Video camera for Alaska

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May 27, 2024
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I posted this in a different channel but maybe I’ll have better luck here. I’m going to the Wrangell Mountains in Alaska in September moose hunting. I’d like to buy a videocamera that I can bring to document my hunt for my kids. I’d like a lighter weight one since we’ll be flying in on a cub plane. I’d also like one with long distance zoom capabilities. I do like the idea of a camera style vs a standard video camera style. Recommendations ?


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The camera you're most willing to carry and use is the best camera to take.
For the sake of discussion cell phones have come a long way these days. I believe the Higher level Samsungs and Iphones have some decent zoom capabilities. My cousin had a Samsung with a bunch of digital zoom a few years ago, I had my P900 nikon on a tripod. She free handed and I shot some video of a house about a half mile away across the lake. The Nikon was better, but not by much, and she was free hand.
I just got back from a snowmobile trip out west, I left all of the cameras at home and just brought my Iphone and a Selfie stick with a tripod base. I kind of did the same thing on an archery elk hunt this fall and was satisfied as far as recording the memories went.
I'm just a hobbyist, I've got GoPro's, a DSLR and some decent lenses, and a P900 Nikon I have a lot of fun with.
If I wanted more capabilities than a cell phone, I'd Bring a Gopro for the closeup stuff and I'd bring my Nikon or a similar Bridge camera for the distance stuff.
Back to my original thought though, when weight is an issue and you want to keep it simple, maxing out the capabilities of a cell phone and having a battery pack to charge it off of might not be a bad option in this situation.
 
You might want to look into a 360° camera. You can mount it on your pack and it captures everything around you. Better for up close filming (50 yards and in) most likely. I don’t have one but I’m thinking seriously about buying one. You can use your cell phone for everything else.
 
Definitely I'd get an adapter to take pictures through your spotting scope with a phone. I finally did that and I like it a lot. Say you are watching a moose? You can easily get lots of cool still shots or videos before you stalk in. I like that because its not really disrupting the actual hunt. Minimal weight/cost.

For action shots, having someone else along to play camera man will be better whether they use a camera or a descent phone. If not, a Gopro that you can stick on your head is a compromise. You'll at least get action shots of the kill.

With all this you obviously need to think batteries. I think I normally have 5-6 Gopro batteries. I typically don't need that many but occasionally you find out your camera was left on for 30 minutes of crawling through the brush. Also I sleep with my batteries in my sleeping bag. If I think I'll film in the morning I keep the Gopro or phone in my chest pocket so it's warm when I use it.

Get lots of slow scenery shots and shots of packing up, setting up camp, cooking dinner , etc. A hunt is a journey not a kill shot. You'll have a better video if you document that part well.

For ideas I'd watch Limitless Outdoors. From what I can tell they typically hunt in pairs trading one rifle and camera back and forth. Occasionally they use a Gopro but usually only if it's a solo hunt or the second person is a kid. Gives you an idea what works better. Also they are a good example of making enjoyable videos that ate 90% about the journey not the kill shot.
 
Definitely I'd get an adapter to take pictures through your spotting scope with a phone. I finally did that and I like it a lot. Say you are watching a moose? You can easily get lots of cool still shots or videos before you stalk in. I like that because its not really disrupting the actual hunt. Minimal weight/cost.

For action shots, having someone else along to play camera man will be better whether they use a camera or a descent phone. If not, a Gopro that you can stick on your head is a compromise. You'll at least get action shots of the kill.

With all this you obviously need to think batteries. I think I normally have 5-6 Gopro batteries. I typically don't need that many but occasionally you find out your camera was left on for 30 minutes of crawling through the brush. Also I sleep with my batteries in my sleeping bag. If I think I'll film in the morning I keep the Gopro or phone in my chest pocket so it's warm when I use it.

Get lots of slow scenery shots and shots of packing up, setting up camp, cooking dinner , etc. A hunt is a journey not a kill shot. You'll have a better video if you document that part well.

For ideas I'd watch Limitless Outdoors. From what I can tell they typically hunt in pairs trading one rifle and camera back and forth. Occasionally they use a Gopro but usually only if it's a solo hunt or the second person is a kid. Gives you an idea what works better. Also they are a good example of making enjoyable videos that ate 90% about the journey not the kill shot.

Thanks. Which adapter did you get?


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