Waterproof camera suggestions, please?

rbiemer

rbiemer

Unabashed Amateur
Local time
2:25 AM
Joined
Sep 17, 2004
Messages
5,092
Location
Cortland, NY
View My Gallery
Early this morning I had the chance to go kayaking. Lovely morning but I've decided I need a waterproof camera. I spent too much time worrying about my cameras--I took two; a Samsung NV7 and my UC-1.
I want something I need not be concerned with, digital or film is fine.
I think my choices are: Nikonos, Minolta Weathermatic, Canon AW1 (maybe? Can't recall the model), Pentax made or makes an Optio that's waterproof, and Sea Life or Sea and Sea?
Any others should I be considering?
Or does a box/bag I can use with my current camera(s) make better sense?
I'm not too concerned with interchangeable lenses, I could happily live with a 50mm or equivalent.
Though the typical macro capability of most digitals does appeal.
I do strongly prefer a VF of some kind; I have one of those folding shades on my digital now but it is mostly useless. This morning was truly point and shoot!
I did get some OK shots, here's one of the morning mist blowing off:

SNB13100.JPG


Thanks for your advice!
Rob
 
I was in the same situation (but without a camera - how I missed one!) during a 2 day kayaking trip in New Zealand Doubtful Sound. My wife had a digi P&S along, but as it was not water tight she was very careful and did not get too many photos.

I realized that the camera should be small and rugged - in the best case it should hang around your neck so you do not have to try to stere it somewhere on the kayak (and eventually drown it) But there was recently a comparison of digital water tight cameras on the dpreview.com - have a look. The canon looked good (should I say usable).

I would not consider a full sized camera inside a water tight housing to be a viable option. I do not know about others, but Nikonos are scale focus only if I remember correctly.

Until we get a camera like Panasonic G1 or Olympus EP-1 in a water-tight edition - we will probably have to wait a bit longer ...
 
Last edited:
I would recommend a waterproof P & S for kayaking. Unless you are in really flat water, a full-sized camera is pretty difficult to use, given that you have to manage paddle and keep upright/reasonably stable. I agree with earlier poster that the camera should be small enough to hang around your neck, or have within easy reach in the cockpit or on-deck bungee. I used a Sea Life digital on last years kayak trip on Lake Superior, and got decent results using auto exposure and auto focusing. Even so, framing was kinda hit or miss due to the boat moving around, and my reluctance to stow the paddle for very long.

The Nikonos is overkill for this use, IMO
 
The Nikonos is the only reasonably affordable and accessible thing up to Kayaking, where you may encounter pressure buildups in moving water which exceed the specs of "waterproof" point-and-shoots (which usually are 3m or 10m rated - which translate to "shower and swim-proof" in watch terminology, as 0.3 bar or 1 bar sealing won't permit simultaneous submersion and shock).
 
Rob:

I used a Minolta Weathermatic for 30 years duck hunting and saltwater wadefishing and never had a problem. Turned in very sharp shots under tough conditions and temperatures. However, the stronger mosquito repellents will melt the plastic body!

You might also check out the Fuji "Big Job" digital that Stephan has for sale here.

Have fun!

Bill
 
Last edited:
I was thinking that no matter how wonderful a Nikonos is, you still have to load the film when the roll is done. Might be a bit tricky in a kayak in whitewater areas, but I don't know. A waterproof digital would allow quite a bit more use without having to fiddle with reloading, but to each their own.

I believe Ricoh also makes a waterproof P&S digital.

http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/ricoh-g600-digital-camera/

Seems rather pricey to me, but it is also 'rugged' and 'shockproof' so it might take a fair amount of bashing about beyond just being waterproof.
 
I carried the Nikonos to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, no worries about humidity, dust, or dirt. Great shots on slide film. The controls are made to be easily used, I mount the lens upside down so I can turn the camera up to set distance with the great DOF scale, and the shutter release/ film advance is perfect. I rinsed the camera off when I got out.

Camera is also rugged, can take some knocks.

I recently saw the Olympus? waterproof, to me it is somewhat apples and oranges, while both will work, the smaller controls and camera for me, when I am occupied with something else, might not work.

Changing film in the later Nikonos was not that difficult, and 36 exposures in this kind of situation is reasonable.

