Re: [Paddlewise] Cockpit Size and Cameras for Kayaking

> 
> I just got a Sony DSC-P1 but haven't yet ordered the waterproof housing.
> Haven't had much time to play with it yet though. Any ideas on who has the
> housings available (and at the best price)? 

Really fine little camera.  I had to decide between that and my s100
canon (price was not a factor due to the generosity of my wife), but
vied for the canon only for it's slightly smaller size and faster
shutter response, both very important to me.
NOt only do you get a far larger image, but the waterproof case is
useful to greater depths and your optical zoom is longer as you seem to
find zoom useful.
If you are in a hurry, I can find you a waterproof case pretty easily on
the net.  If you are a bit patient, I will ask on a newsgroup as to the
cheapest one around.

I have had a Pentax WR90 for a
> few years now (and like it a little better than the WR105's I've seen). I
> usually also carry a SLR with a 28 to 200 Zoom and a 19mm wide angle lens as
> well as a standard 50mm f1.4 lens for dim light conditions. The interesting
> thing is that when culling the slides I'm willing to show from the ones I
> don't want anyone to see I have been getting significantly less rejects with
> the WR90 than the SLR. This is true even on trips that have nothing to do
> with kayaking. Maybe the SLR is just too complicated for me and the simpler
> to use WR90 does a better job automatically than I can do with the SLR. A
> better photographer might reverse these results. Maybe the greater choices
> offered by the SLR give me more chances to screw things up.

Maybe, but for the way you are shooting (illustrated below) the Minolta
is far more appropriate.  The single hand approach requires the balance
that a long lens will not afford. the electronic shutter is probably a
help as well.

> One thing I have a lot more of now is pictures of paddling in rough water. I
> keep the WR90 tucked into my left PFD pocket (that conveniently has a solid
> nylon section in front of the lens which seems to protect the lens from
> water droplets). in conditions I wouldn't think of popping my spraydeck much
> less digging out the SLR from the protection of the Drybag/Paddlefloat I
> store it in (usually kept between my knees). With the pentax WR90 I grab the
> camera with my right hand, hold it up to my eye and try to hold it level
> while I take a picture. I got some good shots of other kayakers in the waves
> by shooting from the hip to get a lower angle shot. The waves in the photos
> rarely look as big as they were but before I only got photos of relatively
> calm seas. I even took some photos while surfing some small spilling surf.
> Remember the photo in the Dec. 1999 issue of Sea Kayaker with the Guy
> surfing straight at you. It should have been me. I was just behind the wave
> waiting my turn to try to run down the photographer. Some guys get all the
> luck.

Except for camera shy people like me.

-- 
                            Gabriel L
Romeu                                                    
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