Costa Rica rainy season kit

I'm planning a trip to Costa Rica next month, much of which will be in the jungle, in the rainy season, with the first 8-10 days camping in a hammock, and am pondering my options for a camera. After the jungle stint, my wife will join me, and we will travel with backpacks, but will stay in hostels/airbnbs mainly for another few weeks.

Based on our experience in Belize in March, I don't plan on taking any large glass, even though the weather resistance would be nice to have. On that trip, I used my cell phone almost as much as my E-M5ii+12-40, and didn't swap lenses at all. That phone (Samsung Note 4 with very good camera) has since died, and the replacement has a lousy camera, so I won't rely on it.

So my choices this time are:

1. E-PM2 + 12-32 and some zip lock bags for keeping dry (smallest combo I own).

2. Buy a TG-5. I tried one in a store, and could probably get used to it; it is more responsive than most compacts.

3. Old E-M5 + 12-32 for advantage of EVF and weather sealing (of course lens isn't), and I have a solar+USB charger for it. I'd need to get one for the E-PM2 if I take it.

I really wish I could get a weathersealed pancake prime. I'm still waffling between the TG-5 and a 17/1.8 for travel, but neither are quite what I want right now...

How many of you have the TG-4/5 and are happy with the results for travel? Are there other options I haven't considered?

I decided to poke in on the Olympus Compact forum, and the first thread I found was this one:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61202184

Hmm...

I've been to Costa Rica the last 3 summers (rainy season).  In my opinion, you will really want something with 300mm minimum.  Most of the hikes I was at 300mm for the bulk of the shots (video in my case).

My current kit (which I used this past summer) is a Panasonic ZS100 on a gimbal (not water resistant at all), plus as a backup, I bring my Panasonic LX10 along with my small aluminum underwater housing in case it rains.  I just take a dry bag if I need to pack up the ZS100/Gimbal.

I really think you will be zoom limited with the TG-5.  I used the weather sealed M4/3 Olympus 14-150 last year on a non weather sealed body that I made a homemade water resistant bag (ziplock bag that I cut a lens hole into, and a rubber band), it worked quite well in the light rain.

brousseb wrote:

I've been to Costa Rica the last 3 summers (rainy season). In my opinion, you will really want something with 300mm minimum. Most of the hikes I was at 300mm for the bulk of the shots (video in my case).

My current kit (which I used this past summer) is a Panasonic ZS100 on a gimbal (not water resistant at all), plus as a backup, I bring my Panasonic LX10 along with my small aluminum underwater housing in case it rains. I just take a dry bag if I need to pack up the ZS100/Gimbal.

I really think you will be zoom limited with the TG-5. I used the weather sealed M4/3 Olympus 14-150 last year on a non weather sealed body that I made a homemade water resistant bag (ziplock bag that I cut a lens hole into, and a rubber band), it worked quite well in the light rain.

Interesting comments. I am not a tele shooter at all, and often won't go beyond 40mm, and leave the 40-150R in the bag. I am more likely to switch to the 7-14 over the 40-150, with the 12-40 usually my main lens. That said, I did spend a few weeks borrowing a friend's 14-150 in Japan, and quite liked it as an all around lens. So that is another option I have not considered in my list, but it is much larger than the pocketable size I'd like to stick with if possible.

Thanks for the feedback.

jwilliams wrote:

How about getting an old EM5 and adding the Oly 12-50. According to Olympus it is "dust and splash-proof". This would give a good FL range and at least some degree of weather sealing on the lens. Both can be picked up cheap used. The price of a used EM5 MK I is genuinely depressing as I was contemplating selling mine. I am sure you could put this all together for well under $500 buying the lens used.

Thanks, I've got my original E-M5, but have had the 12-50 twice and sold it - at the same length as the 12-40, it doesn't make much sense for me; I'd sooner just carry the 12-40, since when packing around, it's length that matters mostly for me.

You're right though, the E-M5 is a bargain on the used market. I guess they sold so well that there are lots around now.

LarsPolarBear wrote:

Shawn,

I would definitely look into taking a longer lens with you, since it will be helpful with jungle animals and birds...

What about taking the E-M5 II plus a 100-300mm Panasonic, which is weather sealed and the the 12-32mm with ziplock bag?

If you have the funds, best would be probably a Sony RX10 IV, which is weather sealed and covers 24-600mm with a good lens.

https://m.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-rx10-iv

Alternative would be the Canon G3x, also weather sealed and covers the same range, but the lens is not that good and is also slower, but available much cheaper... both are 1“ sensor cameras.

Anyways, just my 2c...

Enjoy your trip with whatever you are taking -and don’t forget to post the results! 😊

Best,

Lars

I guess I have should have mentioned that I generally don't bother trying to get bird or wildlife shots. My success rate is too low (maybe because I don't have a good telephoto), so I prefer to just enjoy the experience, and just capture the scenery shots and closeups. But as yours is the second comment about this, I may toss in the 40-150R just in case.

I am reluctant to buy more gear (at least not without selling something in exchange), as I have not been using what I have much lately, and am trying to be more minimalist in my retirement...

Thanks for the tips!

I left the decision on photo gear until the rest of my pack was stuffed. I am taking only a 30L pack including a sleeping hammock for 4 weeks so space is tight.

Body: the EM5ii won out due to the minimal extra size and weight over the EPM2 and the EVF and sealing (although no sealed lens) and I have a very small USB charger for it.

Lens: 12-32 and 40-150r. I wanted to take the 12-40 but it tipped the scales. The 7.5 FE was also a close call but it wouldn't fit in the small bag I chose for camera gear.

I also brought 3 batteries, USB charger, and a small Joby gorillapod. My Android phone and tablet with 2 USB ports (Acer 10") for charging and a USB sd card reader with 3 spare cards round out the technology kit. And lots of zip lock bags!

I still might get a TG5 some day but trying it and reading some reports has me waiting for a sealed compact lens instead. I don't need another compact that will only be used for travel.

Sitting in Seattle waiting for connecting flight to LAX then SJO. Funny thing... Two young girls just walked by and one was showing the other how to set A and S on an old Nikon FM2... There is hope for today's youth!

See you all in a month or so unless i become Jaguar food...

My wife and I will go to Costa Rica in february 2019. We will travel both in rain forest area and volcano areas as well. I am in serious doubt if I should go for full frame or a Oly/Pan with highres capabilities. Have you used highres for landscape on your EM5 II?
I have a dream of bringing back some fantastic landscape shots from the northern part of CR and dont know which camera setup will be the best.
Thanks for any comment on this.