There are many boats to paddle. Not every boat is for everybody. On the other hand, many paddlers are ending up with several boats because a single kayak or canoe doesn't satisfy their diversified paddling needs. There are many cameras to shoot pictures with ... Could you expect that a single camera is good for everything? Pentax Optio line of compact waterproof digital cameras (WP, WPi, W10, W20) has many fans among paddlers, but some are disappointed by these cameras: no viewfinder, poor image quality, sluggish ... Well, I wrote a longer blog post on my approach to kayak photography: http://photokayaker.fit2paddle.com/C560391461/E20061021140245/index.html Marek *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Marek wrote: Pentax Optio line of compact waterproof digital cameras (WP, WPi, W10, W20) has many fans among paddlers, but some are disappointed by these cameras: no viewfinder, poor image quality, sluggish ... ------------ I've held off commenting on the Pentax Optio line. I am now on my 4th version of the camera. The original camera was nice with a viewfinder but mine got flooded with water. The second one fell into the water and is now at home in New York Harbor. The third one got flooded for no apparent reason and is out of warranty. My four, and it will be the last one, also seems to have developed a slight leak and sometimes the viewfinder and lens seems to fog up. Now I will admit I am not very gentle with my cameras and I have found leaving it in a damp PFD pocket overnight is not a good idea. However, this should not harm the camera in my opinion. I am also finding most of the pictures I take to be of poor quality - particularly compared to some pictures my friends take with their canon point and shoots (I have a canon digital elph with a water proof camera that is 3 years old and it works much better than the pentax). Videos with the Pentax seem better to me than the photo's. What we need as kayaking photographers is a digital nikonos! So my next kayaking digital camera will be a canon with a waterproof case (and they also float). My 2 cents sid *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
For some interesting, if not very promising, comments about a digital Nikonos by a Nikon assistant manager, see the following link: http://www.e-fotografija.com/artman/publish/article_1195.shtml It looks like my best bet is to just continue what I have been doing: use Fuji Sensia 100 in my Nikonos V, and then scan the slides in my Coolscan V. And please note that I have been able to get some pretty decent shots with the Nikonos without using an LCD screen, histogram, autofocus, or the built-in light meter, so I could easily get along without them in a digital version. 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/ ***************************************************************************
SNStone_at_aol.com wrote: > So my next kayaking digital camera will be a canon with a waterproof > case (and they also float). Right now, only the S1IS has a Canon waterproof case available, but rumor is that the S2IS and the S3IS may have cases in the near future. I own an S1IS (3 Mpx ; IS = image stabilization), which I do not use on the water, but it is a very versatile unit. The IS allows very sharp photos, making full usage of the 3 Mpx -- for most of my photos plenty of pixelpower. There is a clique of paddlers out of Victoria, BC, who swear by the S1IS and its successors, and they have the photos to prove it -- many on display in the photo galleries on this site: http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/html/locations.htm Hit their Forum and check out this thread for a discussion of these cameras, and waterproof housings: http://tinyurl.com/eorgz No affiliation with Canon, except a very satisfied customer. -- 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/ ***************************************************************************
I can't complain about the ruggedness of my Optio W10. It's been beaten and battered dangling from my paddle in surf and rocks. With most my shooting, I wouldn't even try to use a viewfinder anyway, but It would be nice to be able to see the screen better. But in my opinion, nothing's going to get better till they increase the chip size. The W20 increasing pixels is a waste in my opinion and what good is iso 1600 when I don't even like to use 400. I can live with the soft image, but I'd like something that could handle lower light conditions without a complete compromise in image quality. I try to make the best of what it does well. Sadly, my digital Canon's just too big and expensive to be hauling around on my kayak in a sandwich bag. Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net Marek wrote: Pentax Optio line of compact waterproof digital cameras (WP, WPi, W10, W20) has many fans among paddlers, but some are disappointed by these cameras: no viewfinder, poor image quality, sluggish ... ------------ I am also finding most of the pictures I take to be of poor quality - particularly compared to some pictures my friends take with their canon point and shoots sid *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Another vote for the Nikonos V. It's built like a brick, you cannot hurt that camera. I glued Velcro to the back of it and to the deck of my boat so its always ready. Once in a while I take the Nikon RS but its a bit heavy, great for ballast. -Joe G. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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