Hi there bear

Re: Hi there bear
How do you find so many bears!?

Also, what camera/lens/film speed do you usually use on those bear photos up close? Thanks.

Re: Hi there bear

Originally Posted by dessertrat

How do you find so many bears!?

Also, what camera/lens/film speed do you usually use on those bear photos up close? Thanks.

I live really close to GSMNP and spend a ton of time hiking in GSMNP.
It isn't hard to find bear when there are so many where you live, I usually hike solo and that helps a lot cause I'm quiet. Also, I go to Cade's Cove a lot and there are something like 2 bear per square mile there.
most of my photos are taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20...an excellent pack camera IMO Leica Lens iso usually 80 due to light.
12x optical zoom makes this my current backpacking camera of choice as I have manual control over shutter/aperature/focus. Some trips into the park I take a Canon EOS and many pounds worth of lenses - an addiction not unlike backpacking..hiking and photography seem to meld well.