Re: [Paddlewise] Trip Photography

Jessica Tobiason wrote:

> I do wonder, however, what kinds of cameras you use.  Are they
> waterproof?  How do you protect them on trips?  Any other
> photography-related suggestions?

Jessica, I have used both the Minolta Weathermatic and the Pentax WR-90.

I had the same problem with leakage on the Minolta others have mentioned.  The
first event was my fault:  I dropped the camera and broke one of the latch
dogs off, allowing river water inside.  The camera survived that, and was
repaired by Minolta to supposed water-tightness.  About 6 months later, while
it was in the hands of another for a week-long trip, somehow salt water got
inside and the camera fried (the batteries discharged through a
salt-water-shorted circuit).  Impressive meltdown, but did not do much for the
film!  <g>  I was surprised at the leakage, because the Minolta has a (looks
to me, anyway) bombproof seal.  Could be the person I loaned the camera to
dinged it or accidentally popped the back, but I'll never know.  Dead camera. 
Optics were OK, but not outstanding (see below).

My experience with the WR-90 has been better.  Despite what looks like a
cheesy seal, the damn thing has not leaked a drop in three seasons of regular,
heavy use!  Admittedly, it has not been dropped or loaned out, but it just
keeps on workin'!

The other aspect of the WR-90 I like is the zoom.  I use it a lot, and it
makes composition really easy.

I do not understand how Pentax did this, but the zoom lens slides in and out
without wicking water past the O-ring which seals the lens to the body.  Heard
from a Pentax tech rep there is some special surface on the lens/body
interface (and a Goretex membrane across the vent inside the camera) which
makes this possible.  Note:  I have never zoomed the lens OUT when it was
immersed or nastily wet.  I suspect if you did, it might leak.  And, it is not
warranteed for immersion deeper than about a foot, IIRC.

On the down side, a friend who is more particular 6han I am about clarity in
his photos ran a couple rolls of film through a WR-90 and pronounced the
optics to be very average.  I've seen his photos (through Nikons, I think),
and his are significantly sharper and clearer than mine.  OTOH, the Pentax
unit stays under my left knee in the cockpit, and gets out to dance anytime I
want it.  Result:  Rich has a smaller number of really primo photos
(especially scenics from dry land or in camp), but after a trip, he always
comes to me to get "snapshots" of on-the-water stuff.

Good luck finding a WR-90.  I hear the WR-105 is an inferior unit, and the
90's are in short supply.  I'm NOT selling mine!

Oh, yeah, on the water-spots on the lens problem:  I got a small (4 in x 6 in)
piece of chamois I keep in a plastic bag inside a PFD pocket, and it
ELIMINATES water spots on the lens of the camera and on my glasses.  Highly
recommended!

One other thing about the WR-90:  it is dead black, and BARELY floats in salt
water.  I threaded the strap through a day-glo yellow key chain float so I
could find it after a capsize.  A friend who did not have his 90 so equipped
could not find it after a wet exit (mandated by a negative interaction with a
boomer in Barkley Sound).

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR


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