08 Digital Camera thread

[Pete F.]

I did a search and find lots of information on digital cameras.
Seeing that the gifting season is almost upon us, I was wondering what experiences anybody had that were worth sharing? good/bad

I have decided that I need a digital camera. I caught a fish this fall, did'nt measure it because in my sleep deprived state I used this gadget fish grip thing that I bought and said Oh yeah it has a scale. So I weighed it with it. Ah 25#s I thought it was a pretty big fish but I was'nt keeping it.
Yesterday I am cleaning up my stuff and putting it away(tears in my eyes) and looked at the fish grip. I said I wonder what it goes to? So I pulled on the thing and lo and behold it goes to 25#.(head banging smiley goes here)
So now I wonder just how big the fish was?
So anyways I want a digital waterproof camera, small enough to fit in my wader pocket, I don't neeed perfect pictures just decent ones. In fact if they made the equivalent of a brownie with a flash I'd be happy. (I think I just dated myself)

[likwid]

Olympus Stylus SW

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by likwid

Olympus Stylus SW

2nd that....

[eastendlu]

Originally Posted by likwid

Olympus Stylus SW

Got my vote.A guy tied it to the end of his line and threw it in a bluefish blitz.Pics are somewhere on youtube

[maddog2020]

Disposable 35mm waterproof may be best bet - inexpensive and easy to use one handed. Of course you can't post pics online, but you could get copy of negative and get a mediocre pic for digital reference.

Problem I have w/ my Olympus 770SW is it doesn't allow enough of a wide angle at closer range: hold in at eye level pointed at my feet it may go to 36". I'm not that tall so if you are taller you may get 42". Even a fish with a huge gut that would be 32 lbs MAX.

I checked Olympus's specs and camera in terms of 35mm photography is 38-114 mm equivalent. You need 28 mm or wider for big fish up close.

If some one is with you they can take picture of you and fish before you free it, but otherwise you are out of luck. Lots of time I am on my own and use my rod butt end for reference of length. I have 28" marked off and I know where half way length is for 2 pc rod.

Sometimes you can pick up an older lower resolution digital camera for dirt cheap and just keep it in a couple of ziplock bags and take it out when you need it and put it back (Olympus D340R for example is 26mm focal length). Low cost alternative. I found the 770SW for about $200 online (it can do a lot more than I use it for).

[riarcher]

I pick up older Digis at yard sales. $5 - $20 mostly.
If I soak, slime, drop, step-on, loose one It's no big deal.
I tend to do the above a lot while fishing.

[tynan19]

Love the insurance my waterproof provides in the surf. Olympus 770. Some examples.

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ad.php?t=52176

[kenyee]

don't forget the Pentax Optio W series...reviews say it has better image quality, but the Olympus 770SW is more abuseable (later Olympus models aren't)...

[likwid]

Originally Posted by kenyee

don't forget the Pentax Optio W series...reviews say it has better image quality, but the Olympus 770SW is more abuseable (later Olympus models aren't)...

My 850SW is pretty rugged.
Its taken some pretty impressive drops and blows.
Lives most of the season in my hip pocket of my foul weather gear.

[JohnR]

Olympus 770 SW. Main difference over the other SW series is that it is rated deeper, 33 -v- 10 feet, and is considered more shock proof with an all metal body -v- metal and plastic in the others. Runs about $30 more than a 790SW.

My only (big) gripe with the camera is that it does not have a view finder.

My only gripe with me is that I don't photos as good as Casey does

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by JohnR

My only (big) gripe with the camera is that it does not have a view finder.

That sux, a view finder is a must...esp at night.. I love my Sony DSC W150..takes great night pics..

[BigFish]

Zeno didn't you have a Nikon F-40 or something like that?? What model camera did you have on Cutty?

[tynan19]

[QUOTE=JohnR;637157]
My only (big) gripe with the camera is that it does not have a view finder.
[QUOTE]
John, you have had some nice shots. The funniest part of your post was that I just realized that the camera doesn't have a view finder.

Larry, Z uses a Nikon D 40. There are some really good deals on the higher mega pixel SLRs. I think a nice SLR will be my next purchase.

[BassDawg]

Olympus 770/790 Stylus SW~~

shockproof, waterproof, i still throw it
into a platic bag when i know it's gonna
be a soaker out there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

other than that, it has given me sum great
shotz out there, though limited in its up close width,
it is a very durable and dunkable digital camera
that captures some amazing stuff from tha suds!!!
:clapas:

[JLH]

Olympus 770 SW – this was my first season with the camera and it was so nice not having to worry about getting it wet. The shock resistance is nice too as I have already dropped it into the rocks a few times and it works like new.

I’m sure picture quality would be better if I knew what I was doing with the camera, need to read the manual and practice some this winter…

[Pete F.]

