Santa Claus / St. Nicholas is going to get me a new camera for Christmas. Which current model should he get? GaryJ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Dec 4, 2010, at 8:52 AM, Gary J. MacDonald wrote: > Santa Claus / St. Nicholas is going to get me a new camera for Christmas. > Which current model should he get? > I have a Pentax Optio W60 which has survived a two week NOLS whitewater expedition in the hands of a 16 yr old boy and a 19 day PNW hiking expedition in the hands of a 14 yr old girl. It has also survived countless trips into the surf zone in my PFD. The newer Pentax Optio W80 is apparently not as well thought of. I have read the picture quality is a bit wonky. Whatever you get I would highly recommend the Pedco Camera Wrap. http://www.pedcopods.com/wrap.shtml It really does its job and allows you to protect the camera yet have it out in a split second. Plus its attached to the camera so you wont lose it if in the boat. I can send you a sampling of photos if interested. Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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 like the idea of the PEDCO carrier. I want to be able to keep it handy but safe while running rivers. I also appreciate the value of teenager-tested gear, having a couple of the beasties just moving out of that zone myself. GaryJ On 04/12/2010 9:21 AM, James Farrelly wrote: > > I have a Pentax Optio W60 which has survived a two week NOLS whitewater expedition in the hands of a 16 yr old boy and a 19 day PNW hiking expedition in the hands of a 14 yr old girl. It has also survived countless trips into the surf zone in my PFD. The newer Pentax Optio W80 is apparently not as well thought of. I have read the picture quality is a bit wonky. > > Whatever you get I would highly recommend the Pedco Camera Wrap. > > http://www.pedcopods.com/wrap.shtml > > It really does its job and allows you to protect the camera yet have it out in a split second. Plus its attached to the camera so you wont lose it if in the boat. > > I can send you a sampling of photos if interested. > > Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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've had the Pentax Optio Ws 10, 30, 60 and 80. I just mailed my 80 in for service. Nothing has stood up as well as my first W10, but I admit I've been hard on these cameras. It also gave me the best still photos. I had heard the W80 still photos weren't so good, but I was rather happy with them. The HD video was great, except that the camera would only record it for 11 minutes before shutting off, no matter how big an SD card you had. There is a new W90 and I'd like to know if it overcame that quirk. I have friends with the Olympus, Canon and Lumix waterproofs, but I prefer the Pentax. I personally wish they'd stop just trying to cram more pixels on a chip, as my lowest res W10 gave me the best photos. As for lanyards, I have a friend who HAD the Canon D10 that came with a ginormous lanyard. It snapped off in the surf at San Onofre! With a bunch of dead WP cameras in my drawer, I've had to resort to taking my digital SLR out on the water for photos. That's rather nerve wracking, but at least it gave me some nice whale shots this summer. I'm hoping they fix my 80, as my website is suffering for lack of an easy on the water camera. Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net On 12/4/2010 6:21 AM, James Farrelly wrote: > I have a Pentax Optio W60 which has survived a two week NOLS whitewater expedition in the hands of a 16 yr old boy and a 19 day PNW hiking expedition in the hands of a 14 yr old girl. It has also survived countless trips into the surf zone in my PFD. The newer Pentax Optio W80 is apparently not as well thought of. I have read the picture quality is a bit wonky. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 04/12/2010 8:52 AM, Gary J. MacDonald wrote: > Santa Claus / St. Nicholas is going to get me a new camera for Christmas. > Which current model should he get? > > GaryJ I've been looking at the Pentax Optio W90. One of the details that caught my eye was the substantial attachment point on the camera body for a lanyard. In fact, the camera does come with a strap that fits there. I just know that if the camera isn't securely attached to me -- or to the boat -- it's going to go missing. Reasonable specs, for a point & shoot camera, but I haven't read any reviews on it yet. I know a lot of the lower end cameras don't do well in low-light situations, for example. I'd be interested in what you find out, what you end up getting, and how well it works for you. I won't be getting another camera until Spring or Summer -- since it's for taking out on the boat with me. -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
To echo Daryl's comment, I will say that I use the lanyard on my Pentax Optio WPi. I keep one lanyard attached to my PFD and one lanyard on my camera. Before getting in the kayak, I connect them together by passing the camera through the loop. I normally keep the camera in a PFD pocket but sometimes put it down on the sprayskirt. Many times I have found the camera dragging in the water after it slid off the sprayskirt - often because I hear it banging on the boat. No problems with the camera so far, but my main point is to make sure it is tied to something :) -Mark On Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 6:29 AM, Darryl Johnson <darryl_johnson_at_rogers.com>wrote: > > I've been looking at the Pentax Optio W90. One of the details that caught > my eye was the substantial attachment point on the camera body for a > lanyard. In fact, the camera does come with a strap that fits there. I just > know that if the camera isn't securely attached to me -- or to the boat -- > it's going to go missing. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 5:52 AM, Gary J. MacDonald <garyj_at_rogers.com> wrote: > Santa Claus / St. Nicholas is going to get me a new camera for Christmas. > Which current model should he get? > My wife found me a GoPro Hero (not the HD and not the wide angle) on some 'net sales site and bought it for like $7 with the wrist strap and case. Now I have to get the standard case and mounts for my bike helmet. The HD version takes incredible photos (www.gopro.com) and I know this won't match it but it's small, light, waterproof (in the $39 case) and you can set it and forget it. As soon as it thaws out I'll have some vids from it. If I like it I'll move up to the HD model but it was such a good deal that we couldn't pass it up. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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 am happy with the durability of my Olympus Styus Tough 8010, however, like all point and shoot cameras, it does not have the versatility in varying light conditions that a real camera has. That being said, I have not killed this camera, whereas I have killed quite a few other cameras from water and/or shock. http://www.olympuscanada.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1497 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
