I don't personally see the need for a zoom lens in a waterproof camera or in most any camera design to accompany the boater or hiker; the simple 2:1 or 3:1 zooms offered on most point-and-shoot cameras don't deliver a really useful telephoto and they add unnecessary complexity as well as reducing contrast and sharpness. A good wide-angle lens is the best choice for the kayaker. It's a big world out there and you're usually trying to capture as much of it as you can. My favorite kayaking camera is a used Nikonos III. These go for about $200-$275 with a 35mm lens depending on condition, require no batteries and are waterproof to 90 feet, I believe. Maybe more. There's no meter or automatic exposure, but with today's wide latitude color films there's no need for a meter. If you don't know the "Rule of 16", learn it ;-) Newer versions (the IV and V) deliver automation (at a price) along with the same ruggedness and optical quality. The earlier Nikonos II is as good and is cheaper, though a bit less handy. In automatic, waterproof cameras I like the Canon Sureshot A-1. Totally waterproof and reliable. For use in the campsite, or when you're absolutely sure you're not going to actually drop the camera in the water, the Yashica T-4. It's weatherproof, and has a sharp Zeiss lens that will deliver beautiful, crisp images that will make your camera nut friend with a $1000 SLR weep. For the truly cheap among us who don't take a lot of photos, both Kodak and Fuji make disposable waterproof cameras that sell for $10-12. They float, and if you lose one, so what? -- mike --------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Edelman mje_at_spamcop.net http://www.foldingkayaks.org (nomadics) http://www.findascope.com (choosing a telescope) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Jan 18 2001 - 08:38:11 PST
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