I bought one after taking my FE2 for a swim while canoeing, though I saved the camera, I almost drowned. Could have been an interesting obit.

Regards, John
 
Last edited:
I have had three waterproof cameras; The Canon Sureshot WP-1 (film), Pentax Optio 43WR and Pentax Optio 60. They are all great and the Canon has a nice big viewfinder.
However I agree with others above; this is a job for a digital P&S! You get a zoom, movie clips, intervalometer, good macro etc.
I prefer my Optio 43WR because it has a VF and f/2.8 lens. The 4MP is enough to make good quality 8x10 prints. The W60 is more waterproof and has a wide angle to telephoto zoom - much better range, and is 10MP.
The W60 has actually been discontinued (dpreview is late out of the gate again!) but the new W80 offers even better waterproofing and higher quality video.
Don't let anyone try and sell you on one of the Olympus models. No offense to anyone who has one but they are crap. They still use XD cards which are crap.
The new Panasonic looks good too but it's a bit expensive.
 
A great option to try things out with is the Nikon L35AW (AF). These are awesome little cameras and because there not hugely known about turn up on ebay for around £25.
They are auto focus (with manual over ride) auto exposure, and have a full pressure sealing body like the nikonos and a full film pressure plate again like the nikonos.

I have owned loads of waterproof kit over the years including a full Nikonos RS slr kit, a nikonos IV and my little 35AW.
I think the best testament to it is that as health has stopped me doing more and more, the only camera I have never been able to part with is that one.
I use it atleast once a week, a lot more in the winter and for ease of use, picture quality, and build qaulity, I honestly cant recomend it enough.
 
I got my then-six year old son a used Canon Sure Shot A1 about 3 years ago and it still works well. Fixed 35mm lens, exposure meter has done a good job in unskilled hands.

For digital, the small point and shoots such as the Pentax Optio series have not been as rugged in my experience. If you are going to stress them (white water, water park rides such as slides) you may want to carry a small screwdriver and tube of silicon O-ring lubricant in case you get water inside the casing. This has happened to me several times, the camera still works but the LCD cover fogs up and you can't see to shoot.

My Pentaxes (W10, W30) have always had a tendency to overexpose and this summer I'm trying the new Panasonic (with the "Leica lens"). Can't beat the ability to take movie clips with the digitals!
 
Last edited:
DPREVIEW has a group test. The Canon D10 looks like a winner. In fact thanks because now I want one. Let's see who has a deal on one.
 
Lots to consider here. Thanks for all the input, folks!
I'm not (yet) doing white water so for this summer at least, that's not a major concern.
I looked at KEH for Nikonos and the prices were much better than I expected--I could get a camera and 35mm lens for a bit less than the Otio W60.
But while I'm not too worried about changing film on the water, the ability to take lots of photos (with a digital camera) in an outing and not worry about it at all is tempting.
But most of the digital cameras don't have a VF.
But the Optio 43 does have a VF and if I could find some NOS that might be the way to go.
And the ease of hanging a small P&S around my neck is important; fiddling with the dry bag takes a lot of time.
The Ricoh you mentioned, Bill, looks interesting but is more than I want to spend so it's not on my short list.
The Minolta and Canon film P&S cameras might do but finding a reliable one now might be difficult.
I do have a Stylus Epic and don't like it that much; great photos but it's too small for me.
About 15 years ago, I was offered a Siluro, I guess I shouldn't have passed on it!😉
I don't much care if I can shoot movies but the ease of macro with digital is appealing.
I generally have my NV7 set for -2/3 stop exposure compensation, the pictures seem overexposed other wise.
So, for now, I think I'll look for one of the Optios. And the Nikon L35AW.
Thanks again!
Rob
 
So, in my searching around, I found a Sea Life Reef Master kit at the GoodWill web site. And won it. Ought to be in my hands next week. If it is in as good a condition as it seems, I'll be good for this year and will have a better idea if I want to get something better/different next season.
The VF was the deciding issue for me; by choice I kayak on nice sunny days and have yet to find a digital camera's LCD that is anything but a mirror when it's bright out.
If I could find an LCD hood with an eye piece that would help a lot.
Thanks again, y'all!
Rob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom