[Now I Fly]

I'd like to buy a small camera for hiking. Do folks have a favorite they could recommend? Or should I upgrade my phone (iPhone 8)? Thanks, B

[Tom]

I'd upgrade your phone.

[Malachai Constant]

Ditto I used to use a small waterproof camera but iphones and android phones produce equal result and are waterproof to the same degree with multiple lenses.

[Gil]

For most people, today's phones are pretty darn good, especially if you don't need long telephoto capability. Phones today outperform most of today's small point and shoots. But when you need a telephoto, you need a telephoto.

[huron]

Even phones are obsolete. Just ask your AI of choice to generate some scenes based on your itinerary.

[rubywrangler]

Last year I upgraded to an iPhone 14 Pro instead of replacing the camera I drowned and I have regretted it ever since. So I’d recommend a Sony RX100 m5 or m6, depending on whether you want to spend more for a longer zoom.

[Chief Joseph]

I have an I-phone 8 and am happy with the photo quality, probably better than my last Sony point and shoot camera. I would not recommend a P&S camera, if you want the best quality imho you are going to have to spent a lot and carry a lot more weight in camera gear. Iphone8....

[Now I Fly]

I ended up taking Toms advice on the Google Pixel 7 Pro. My iPhone8 was really beat to *rap anyway, and I know I'll love all the storage on the Pixel 7. Using an Android will be new for me. Hopefully not too hard to figure out. I mainly just use GAIA, Strava, and the camera. Thanks for your ideas! I'll let you know how the new phone works for me. Cheers, B

[Tom]

Hope it works out. Switching from iphone to android may be a bit of an adjustment. While some might argue that phones tend to over process things, I personally prefer the more muted processing of the pixels vs. iphone and samsung. First thing to do when you get your pixel is go into settings and select "natural" for colors. Also, with the money you saved vs. buying an iphone, I would recommend paying $100/year for google storage after you run out of your free 15GB of googe photos online storage. That way everything is backed up on your phone (as well as your computer). Also, if you use google photos, you won't have to pay for another photo or backup service. Editing photos in google photos is a great experience, it's all I really use now. I also really like that edits are non-destructive, so you can revert back to the original.

[Olympic Hiker]

[Riverside Laker]

I thought the later iPhone Pro models had a "raw" mode with no processing (and giant file size).

[contour5]

My beloved Nikon S9500 tumbled into a talus hole and perished last fall. It actually still works but. you have to pick at the lens with your fingernail to get it to come out of the housing... So I went on eBay and bought four more- 2 are "Christmas specials" - they still had 8 or 10 pictures on the card from Christmas ten years ago... I also replaced my antique iPhone SE. Murdered it trying to replace the battery after the Apple Store refused. I said "Fine. I'm never coming' back in your store!" Then I botched the DIY and had to slink off to the other Apple Store to buy a new phone. 15 Pro shoots 4K video directly onto an SSD via a usb c cable. There are some cool little frame rigs that hold the phone, the ssd, a mic and maybe a battery bank. You can shoot hours of 4K with one of those things... Haven't shot many pictures with it yet, and so far I don't understand the software. Already struggling making the transition from photoshop to Affinity and Luminar- not sure I need another massive technological challenge- I may just stick with the Nikons so I can edit the "old" way. I'll definitely be using the 15 Pro for video though. Actually, I am swamped with technological challenges. I'm building a tall ship to sail the deserts and prairies. This week, I'm learning to be an electrician.

[Olympic Hiker]

[catsp]

Can you turn off HDR for photos on the iPhone 15?

[Ski]

^ Iphones take WAY better photos than cheap point-and-shoot models. The advantage to the cheap point-and-shoot is that you can buy another one on ebay for $30-$40 bucks after you've slipped and fallen in the creek at Kalaloch Beach trail #5 and smashed the camera on the rocks, or dropped it on the rocks in the Ohanepecosh River and smashed it. Follow me for more money-saving camera tips!