure what to say. Coach, have you considered giving your friend a regular 35mm film camera and requesting a Kodak Picture CD when developing the film? Film cameras have much longer battery life (especially a manual SLR). And a roll of film is cheap, so it won't be a (major) problem if it gets lost in the mail.

IMO, a film camera with digital processing (e.g. Kodak Picture CD) makes the most sense, especially if your friend will not have ready access to electricity on the Appalachian Trail. Digital cameras just make you too dependent on electrified civilization.

Escher

[MilkmanDan]

I got a Fuji FinePix 3.2 Megapixel Camera at Christmas. It was only $300, and now is much cheaper. It uses the new xD memory, which is very small and has a competitive price, and also uses regualr AA batteries. A 128 memory card will take over 100 shots at the highest quality, and will take the full charge out of two AA batteries. I eventually broke down and bought rechageable AA batteries from Best Buy. They work great for everything, and I always keep a spare or two with me when I go out on the road (in my camera case). It works really well. I mean, you'll probably have other things that need recharging anyhow (gameboy or CD player).

Either way he could always burn a CD of the images and send them to you. Cheaper if it gets lost in the mail.

[escher]

Originally posted by MilkmanDan:
Either way he could always burn a CD of the images and send them to you. Cheaper if it gets lost in the mail.

That's assuming the Appalachian Trail-hiking friend will carry a laptop with him. If he carried a laptop, the step to a dial-up connection to upload pictures wouldn't be very far.

Coach: I think you need to provide a bit more information about what kind of hike your friend is going on. Otherwise you're going to get advice all over the map that might not be appropriate at all.

Escher

[Coach]

He is planning a thru-hike from ME to GA from June 18 to whenever he's done. He doesn't have a lot of information as far as mail-drops, yet, but they should be, at least twice a month.

I do not know a lot of information on cameras, however, both the CD and CF options seem doable.

I'm more concerned about him having access to the best pictures on his hike at all times, not being in a position that he's going to miss a shot if he either doesn't have film or doesn't have power to run his camera.

Either way, I'll be receiving the pictures (either in film form or CF).

Without having the camera, can I download those pictures onto my Mac/iPhoto?

Also, can I import the Kodak CD into iPhoto?

Thanks

[escher]

Originally posted by Coach:
He doesn't have a lot of information as far as mail-drops, yet, but they should be, at least twice a month.

Coach: I honestly think that film will work best for him. That way you don't have to worry about mailing stuff back to him at a mail drop. Using a digital camera and sending memory cards back and forth would be a logistical nightmare.

I'm more concerned about him having access to the best pictures on his hike at all times, not being in a position that he's going to miss a shot if he either doesn't have film or doesn't have power to run his camera.

Seriously, if that's the concern, a digital camera makes no sense. A manual film camera can run on the same watch-size batteries for months. And it's easy to carry ten rolls of film in your backpack. Film comes in waterproof plastic canisters too. And film cameras are more robust than digital cameras.

Fancy electronics make no sense when you're away from civilization and electric power.

Without having the camera, can I download those pictures onto my Mac/iPhoto?

Yes. You could get a $20 USB CF card reader that will let you import the pictures directly to iPhoto, all without a camera.

Also, can I import the Kodak CD into iPhoto?

I haven't tried. But there's no reason you wouldn't be able to.

I honestly think film will serve you and your friend better.

Good luck with the preparations and hike.

Escher

[talisker]

Usually these CDs you get from a photolab have some sort of crappy software on them (probably Windows only) to let you view your pictures, but you can just ignore that as there will be a folder on there somewhere containing the actual jpgs, which you can import into iPhoto no problem.

And I agree with escher, in that sort of environment, film would be the most suitable. You don't have to worry about battery life (which is pretty shocking still for digital cameras), reliability (far less electronics and things to go wrong), and sending back the memory cards to him (inconvenient and potentially expensive if it goes wrong), and you can still get good quality pictures in a digital form to upload to the web or whatever you're doing with them.

Also, bear in mind that for the price of a mid-range digital camera you can buy a premium, semi-professional, incredibly rugged film SLR. Don't get me wrong, I own a great digital cam (Canon S400) as well as a film one, but I just don't think it's the best answer for this situation.

[robot prom]

OT, but make sure you friend reads A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson before he sets off. If will definately help put the walk into perspective, espicially if he's doing it in sections, or falls off the trail for some reason.

[hart]

there are small folding solar panels made specifically for recharging in this kind of situation. I've seen them in hiking/kayaking/outdoor catalogues and also gadgety catalogues like Sharper Image (sorry I can't be more specific). You walk around with it attached to the top of your pack.

However, a crucial issue is moisture and water damage. Any outdoor activity like long-distance backpacking involves significant risk of getting wet. Digital cameras and similar equipment don't fair well under these conditions and careful precautions have to be taken that the equipment doesn't get wet. Some camera models come with water-resistant housings and Canon makes a waterproof case for several of its models. I just got the canon s50 specifically to use with the case in my kayak. I also read that Canon will be producing a waterproof model soon in the Elph line, something like the sd230 but it's not out yet. At the least a proper dry bag (available from kayak/canoe suppliers) to store the camera and equipment in would be necessary.

But I do tend to agree with everyone else that going digital tends to add a number of difficulties that conventional film would avoid. I'd say first pick the right equipment for him to take pics and deliver them to you. Whatever method you choose you'll be able to get it into the computer somehow.

Julia