RE: [Paddlewise] Waterproof cameras (again)

I, too, use a Nikonos, but unlike Ari, I use 100 ISO slide film, so on 
sunny days I preset the camera to about f/9.5 at 1/250 sec. with a depth of 
field of about 5 meters to infinity. I also use a flip-down lens cover to 
keep droplets off the lens. I get a lot more photos than other people 
because it's always ready for action. Though I shoot mostly with the 35mm 
lens, I also occasionally use an 80mm lens. However, because of the 
latter's shallow depth of field and the need to guesstimate the distance, I 
use it only on sunny days.

I tried an Olympus XA once, but it had too much light falloff in the 
corners for my taste, and I returned it. The decisive test was shooting the 
same scene with both the XA and the Nikonos; no falloff was noticeable with 
the Nikonos, whereas it was very noticeable with the XA. I suspect the 
falloff was due mainly to the rear element of the lens being so close to 
the film, and I would not be surprised if other compact cameras had the 
same problem.

One of my more dramatic Nikonos photos, showing my wife completing a roll 
on Lake Calhoun with the Minneapolis downtown skyline in the distance, was 
selected by General Sports Shows to promote the canoe and kayak programs at 
last week's Minneapolis Boat Show.

One camera I cannot recommend is the Minolta Weathermatic Dual. I bought 
two for my wife -- one used, one new -- and both developed leaks after 
about a year, which ruined the electronics.

Chuck Holst


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