So, I can buy a factory reconditioned Olympus for $X (research incomplete) and a 2 year extended warranty for $50. this extends the standard fact. recon warranty from 90 days. It's quite a while till I need this so I will see how much I can save. I've bought reconditioned stuff before and not had issues. Seems like some electronic stuff just is'nt plugged together correctly out of the box.

[Zeno]

I use Olympus too and granted ,it it more rugged ..........but for my next camera and for better picture quality ,i am going back to Pentax

[afterhours]

love my olympus sw also. no more freekin' baggies!

[reelecstasy]

Olympus 770 SW, love it....

[BatesBCheatin]

After much research on the 1030 SW it seems that the cam is very rugged but there is a big trade off in picture quality. The 1050 just came out and I was hoping they made improvements there, but looking at the reviews it doesn't seem like it - in fact most reviews say the quality is worse.

The Pentax is generally regarded to have much better PQ, but not as rugged. Since I won't be diving with it that's probably what I'll be getting.

BTW the kayaking sites have great info on these cams.

[wheresmy50]

Sea flat,

Keep in mind that the low light performance of compact and subcompact digital cameras goes from bad to terrible. In the race to put the most megapixels on a chip the size of your pinkie nail, they've saccrificed low light performance to the noise gods. If you have a choice with the compact that you buy, choose the one with the fewest megapixels. Don't confuse the ability to resolve detail with image quality (not that you would, but many do). 5 or 6 MP is more than enough for an 8x10. The only thing you get with more pixels is more noise - unless of course all of your pictures are taken on bright sunny days.

In fact, the reviews on Cannon's latest d-SLR indicate that the pixel limit has now been reached for the APS-C size sensors, at 15 MP.

The camera I joked about in my last post, the $5,000 D3, only has 12 MP on a sensor the size of a piece of 35mm film. The result unheard of low-light capability and overall outstanding picture quality.

[Clogston29]

i have and am happy with the pentax (w30 I think)

i'm on my second. the first opened up while my wife was using it snorkeling. it was her error (she didn't close it right), but amazon replaced it for free. the updated (new version) that i have now has a better mechanism for closing and locking than the first one did.

i think luds had one fail on him this year. not sure how though.

[Pete F.]

I think it's going to be a Olympus 850SW from llbeans. A few more dollars but way better warranty.

[MAKAI]

I have been using the olympus for years in my kayak , no problems , nice picture.

[Finatic]

Just got a 1050SW at costco for 199. with case and 1 gig card and the mini card adaptor. great deal. Photos are incredable.
Vacation March 2009 190.jpg

[leptar]

I had 3 Pentax's Optio WPi fail due to ??? all of them suffered the same problematic fate.. Not an issue of not being water proof but an issue regarding heat and exposure to sunlight... This caused the video and pictures to become messed up...
They blamed the memory, 5 different brands recommended by Pentax... Then it was the camera... then again... the third time i set it on the park bench for 30 minutes and snapped pictures, swapped cards and did it again.. got home what i though was happening proved to me that heat was causing the failure... Bestbuy swapped it out for the Olympus SW770 and i haven't looked back..

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by leptar

I had 3 Pentax's Optio WPi fail due to ??? all of them suffered the same problematic fate.. Not an issue of not being water proof but an issue regarding heat and exposure to sunlight... This caused the video and pictures to become messed up...
They blamed the memory, 5 different brands recommended by Pentax... Then it was the camera... then again... the third time i set it on the park bench for 30 minutes and snapped pictures, swapped cards and did it again.. got home what i though was happening proved to me that heat was causing the failure... Bestbuy swapped it out for the Olympus SW770 and i haven't looked back..

What kind of heat/temps are we talking about here? Did you leave it on your dashboard on a hot day or something of the like? Was the camera itself damaged or just the memory card?
I'm curious as I just got mine.

[numbskull]

I posted this last year, but there are a few negatives about the Pentax Optio W60 for night photography and self portraits (which are, naturally, important to us ruggedly handsome, morally superior plugger types).

The camera does not use a visible infrared focus feature (as the non water-proof and since fried Canon Elph did) so your viewfinder is all black unless you put some light on the subject first (which is harder than it sounds). Secondly, the auto timer set up is poor. You only get a maximum of 10 seconds which makes it hard to get yourself in the picture with the fish oriented correctly to show the beautiful plug it ate.

Worse, the exposure and focus occur when you push the shutter button, not right before it takes the picture. Since you (or by day your shadow) are often in front of the camera when you set it up and push the button, the picture is ruined. It takes too much of a toll on the fish to try and take a second picture when you intend to release it.

Finally, the small print in the warranty suggests the camera be returned annually at your expense for seal replacement if it is used in a wet environment. Whether they will honor the warranty if you don't is not clear.

I am not sure, however, there are better options for a wet environment out there. Those shoot-through waterproof camera bags are useless at night.

[MAKAI]

something cool about dogs that think catching fish is the essence of life