Whether you are shooting landscapes, wildlife, or something else, many photography genres require you to spend a significant amount of times outdoors, sometimes fairly far from civilization. In addition to all your camera gear, there are some tools that can make those treks both easier and safer. This great video makes a case for why an Apple Watch might be an outdoor photographer's best friend.
Coming to you from Micael Widell, this interesting video discusses why the Apple Watch makes for a great companion for outdoor photographers. While Widell advocates for the Ultra model here, it is worth noting that unless you need multi-day battery life, the standard model will likely work for most needs and cost you less. What is important is that you get a model with cell features, especially if you plan on leaving your phone behind. This is one of the best parts of the Apple Watch: you can leave your phone behind and still know you are covered in an emergency (I even use it for checking things like weather radar). It is actually really nice to leave your phone behind sometimes. That is not the only benefit, though. Check out the video above for Widell's full thoughts.
He seems like a nice guy. However, he doesn't make any connection to outdoor photography with the watch....
Nor does he mention anything about actual timepiece capabilities, buying a watch to replace a phone seems a bit odd, I thought smart phones replaced watches but I guess watches have decided to fight back. My money is on the phones, if talking on a smart phone looks dorky, talking to your wrist takes it to a new level. My camera tells me the time and the date plus takes great images and does not take a phone call when I am outdoors so remains my favourite device for outdoor photography.
It's more just to avoid the bulk. I love not having to carry my phone with me when I go for a walk or a hike but still have the peace of mind that I can connect to someone if I experience an emergency.
I prefer a phone. As a forester, I use apps to help me navigate and the larger (than a watch) screen helps with that. The navigation can be adapted to photography for those who get off the trails. While working, I can mark places of photographic interest and navigate back to them with a camera.
The watch is no better than a phone for making a call in the outdoors if you can't get a signal. I just did a job on private land surrounded by one of our national forests. The signal sucked. No calls and I could barely communicate by text.
Imagine a world where your smart watch could be used as a remote trigger... this would happen if camera companies weren't 10 years behind the tech curve.
You can certainly remote trigger with your iPhone…. On canon there is an app that allows you to connect via a small Wi-Fi setup. It will work on any of their cameras that has built in Wi-Fi or a 2nd card slot can accommodate a Wi-Fi card. I would think the rest of the “boys” would have similar capabilities.
I just checked out another that I downloaded on my iwatch. I’ll have to test it…
I have Olympus, Panasonic and Sony cameras with Wi-Fi that allows using a phone as a remote. I use a Wi-Fi SD card in an older Canon for the same purpose. Seems it would be easy to do with a watch if the camera companies make it easier to make the connection.
I would add that this watch has fall detection. For someone that hikes off the beaten path, this could be a lifesaver.
I have the Ultra too. It’s a great watch and I love mine but he doesn’t offer any insight how photographers can really benefit from this watch. He’s lucky that he doesn’t have Canadian data plans. I pay an extra $10 a month after a $50 setup fee for 1gb of data on my watch. If I go over my 1gb it’s an extra $10 per 0.10gb.
I use the app Sundial to be able to setup complications on the watch to tell me todays sunrise/sunset time, moon phase, etc. Very handy for photography.
I think a few of the Apple standard faces offer that too, assuming its an Apple watch you're using however.
I occasionally use the solar face, but the sundial large complication is just more straight to the point. I really wish I could customize the apple faces more because it's not hard to imagine how the solar face could be way better for photographers.
This is helpful for emergency cases. It has fall detection and can save a life one day.
TL; DW. I don't have time for videos.
Does this watch have GPS? If so, I wonder if it would link with my camera the way an iPhone will?
I hate carrying a phone around.
I typed 'does an apple watch have gps' into Bing. Nope. It has to be paired to an i-phone. Ain't the internet terrific!?
Sarcasm aside, I'll take a guess and say that the reason is that as a gps is operating, it is consuming battery power. I never have mine on in my camera for that very reason and considering the tiny battery in a watch, it makes sense.
It has GPS! I use mine all the time without my phone.
Ooops...mea culpa. I just checked again and the article I found does say no, but I should have read further. It was a specific model. I looked again and indeed, there is GPS.
Well, it's a good thing you used Bing, then! Google stock went up 5% on the news of your lose! :-)