My wife and I are also using the Olympus Stylus Tough series cameras. She's using the 8000 while I'm using the 8010. We've had pretty good luck with them, shooting both above and below the waterline. You can see some samples of our shots on my wife's blog: http://penobscotpaddles.blogspot.com/2010/09/cobscook-baylubec.html Full disclosure: We often use Picasa's editing features (color and contrast balancing, straightening, etc) and some of those shots have probably been tinkered with a bit. We're pretty happy with the cameras...they have not failed us yet except the time that I took the 8000 underwater with one of the ports left open. Not recomended. Olympus fixed it for me at no charge (it was still under warranty) and I'm more careful now. Also, the newer 8010 has an improved port system with only a single door and a very positive locking arrangement. The lanyard attachment is more rugged as well. I do have difficulty working the controls with thick gloves on and the cycle time between shots (at full 14 megapixel resolution) is quite slow. Our only other experience with waterproof cameras is the original Go-Pro Hero which we were not happy with as there was no way to review shots in the camera and we managed to accidentally delete shots a couple of times. Also, I managed to crack the Go-Pro Hero case while doing rescue practice. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day, The Olympus Microtough suits me well but wish there was more direct control over the camera. In conditions where the light intensity varies over a large range (e.g. looking out of sea caves) the brighter parts of the image can 'whiteout', but there is a compression facility that helps in the menu that provides for Landscape, Beach and Snow etc. Was surprised at how well the camera works in macrophotography and find myself using it as much at work as on the sea. The flash is very harsh The beautification function doesn't work when people have tried taking photos of me! All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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've had the Olympus W10 (great) and have the W60 (not so great). The 60 doesn't seem to measure the light well and adjust. I attach two floats (used to help you not lose your keys) to the camera so that it floats (since it doesn't float without some help). Often sits in a pocket on my spray skit. Occasionally attached with my paddle leash. If I need the paddle leash for the paddle, conditions aren't ripe to be taking pictures. I'll be interested to hear what you get and how you like it. Bill Leonhardt On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 4:58 PM, PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com> wrote: > G'Day, > > The Olympus Microtough suits me well but wish there was more direct control > over the camera. In conditions where the light intensity varies over a large > range (e.g. looking out of sea caves) the brighter parts of the image can > 'whiteout', but there is a compression facility that helps in the menu that > provides for Landscape, Beach and Snow etc. > > Was surprised at how well the camera works in macrophotography and find > myself using it as much at work as on the sea. > > The flash is very harsh > > The beautification function doesn't work when people have tried taking > photos of me! *************************************************************************** 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've had a bit more time to play with the GoPro Hero digital video camera. For about $20 you can get an assortment of attachments that allows it to be mounted on a curved surface, level surface, mini stand, etc. The bare HD version is about $260. There is no LCD screen for viewing (there is one for setting the camera configuration, however) but there is a peep-viewfinder. To start the camera you have to toggle it through some options which are represented on a small LCD screen on the face of the camera. You can set it to start in video, single shot, multiple shots (so many over a period of time) or other options. The camera itself holds an SD card andit all fits inside one of two plastic cases. One case is for a wrist mount (I have this one) and the other case is for helmet or surface mounting (I ordered one of these for $39). I have the non-HD, non-wide-angle version (which I think is about $90). The videos are still perfectly usable but the videos from the HD version are spectacular. These are designed to be used while mountain biking, surfing, w/w kayaking, etc. The device inside its case (which is clear) is practically indestructable. Two of the HD versions - one on a helmet and the other on the kayak - would let you shoot professional quality videos in high definition for about $600. And all without having to hold anything in your hands. With a 32gb SD card you can shoot a couple of hours of HD videos on each one and then just edit the scenes on your desktop. They record audio too. I like the case concept too. You don't have to worry about the camera's ports leaking because everything is sealed up tight in the gasketed case. Pushbuttons extend through the case to contact the two controls on the camera body inside the case. I have no connection with GoPro but I am greatly satisfied with the device. The wrist mount lets me shoot videos without obviously taking videos which puts people more at ease. I just hold my arm up across my chest and let it film away. Pretty nifty little device. www.goprocamera.com has lots of samples and some of them are incredible for being shot on an under $300 camera. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Dec 8, 2010, at 2:48 PM, Craig Jungers wrote: > > Pretty nifty little device. www.goprocamera.com has lots of samples and some > of them are incredible for being shot on an under $300 camera. > My favorite GoPro Video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE052VYQSKE&feature=player_embedded Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Oh, the name, yes, yes, S-O-N-Y, ah, Sony, DSC-TX5 (those with higher numbers, like 7 or 9, which looks exactly the same, are not water-proof. And have shorter zoom, but more pixels - if I remember correctly. Weird). Takes as good photos as my Pentax K-x, by the way! And much quieter! 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/ ***************************************************************************
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