The Best Compact Point and Shoot Camera- Hiking and Backpacking with the Sony RX100
El Capitan, Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho
I often get asked about how I hike with my camera gear. One of my not-so-secret weapons is the Sony RX100 compact camera. With manual and RAW capabilities in a pocket size, this camera is a great addition to my kit! I like to carry it outside of my pack on hiking trips to be sure I never miss a shot. The cost was more than I wanted to spend for a pocket camera, but I took a leap of faith and and I'm so glad that I did. The little Sony That Could accompanies me everywhere, capturing moments I may have otherwise missed.
Why I think the Sony RX100M6 is the best compact point and shoot camera for hiking, backpacking, and pretty much anything else where you don’t want to carry something larger than a deck of cards...
The Size It's tiny. It makes my Sony a7riii look like a beast. It fits in all my purses and most of my pockets.
The Flip Up Selfie Screen You're kidding, right?! I hear ya! I balked at it at first too. And then we spent 16 days in the Alps with no one around to grab a quick snapshot of us. That selfie screen is awesome. Even if I rarely give in to being in front of the camera.
The Aperture and the Flare It offers f2.8 in a pocket camera?! You bet your zoom range it does! And on the other end of the scroll wheel lies a killer, multi colored flare that produces spectacular starbursts. Yeah, yeah, that's technically a flaw with the lens. But I love a good flaw.
Full Manual and RAW While it takes some practice to get used to the controls, the Sony offers full manual shooting which is a must for me. It shoots high quality RAW images. When it comes to my photographs, I want to be in full control, technically and creatively.
Image Stabilization and a Built in ND Filter A lot of times, on the trail, I don't have time to stop, get out my Nikon, my filters, and set up my tripod. The Sony offers the ability to still grab those long exposure or low light shots without slowing us down.
WiFi and Smart Remote Sony offers a great app that enables you to transfer photographs to your mobile device for sharing on the go. It also has a great smart remote offering the camera's view on your phone so that you can get in the shot, too.
Many of my favorite images on hiking and backpacking trips have been shot with the Sony RX100M6 and I haven't had to sacrifice a bit of control or quality. The RX100 offers incredible portability and outstanding image quality, allowing me to keep my big camera tucked safely in my pack as we are hiking long distances. Here are a few of my favorite photographs taken in the field with the Sony RX100M6.
Lupine Superbloom near Mount Baker, WA
Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, Randa, Switzerland
Stellisee and the Matterhorn, Valais, Switzerland
Cabin near Cow Beach, Methow Trails Nordic Ski Trails, Mazama, WA
Wildflowers along Wy'east Basin Trail near Barrett Spur and Vista Ridge, Mount Hood, OR
Backcountry Camping near Skyline Divide with Mount Shuksan in the background, WA
Golden Sky behind Mount Hood, OR
Twin Lakes, Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho
The best camera truly is the one that's with you, especially when you are miles out on a trail. But moving beyond simple snapshots to capturing images that actually feel like you is a deliberate practice.
Real-World Tips for Backcountry Photography
Prioritize Accessibility: A camera does you no good if it is buried inside a heavy pack. Keep a compact camera clipped to your shoulder strap or in a quick-access hip belt pocket so you can capture fleeting trail moments effortlessly.
Maximize Battery Life in the Cold: Compact camera batteries are small and can drain quickly in alpine or winter conditions. Keep your spare batteries tucked inside an interior jacket pocket close to your body heat until the exact moment you need them.
Don't Underestimate the Sensor: Even with a smaller footprint, modern premium compacts have incredible dynamic range. Shoot in RAW so you can easily recover shadow detail in dense forest paths or pull back highlights in sweeping sky compositions.
Mastering your gear kit and understanding how to pack light without sacrificing your creative vision is a massive part of outdoor photography. If you want to dial in your technical setup, refine your field techniques, or learn how to create impactful landscape imagery, I offer Private Mentoring programs both online and in person to help you take that next step.
