Re: [Paddlewise] SLR Cameras for Kayaking

For minimal electronics you are probably looking at a used camera.  I'm not
aware of any on the market now that are not heavy into electronics.  There
are a good used manual operation Nikons, Pentax, Canons, and Minoltas out
there at camera shops that can be had for a song.  Look for the total
package, camera and lenses, since new lenses for these older cameras are rare.

Having said that, I'm not sure why if your background in point and shoot,
you want to go to a minimal electronics SLR.  The modern SLR cameras from
Canon, Pentax, Nikon and Minolta approach the point and shoot ease of use
of your present camera.  The automatically read the film speed, determine
fill flash requirements, and set the exposure much more accurately than
their predecessors.  Most will allow you to over-ride the automatic
settings where your knowledge and skill tells you the camera may be in error.

I use a point and shoot Pentax IQZoom 115 which has a 38 - 115 mm zoom lens
for most of my kayak photography.  It takes almost as good of pictures as
my Canon SLR's with the following exceptions: it does not accept filters,
it's longest focal length is 115 and occasionally having the 200 on my
Canon is useful; and it cannot accept an off campus flash.  On the plus
side: I do not have to change lenses or mess with filters and separate
flashes in the kayak and worry about dropping something overboard; on
enlargements up through 8X10 I cannot tell a difference in picture quality;
and it is much easier to keep the point and shoot dry.

At 11:27 AM 1/30/99 -0800, Brian Windrope wrote:
>I am searching for a good SLR camera and the necessary lenses to take
>some quality shots on an long trip this summer. Having used a high
>quality point and shoot camera for many years (they're so darn light
>and easy) I am unfamiliar with many aspects of SLR cameras.  I am
>wanting to buy a good to high quality SLR and prefer minimal
>electronics.  Now I know there are paddlers out there with strong
>opinions on the camera body and lenses of choice.  Most of my
>photography is landscape work with occasional close ups of sea stars
>or funny looking humans.  I am open to all suggestions and thoughts.
>Nikon? Canon? Pentax? This is a black hole topic and so I am
>especially interested in specific "I've used this camera for years and
>love it" suggestions.  Thanks for whatever feedback you offer.
>Brian Windrope
>
>
>
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