This page may contain affiliate links that pay me a small commission. There is no cost to you. You can review the affiliate statement at the very bottom of this page if you want more information. As an Amazon affiliate Canon Camera Geek may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at NO added cost to you.

New Canon For Hiking With Optical Viewfinder

by Steven
(Northern California)

Canon Powershot A1400-Camera

Canon Powershot A1400-Camera

I like having a camera with me when I take off into the wilderness on hiking trips. I keep it attached to my pack, as I often have no more than 2-3 seconds to capture a photo. Because of that need to speed, I need an optical viewfinder. I have to be able to grab the camera, bring it up to my eye, and snap the image very quickly.

I have been using Canon cameras for years, most recently a Powershot A1400, but would love to upgrade to something with more optical zoom. Does such a camera exist? My other considerations are the camera has to be lightweight, and not too expensive. The latter is important as on more than one occasion, my camera will end up in a river, or falling over a cliff, dropping into a talus field, etc. Thanks for the help.

Hi Steven!

Great question. The Canon A1400 was released in 2013. In digital camera development terms, that's outdated.

New Canon Camera For Hiking

It sounds like you're going to want a camera with these 3 features:
1. COMPACT: Small and light enough to travel with on the trail in a ready-to-shoot position.
2. FOCAL LENGTH: Strong enough for photographing wildlife.
3. OPTICAL VIEWFINDER: A must have feature for locating, composing, and focusing on your subject.

-A Canon mirrorless would save you some space and weight, but to get an optical viewfinder and good zoom lens would likely push it out of your price range.
-One of the Canon Super-zoom Bridge camera might work, but they are bigger than your pocket-sized A1400.
-I use an Canon APS-C sized Canon 90D and carry it during my hikes in a belly bag for super quick access.

Canon camera chooser


Steven, you might want to visit a page I published on the Canon Geek website that will help me more precisely find a good match for you. There are a few specific questions that will provide more clarity on what you want. I'll be able to narrow down from the many possibilities that exist in the Canon lineup for a good hiking camera.

Canon Camera Finder

Also, I'm seriously hoping you and/or your camera don't end up falling in a river or over a cliff. Northern California is a great place to hike!

Bruce

Follow me on YouTube

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Ask The Canon Geek.

Author Bruce Lovelace
Bruce Lovelace Signature

Bruce Lovelace is the publisher of Canon Camera Geek. Read more about him on the About Page. He also publishes how to articles and camera gear reviews at the Photography Tips website.

View some of Bruce's photos on Instagram  and Flickr.   Join the tribe of followers on YouTube. Bruce also runs photo workshops and provides 1 on 1 digital photography coaching.

Canon Geek on Google My Business

You might like these


Search for articles on this Site:


Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Battery Grip For EOS 100D-Rebel-SL1. Which One+Where Can You Get One?

    Jul 24, 24 09:25 AM

    Battery Grip Door
    Here is the answer to your question about the Battery Grip For EOS 100D-Rebel-SL1

    Read More

  2. R7 Lens Compatibility And a List of The Best Lenses For a Canon R7

    Jul 24, 24 08:59 AM

    Canon RF-S 18-150 kit lens
    Canon EOS R lens compatibility. Here are the best lenses for a Canon R7

    Read More

  3. The 9 Best Lenses For a Canon 90D. The Good, The Great, and The Unique

    Jul 24, 24 08:53 AM

    Canon 90D With 100-400 Lens
    You already know the 90D is a great camera, but you need a matching lens. What are the best lenses for a Canon 90D. Here are my top 9 choices for a good 90d lenses

    Read More

  4. 7 Best Canon 70-200 Lens Accessories.Must Have Protection And Function

    Jul 23, 24 04:40 PM

    Protect your Canon lens graphic
    It is a great lens by itself, no doubt, but there are a few Canon 70-200 lens accessories you should know about right away.

    Read More

  5. Canon Speedlite Portraits-How To Portrait Lighting With One Speedlite

    Jul 23, 24 10:25 AM

    Handheld 270EX II Speedlite
    How to guide: Speedlite portrait lighting. Simple Canon speedlite portraits tips to get great shots with you canon camera and speedlite flash

    Read More

Sign up for a monthly update

Enter Your E-mail Address
Enter Your First Name
Then

Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Canon Geek Newsletter.