PaddleWise by thread

From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 21:41:36 -0700
For on the water shots, I use an outdated 2.0 Mpixel Olympus D-520 Zoom, 
which is not waterproof at all.  But, it is probably pretty worthless now if 
I were to sell it, so I don't worry about dropping it in the drink.  Yet, at 
2 megapixels, the snapshot quality is pretty good for sharing photos with 
others electronically.  No way are the shots magazine quality, but I get a 
lot of shots others with more valuable cameras miss, because mine is always 
ready for use.

The trick is that I keep it in a Pelican MicroCase 1020 lanyarded to the deck 
of my sea kayak. This case is small, completely waterproof, and flips open 
easily for use of the camera.  I get my shot, restore the camera to the case, 
shut it, slap the case back under a bungie and keep on paddling.

If I need to reposition to get a better shot, the 1020 stays open and the 
camera's wrist sling goes between my teeth while I regroup, leaving both 
hands free to manage the paddle, etc.  Then I drop the paddle (it's on a 
leash) to get another shot, and stuff the camera away.

If the camera dies, then I'll think about investing in a waterproof one ... 
but my technique won't change, because I'll still need to have an on the deck 
storage box, so the camera will still be instantly available.

[I also own a Pentax Zoom90 WR, which goes on trips equipped with slide film, 
but I don't think anybody who does serious photography would regard this 
camera as capable of decent images:  the lens just is not that good.  I use 
it when I want direct slide images, for shots where the light values are 
extreme.]

--
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR 
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: <cholst_at_bitstream.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 12:30:16 -0500 (CDT)
For those of you with digital point-and shoots, how high an ISO setting do
you typically use? I've heard that the P&S cameras aren't as usable at
high sensitivities as the digital SLRs.

On our last long trip (Silver Islet to Rossport on Lake Superior) my wife
and I used three cameras: my Nikon D70 for onshore use, my Nikonos V
loaded with Sensia 100 slide film for on-water use, and my wife's Pentax
IQ 105WR loaded with an ISO 400 negative film for general use. I scanned
the slides and negatives to put together with the digital pictures for a
digital slide show we're giving at REI Bloomington in the Twin Cities next
Monday.

It certainly was interesting, not to say frustrating, trying to get the
same color balance out of those three very different sources. It also gave
me a better appreciation for my D70, whose photos became the standard to
which I attempted to match the other photos. The ISO 400 negative film was
worst, both for color-matching and for grain.

Now my wife wants a digital camera. I must say that the Optio WP looks
like it might be a good choice for a kayaker.

Chuck Holst
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Keith Wrage <keith.wrage_at_charter.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 13:01:08 -0500
I also shoot the D70 when on dry ground - but a point and shoot digital on 
the water.  Simply, (as you probably do) I use the lowest ISO setting I can 
possibly use.  You are correct that the P&S do not handle higher 
sensitivities worth a dang.  On the D70, you can crank it up well over 800 
if necessary and still have passable image quality.  Also, be aware that 
the ISO values are very different.  The bottom end on the Nikon CP8700 is 
"50" but the bottom end on the D70 is "200".  I can say from owning one 
that the 8700 can't go much over "100" without starting to really look bad 
in my opinion.  So 200 on the D70 is not the same as 200 on a P&S.

Not sure that helps you much.  Seems to me that Photoshop has a image 
balancing filter or feature - load in an image and it will adjust 
subsequent images to "match".  Haven't used it but might be useful for your 
task at hand.

K
Who just today dropped his D70 for the first time...on carpet...but still 
the sickening 'crack' when it hit still makes my blood run 
cold....everything appears to be functioning but oh my.
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
subject: [Paddlewise] Fwd: Re: New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:25:41 +0200
On Friday 15 April 2005 20.01, Keith wrote:
    

> I also shoot the D70 when on dry ground - but a point and shoot digital on
> the water.  Simply, (as you probably do) I use the lowest ISO setting I can
> possibly use.  You are correct that the P&S do not handle higher
> sensitivities worth a dang.  On the D70, you can crank it up well over 800
> if necessary and still have passable image quality.  Also, be aware that
> the ISO values are very different.  The bottom end on the Nikon CP8700 is
> "50" but the bottom end on the D70 is "200".  I can say from owning one
> that the 8700 can't go much over "100" without starting to really look bad
> in my opinion.  So 200 on the D70 is not the same as 200 on a P&S.

That's my experience, too!

