How to get the best cameras for Inca Trail
1. Factors to Consider for Pics on the Inca Trail and get Amazing Photographies
The best cameras for Inca Trail: The comfort of your trek can be significantly enhanced by hiring an extra porter. These men are significantly experienced and can carry up to 20kg. Taking a load off your back will allow you to fully enjoy the trek and take in the beautiful surroundings.
From personal experience, I have found that you can sometimes negotiate to hire an extra porter as you leave the checkpoint at 82 (the start of the Inca Trail), especially if it is late in the day. This is because teams of porters cooking food and equipment will want to rush to get to the first campsite to claim a spot, and therefore there will be some urgency for extra porters. They also will not want to be caught by the ranger and have to pay the fee for one of the porters carrying too much. This is a tactful way to raise the chance of an extra porter for a little extra money, but nothing is guaranteed.
An important aspect of the Inca Trail is deciding on what to carry and how to carry it. You will, of course, have a team of porters that will carry most of the equipment, such as tents, food, cooking equipment, etc. On your first day of the Inca Trail, and if you receive a camping spot at Llulluchapampa or a higher spot, then this is when there is the possibility that you will be able to hire an extra porter to carry both the equipment and your personal belongings.
2. Top Camera Options for Inca Trail
Fujifilm X-T20 – Price: $899 This would be the top of the range camera for someone prepared to carry extra weight and would like top quality photos. It’s the latest offering in the X series from Fujifilm, promising premium image quality in a reasonably priced camera. This camera is still quite lightweight for what it can produce. Weight: 383g Rating: 4.5 Stars Pros: Image quality, connectivity Cons: Short battery life
Canon Rebel t7i – Price: $749 Although a bit heavier than the other cameras decided to include some SLR’s. We believe it’s acceptable to take a heavier camera if the user is determined to get higher quality photos. This would be aimed at someone very interested in photography and willing to carry the extra weight. Weight: 532g Rating: 5 Stars Pros: Image quality, battery life Cons: Weight, cost
Sony A6000 – Price: $548 A nice, reliable camera for someone traveling away. This camera is pretty light as far as interchangeable lens cameras go, delivering excellent image quality in a package that’s not much bigger than a point-and-shoot. Weight: 344g Rating: 4.5 Stars Pros: Good image quality, lightweight Cons: Menu look, no touchscreen
Canon G9 X – Price: $399 This radical design was aimed at letting photographers take high quality pictures in environments where it’s impossible to carry an SLR. So the Canon Powershot G9 X is a powerful, yet small, reliable camera with great customer reviews. Weight: 209g Rating: 5 Stars Pros: Quality of images, easy to use, light Cons: No viewfinder, battery life
3. Budget-Friendly Cameras for Inca Trail
For budget cameras, you can even use a simple digital point and shoot camera. If you’re not into photography and just want to preserve some memories, this will be the perfect solution. Prices range from £100-300. Look at the Canon Digital IXUS range for a stylish, easy to use camera with a fair price, or the Canon Powershot range for a slightly more advanced model with some additional features.
Nikon also offers a good series of point and shoot cameras and the Coolpix range is worth checking out. These are simple and light cameras that are capable of taking good quality and detailed images. Remember to look for a camera with a relatively quick shutter lag time. This is the time it takes the camera to focus and take the shot after you press the shutter, and can be important to avoid the camera being sluggish when trying to quickly take a picture of those spontaneous moments along the way.
Another new wave of cameras to the budget market are the compact and rugged cameras. These are a lot more durable than a standard camera, and often shockproof and waterproof, which is ideal for the Inca Trail. One range of brilliant compact cameras are the Olympus Tough Cameras. These are perfect for people who want to be less worried about damaging the camera in their rucksack, and are also ideal for taking pictures when white water rafting or in the rainforest. Although the rugged cameras tend to be a little bit more expensive, you can still purchase the best camera for the Inca Trail in this category for under £300.
4. High-End Cameras for Inca Trail Professionals
The best example of a high-end point and shoot camera is without a doubt the Canon Powershot G-Series. This camera is built with a very solid feel, made out of tough plastic or metal shells. The device is of very low weight and low bulk in comparison to a professional DSLR. Coming with a variety of manual and automatic settings, any level of photographer is able to operate it and undoubtedly get some great results.
It costs at the higher end of the point and shoot camera range, but for what it offers in functions and durability, it is absolutely worth the price. This camera is the best possible device that you could take onto the Inca Trail considering weight, size, image quality, and durability.
Coming in small, light, and compact designs, high-end point and shoot cameras offer the best functions in the lightest possible package. Many of these are easy to use and produce images of reasonable quality. They are more durable than DSLRs and video cameras and also have a lower likelihood of theft due to being less attractive to robbers. These cameras are ideal for someone who wants top-quality photographs without risking their more expensive, professional-grade equipment. The consumer would still need to be cautious, however, as all electronic devices are vulnerable to impact and moisture on the Inca Trail.
Cameras in this category offer the best image quality and functions. They are also able to take large amounts of impact and still function correctly. Anything from a digital SLR upwards to a high-end professional video camera. Remember, these are also the heaviest and bulkiest to carry. A professional DSLR camera can weigh around 2 kilos (4.5 pounds), plus 3-4 lenses, and a video camera can triple that amount in weight.
While these cameras offer the best possible photos and video footage, it is strongly recommended to be a professional in the field of photography or filmmaking before considering taking these kinds of devices on the Inca Trail. The likelihood of them getting damaged or stolen is quite high, so anyone less than professional would be just as well off with a high-end point and shoot camera.
5. Tips for Capturing Stunning Inca Trail Photos
The best way to capture the trail, porters, and life along the trail is with a camcorder. Video is an excellent way to document your journey along the trail because it captures the trail in motion and the voices and emotions of the people living and working on the trail. Unfortunately, it is difficult to impossible to find a rental camcorder from a reputable company in Peru.
Often, people who bring their own camcorder regret it as they find it to be a burden to keep it protected and there are concerns about keeping the batteries charged for 4 days. Prior to 2008, you wouldn’t want to bring an expensive digital camcorder on the trail because it was likely to be stolen by the end of your journey. Now that the care of the porters is being better monitored, this may be a safer option.
When capturing the sights and people along the Inca Trail, we suggest avoiding using a standard point and shoot camera because of the very nature of the trail. Trails are uneven, the weather can be hot and sticky or wet and cold, and often you’ll want to have your hands free to keep from stumbling or for balance. The weight of a 35mm SLR with a couple of lenses is a bit much, but if that’s your passion, then by all means you should bring it.
Canon has come out with the Digital Rebel, which is a great compromise because it isn’t too heavy and it is a digital camera. Whichever camera you choose to bring, you should put it in a plastic bag and keep it in your day pack when not using it. This is especially necessary on the third day when the trail passes near numerous waterfalls. High humidity and the spray from waterfalls have been the undoing of many cameras.
