Getting a new camera? I did the hard work for you.

[bigtrubs]

Hey guys, I've written an article on Biglines.com about sweet cameras to use when you're skiing. I've covered everything from point-and-shoots to rangefinders to big-time digital SLRs. If you've been in the market for a new camera, check out the article.

Using reviews on dpreview.com and personal experience I weeded out the sick and the old so that you don't have to. Enjoy.

[shirk]

What about the Olympus E-P1 in the 4/3rds option?

I replaced my G7 with the LX3, biggest thing I miss is ISO dial on top.

[Damon]

Why leica?

[shirk]

Quality of optics would be common response.

[bigtrubs]

Why leica?

Why not Leica?! They're the best of the best and their glass is the highest quality in the world for camera lenses. Besides, they look so cool. I have a 50-year-old M3. And Shirk I think I mentioned the EP-1 when I talk about the Panasonic one, it's just newer. I could have also talked about the D700 but I forgot.

[pointedem]

You forgot Holga.

[LeeLau]

This is a very generic article. It's not skiing specific. IMO that article should talk about ergonomics - ie using controls with gloves; toughness of camera body (shit gets dropped all the time when skiing) and other things specific to skiing - ability to handle changed WB, lack of a viewfinder or whether that matters at all for skiing.

Then it'll be a useful article.

[bigtrubs]

I'm not going to make excuses, maybe it wasn't useful for you, but we all know that you're a very techno-savvy person and you care about stuff like that. Some people just need a generic explanation to help decide which direction to go in. I don't have time to write a novel every day, wish I did.

And I've never dropped any of my cameras, I keep the strap wrapped around my wrist twice on my G10 or 5D all the time I use it.

[LeeLau]

Fair enough. Take it as constructive criticism

[smmokan]

Does anybody really use camera controls with gloves on? I find that to be basically impossible.

[LeeLau]

Some of the G10's camera controls are useable with gloves on (ISO, camera modes, exposure). You can set custom settings to lock in settings which you might want to customize for low light or bright lights for example.

[Eldo]

A good idea for an article, but it should have been written by an experienced ski/snowboard photographer. And I agree that almost no attention was paid to camera features needed for ski-specific use.

For example the X1 has a fixed focal length lens of 35 mm equivalent, severely limiting its usefulness.

The LX3 has no optical viewfinder, and when shooting in burst mode the LCD viewfinder doesn't update between shots, making it a guessing game trying to follow a moving subject. Not to mention the LCD will be next to useless on a bright sunny day.

This comment on the M9 is indicative of the lack of ski photography-specific experience:
"The M9 makes you do most of the work because you have to manually focus and choose the aperture too. This is good, however, because you can pre-focus on the spot your buddy is skiing or snowboarding through and it will be easier to get the shot."
Pre-focusing is a technique that anyone who uses a P&S digital camera should use ALL the time. Having to do it on the $7,000 M9 is hardly a reason to endorse it as a ski camera.

The D90 is an aging camera that has been eclipsed by several newer SLRS with better features and specs (including video), and at better prices. I can't imagine why it is even mentioned.

[summit]

YOUR ARTICLE SUCKS. Sorry dude, but it sucks really bad. Your recommendations are terrible!

Leica M9 Are you honestly suggesting that people spend $7000 on a fucking manual focus rangefinder for skiing? That doesn't even include a lens! What is wrong with you? Why would anyone buy a fucking M9 over a professional DSLR body (or two) for skiing?

Panasonic LX3 has a tiny zoom. You seriously want 60mm equivelent to be your long end? And no optical finder? Hope you have a second camera... because this one is for the ski lodge.

Canon G11 is only 1.1 FPS and costs more than an older DSLR + lens.

Panasonic GF1 has no optical viewfinder. Ever tried to track moving subjects when the LCD is updating at 3FPS?

Leica X1 - Is Leica paying you or are you one of those Leica collectors drools on their $30,000 worth of collectors cameras? This thing is a $2000 waste of money for a skier. $2000 for a fixed lens 24mm point and shoot... are you sponsored by Leica or something? This is a worse recommendation than the M9, but not by much.

Of all the cameras you recommended, you only had one that was not retarded: Canon 7D

I'm sorry to be harsh, but you have no fucking clue what you are talking about. Never write an article about ski photography gear again. I hope biglines.com didn't pay you, although I wonder if Leica did.

[shirk]

blah

Wow you really come off as a douche with that post. You could have gotten your point across without the harsh comments. No need to bring the knee jerk flaming in here.