> Not sure that helps you much.  Seems to me that Photoshop has a image
> balancing filter or feature - load in an image and it will adjust
> subsequent images to "match".  Haven't used it but might be useful for your
> task at hand.

"Levels" works best - drag the right arrow till the graph starts (no
graph height means no info in the picture around the top settings).

But you have to under-expose a little to get the best high lights,
so to speak ._)! Washout in the light areas is nasty, remember that!

Tord

-------------------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:24:18 +0200
On Friday 15 April 2005 19.30, you wrote:
> For those of you with digital point-and shoots, how high an ISO setting do
> you typically use? I've heard that the P&S cameras aren't as usable at
> high sensitivities as the digital SLRs.

My Konica KD-500Z has just one setting, and that is not very high
(I would guess 160), and I have not found that a problem outdoors.

See

www.foldingkayaks.org/gallery/tord

I underexpose a step and a half,
to prevent white areas from
washing out.

Then I reset the exposure range using
GIMP 2.2, Photoshop 7.0, Photoshop Elements,
or similar, using the levels function (not autolevels,
please).

My Olympus C-8080WZ is much trickier
to get a good result from, and its colours
are not as true, but indoors it is a much
more capable camera, and at night as well.

So for daylight photography, even at sunset
a single speed is OK and usually produces
much less noise than a camera with 25-400
range.

But at low level, with noise reduction on
the C-8080 is amazing!

Tord
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 20:34:36 -0400
On 15 Apr 2005 at 12:30, cholst_at_bitstream.net wrote:

> D70, whose photos became the standard to
> which I attempted to match the other photos.

Anyone who holds a Nikon SLR as a standard for comparison for lesser 
cameras deserves to be disappointed. :-)

Having compared my Minolta and Canon SLR output to other cameras for 
several decades, I know better than to expect anything to match 
Nikon.  Their lenses seem to make all the difference.  I only wish I 
was smart enough to admit that to myself years ago (i.e before 
spending all that money on Minoltas and Canons).

Mike

PS - I'll make no claims about Nikons of the point-and-shoot or 
digital P&S persuasion.
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: <cholst_at_bitstream.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 12:23:39 -0500 (CDT)
In this case, anyway, I was speaking of color balance. The colors from the
D70, when the white balance was set correctly, just seemed so much more
accurate than the colors from the scanned slides and negatives, which took
a fair bit of tweaking. Also, the scans from the ISO 400 negatives showed
quite a bit more grain than the pictures from the D70 taken at ISO 400. In
fact, they most closely resembled the noise in the D70 pictures taken at
ISO 1600.

Chuck Holst

> On 15 Apr 2005 at 12:30, cholst_at_bitstream.net wrote:
>
>> D70, whose photos became the standard to
>> which I attempted to match the other photos.
>
> Anyone who holds a Nikon SLR as a standard for comparison for lesser
> cameras deserves to be disappointed. :-)
>
> Having compared my Minolta and Canon SLR output to other cameras for
> several decades, I know better than to expect anything to match
> Nikon.  Their lenses seem to make all the difference.  I only wish I
> was smart enough to admit that to myself years ago (i.e before
> spending all that money on Minoltas and Canons).
>
> Mike
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 21:56:51 +0200
On Tuesday 19 April 2005 19.23, you wrote:
> In this case, anyway, I was speaking of color balance. The colors from the
> D70, when the white balance was set correctly, just seemed so much more
> accurate than the colors from the scanned slides and negatives, which took
> a fair bit of tweaking. Also, the scans from the ISO 400 negatives showed
> quite a bit more grain than the pictures from the D70 taken at ISO 400. In
> fact, they most closely resembled the noise in the D70 pictures taken at
> ISO 1600.

Yeah, a nice camera!

Better than my Olympus C-8080, by a wide margin, even if they
cost about the same!

Tord
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: <cholst_at_bitstream.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 12:56:25 -0500 (CDT)
Now if only Nikon would come out with a digital version of the Nikonos --
with a DSLR-quality sensor, of course. I'd buy the new one and sell my old
Nikonos V in an instant.

Chuck Holst
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Waterproof Digital Camera
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 21:43:11 +0200
On Wednesday 20 April 2005 19.56, you wrote:
> Now if only Nikon would come out with a digital version of the Nikonos --
> with a DSLR-quality sensor, of course. I'd buy the new one and sell my old
> Nikonos V in an instant.

Hear, hear!

Mr Nikon, are you listening???

Tord
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:41 PDT