My Camera Setup for Extreme Conditions

“The less attention technology demands, the more remains for what truly matters.”

No Room for Compromise

My camera setup for extreme conditions is deliberately minimal. It comes into play whenever there is little room for error: on rock, in ice, in wet and stormy conditions. Sometimes the sun is beating down relentlessly, other times temperatures drop below zero and even simple movements become difficult. The camera inevitably gets close to the rock, takes a hit, gets wet or covered in dust. In those moments, I need to focus on my own safety and that of my partner – not on protecting fragile gear. That’s why my essentials are intentionally reduced. One camera, one lens, a solid attachment on the shoulder strap, and a few small tools that are easily forgotten in everyday life. My requirements for a camera system are straightforward, but leave no room for compromise: it has to be robust, weather-resistant and reliable. Especially in minimalist environments like snow, ice or fog, clean and nuanced colour rendering matters to me. When the surroundings are stripped down, subtle differences make all the difference.

How I Found My Way to Fujifilm

I bought my first Coolpix when I was twelve. Later, at seventeen, I invested my first own money in a DSLR with 46 megapixels. Back then, I was heavily influenced by numbers, technical magazines and marketing – without really understanding any of it. That only changed once I started taking my camera regularly into the mountains. Suddenly, weight mattered. So did robustness, weather resistance and handling. I began asking myself what I actually need – and what truly fits the way I work – instead of chasing everything that was technically possible. I eventually found what I was looking for with Fujifilm because of the overall concept. The X Series is lightweight, durable and built for real-world use. The wide range of native, weather-resistant lenses allows me to grow over time without having to switch systems. That’s a crucial point. Once you commit to a system, changing it later becomes expensive – not only financially, but mentally as well. Lenses, accessories and working habits all build up over time. All the more reason to choose a system early on that you can rely on in the long run.

My Camera Setup for Extreme Conditions

At the centre of it all is the Fujifilm X-Pro3. It’s compact, solidly built and reduced to the essentials. No bulky body, no distractions. When climbing, it never gets in the way, takes up very little space and keeps going even when conditions are far from comfortable. I’ve used it in sub-zero temperatures, snowfall and wet conditions without having to worry whether it would make it through the day. My most frequently used lens is the Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR. It was the first lens I bought for the system and remains my favourite to this day. Lightweight, fast and weather-sealed. Outdoors, I value the simplicity of a prime lens: fewer decisions, more focus. To keep the camera out of my backpack, it’s mounted on my shoulder strap using the Peak Design Capture Clip. When climbing or moving through steep terrain, that makes all the difference. The camera is always within reach without getting in the way. The clip holds securely, but on very active days in the mountains it needs to be tightened occasionally – which is why I always carry a small wrench with me. In my small pouch, I also keep a Hama lens pen to remove dirt or dust from the front element, as well as my headache tablets. At some point, focus and physical strain take their toll. One more detail I wouldn’t want to miss is the lens hood. It helps reduce lens flare and has protected my lens from direct contact with rock more than once.

·      Fujifilm X-Pro3

·      Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR

·      Peak Design Capture Clip

·      Allen key

·      Hama Lens-Pen

The First Real Test

The Dom, at 4,545 metres above sea level, the highest mountain lying entirely on Swiss soil, became the first real test of my setup. It was a day out there, high up, with everything that comes with it. A long approach, cold fingers, thin air, full focus on every single step. Hours of nothing but movement, rhythm and breathing, the gaze fixed forward. Moments come and go – a ridge, a shadow on the snow, a brief pause before moving on. At some point, you’re standing on top, greeted by icy wind.A few of those moments remained. Fragments of a day, captured along the way