[summit]

waaaaaaaaaaah

I'm no less harsh than others would be if someone wrote an article for a ski magazine or website, then pasted it up here as "What skis to ski pow? I did the hard work for you!" and recommended a bunch of slalom and GS skis.

[smmokan]

^^^ Isn't that what Ski and Skiing (and Powder) do already? They beat you to the punch.

[Hutch]

Holy uncalled-for ragecall, Summit.

[shirk]

I'm no less harsh than others would be if someone wrote an article for a ski magazine or website, then pasted it up here as "What skis to ski pow? I did the hard work for you!" and recommended a bunch of slalom and GS skis.

You still sound like a douche, you can make your point without the ragecall.

[grapedrink]

YOUR ARTICLE SUCKS ASS. Sorry dude, but it sucks really bad. Your recommendations are shit.

Leica M9 Are you honestly suggesting that people spend $7000 on a fucking manual focus rangefinder for skiing? That doesn't even include a lens! What the FUCK is wrong with you? Why would anyone buy a fucking M9 over a professional DSLR body (or two) for skiing?

Panasonic LX3 has a tiny zoom. You seriously want 60mm equivelent to be your long end? And no optical finder? Hope you have a second camera... because this one is for the ski lodge.

Canon G11 is only 1.1 FPS and costs more than an older DSLR + lens.

Panasonic GF1 has no optical viewfinder. Ever tried to track moving subjects when the LCD is updating at 3FPS?

Leica X1 - Is Leica paying you or are you one of those Leica collectors who strokes off to their $30,000 worth of collectors cameras? This thing is a $2000 waste of money for a skier. $2000 for a fixed lens 24mm point and shoot... ARE YOU FUCKING SMOKING CRACK OR IS LEICA PAYING YOU?

Of all the cameras you recommended, you only had one that was not retarded: Canon 7D

I'm sorry to be harsh, but you are a fucking moron. Never write an article about ski photography gear again. I hope biglines.com didn't pay you, although I wonder if Leica did.

that was a pretty useless article but man you gotta relax.. that was crazy.

[uglymoney]

Isn't Bigtrubs like a little hottie who cut her teeth at Whistler and posts shots of herself jumping around on rocks?

For gods sakes people give her some rope!

I've love for Leica Panasonics btw - why the hate? While every single person around me was getting nothing but blurry crap from their (mandatory) p&s's the Panasonic shot this from half a football stadium away (486 mm equivalant) at full zoom with low light at U2 last weekend:

[summit]

I've love for Leica Panasonics btw - why the hate? While every single person around me was getting nothing but blurry crap from their (mandatory) p&s's the Panasonic shot this from half a football stadium away (486 mm equivalant) at full zoom with low light at U2 last weekend:

Nothing is wrong with the Leica lensed Panasonics. Actually, I think Panasonics (along with Canons) are the best point and shoots on the market today for general use. Except for the lack of viewfinder and small controls, the LX1 would have been the ultimate compact manual P&S. That's why I told a lot of people to buy them if they weren't noise snobs. LX2 is worthy successor as is the LX3. However, none are the best choice for skiing and the LX3 is the worst of the series for that application.

The only problem with Panasonic is that they haven't made a camera with an optical viewfinder in at least 3 years. Shooting skiing (any serious action) with LCD lag and blackout is always an amateur's compromise.

For the record, I love my little Panasonic TS-1, which I do NOT recommend as a ski camera.

[RootSkier]

bigtrubs rips harder than summit

[Mofro261]

I can't see a post by big-T-rubs without thinking of steepconcrete's avatar.

[couloir]

Isn't Bigtrubs like a little hottie who cut her teeth at Whistler and posts shots of herself jumping around on rocks?

For gods sakes people give her some rope!

I've love for Leica Panasonics btw - why the hate? While every single person around me was getting nothing but blurry crap from their (mandatory) p&s's the Panasonic shot this from half a football stadium away (486 mm equivalant) at full zoom with low light at U2 last weekend:

doesnt really equate to a good skiing camera... bet my fuji f10 could replicate that... but it takes crap skiing action shots

[bigtrubs]

oooo draaama. geez there's a reason I haven't been visiting tgr too much lately.

hey guys- go outside and have some fun- I was just talking about some of the sweet newer (with the exception of the LX3 and D90) that have been introduced within the last little while. in Whistler we don't really have the ability to manhandle all the newest gear and I was going based on reviews I had read. You can take a good action shot with a p and s, you don't need to use burst mode all the time, just know when to take the shot.

now calm down, don't get those knickers in a twist.