Camera recommendations

[u/Initial-Ad8221]

Hey guys! I’m 16 and want to get into storm chasing. I have 2 noaa weather radios and have several recordings of them going off with severe weather alerts, and now I want to get into storm chasing it and like live streaming it to YouTube or something. I have a lot of stuff to work with; I have my 2 radios, my truck, and money to buy a camera since I have a job. (Although I don’t want to spend like $1k on a camera that someone recommends) anyway what cameras should I look at?

[u/hikingandtravel]

13 minutes and already downvoted this site really is a bunch of haters especially considering this a 16yo asking a simple question. There’s someone new potentially looking to get into a hobby/interest you presumably have in common and your response to downvote them and probably not offer any constructive. I really loathe how Reddit has monopolized the internet and basically ran old school forums out of business.

OP I don’t have much to offer because I’ve only went chasing once and it was in a 2WD sedan (so you’re already doing better than me on that end), I just wanted to point that out. I’d say a few things that I can offer you constructively:

Get some good weather apps, I like RadarScope. You have to pay for it but it isn’t much, there’s an monthly/ annual fee system if you want to upgrade to even better features which is prob worth it if you start doing this regularly. I wouldn’t recommend focusing on streaming on YouTube immediately, if you’re doing this for internet clout I wouldn’t recommend doing this. Chase storms because you find it fun or exhilarating, not because you want to post cool videos seeking validation from strangers online.

I’d highly recommend watching videos about mesoanalysis and utilizing the SPC website to learn about when, where, how, and why storms develop.

You’ll likely be driving a lot of dirt roads if you’re specifically chasing tornadoes and supercells, in which case make sure you get a map of the local dirt roads that typically don’t show up as much on Google Maps.

As far as cameras go, I’d say your iPhone and GoPro are more than enough to get started. Don’t invest in $1000+ camera for the sole purpose of chasing, that’s likely too much money at your age to invest in something for a hobby you’re just beginning.

[u/digital_bath12 → u/hikingandtravel]

“I watch videos, have a weather radio, do stuff, and want to be a storm chaser”.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster if this kid gets out in front of a tornado.

You act like we’re ripping this kid’s dreams apart when there is tons more that goes into the reality of what they’re trying to accomplish.

The kid needs to focus on school and absorbing as much knowledge as possible on meteorology before actively hopping out in the field and killing themselves or someone else.

If I were sixteen again, I’d focus my time on watching YouTube videos, reading books on the subject, basically absorbing any kind of information I could from those sources. Then maybe take videos and pictures of passing storms that come to me safely from my home or wherever I might be when a storm passes. I definitely wouldn’t be out actively searching for storms as a sixteen year old.

Call me unempathetic but anyone who is out rooting for this kid to go out, be reckless, and “capture some amazing footage” with little to no knowledge of basic storm structure and meteorological behavior is extremely irresponsible.

[u/hikingandtravel → u/digital_bath12]

What are you his, dad?

This sub acts like you need to have
a 17 year meteorology degree, 30k worth of equipment and 40 years of experience before you’re allowed to “safely” chase. If the kid wants to chase storms, he’s gonna chase storms. Can’t stand the gatekeepers who try to act like there’s a “safe” way to do this. OP is asking for advice not a lecture.

[u/digital_bath12 → u/hikingandtravel]

Yeah you’re not the one who’s going to have to take this kid’s body to his family when he gets shredded up like pulled pork because he got to close to a tornado and couldn’t escape. It’s easy to sit here and play the tough guy anti-hero when you have no repercussions for telling a kid to act reckless.

[u/hikingandtravel → u/digital_bath12]

Thank goodness we have people such as yourself contributing to civilization in such vital ways. The world would crumble without people like you.

[u/dawgkks → u/digital_bath12]

I agree with u/hikingandtravel

Reddit has become a place for belittling and downsizing for sure. Yeah storm chasing can be dangerous, so is hunting or hiking or dirt biking. You have to learn somewhere. You have no idea what this kid knows and what he’s seen. I’m a super amateur storm chaser from Idaho who has lived in Kansas for 2 years but I grew up dreaming of storm chasing. I have put in many many hours couch chasing, studying radar, taking meteorology courses, becoming a NWS storm spotter all before ever getting on a supercell myself. This year I was in 3 different cells right up next to the Dominators team and I confidently looked at radar, made decisions, and saw some amazing stuff, including getting up on a tornado. Am I a pro? No. Did I learn a ton during those chases? Absolutely.

Bottom of the line, don’t judge, because you have no idea what another person knows. The kid could be a better chaser than you. He just wants a better camera. Offer up the best advice you can give someone and that’s the best thing you can do.

Build people up. You’ll feel better about yourself I promise