Boat camera question

[seadog6532]

So far this year we have killed 2 good digital camera's.

What camera do you use and how well is it standing up.

The first one just would not do anything any more and the second one, only the display went out. It's hard to take a pic, if you can't see what you are looking at. We want one that will not be too expensive and will also take video.

Thanks
Mark and Anna of Arianna

[sharkbait]

I believe you should look for one of the Canon "W" series. I was told that they are waterproof.

[johnc]

I have a Sony Cyber-shot with a waterproof case that I have used in 130 feet of water. It may be over-kill for a boat but the case is rugged and absolutely waterproof.

[Joe Myerson]

A former colleague who is a diving enthusiast got herself a small Olympus (Olympus 1030Sw, I think). It's waterproof to 33 feet, shockproof and takes darn good pix, or so she says.

I've got an Olympus digital SLR that I love, but I'd hesitate to use it onboard. One drawback to Olympus products: They have a proprietary battery system that's kind of a pain, and I don't know if their batteries have a 12-volt charging option.

Just a thought.

--Joe

[bottomscraper]

We have had an Olympus Stylus SW (older model 720 SW) for about two years. It takes acceptable pictures and is shock resistant and waterproof. As you would expect the pictures are not as good as my Nikon SLR but the small handy size make it my camera of choice for the boat. Battery life is very good but we do carry a spare. They have a bunch of new models now.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_secti ... tal_sw.asp

[Dick Kobayashi]

While these may not meet your exact requirement they are cheap.

1. Disposable film cameras from CVS or similar and scan.

2. Go to a big electronics store and buy the cheapest camera that will take a video (one of your requirements).


Electronics and Saltwater do not mix well and from my own experience point and shoot digital cameras do not have especially long lives. Most of the cheap cameras are simply last years models. A small camera will always be limited by the physical size of the lens (small) in terms of its light gathering power and resolution.

[Russell]

I went through several cameras premature deaths as well before buying a Pentax Optio WPi, which is waterproof and has worked flawless so far for almost 3 years spending full time on the boat. I highly recommend it.

[Paul D.]

I was always a Canon man but now we use an Olympus 1030SW at the wilderness camp I work. It can handle being out in the weather and takes very good pictures rather easily. Once you get used to the system of it, you can really take nice shots from a small unit.

Be careful using the SD card in laptops that have a slot for them though, I damaged one with my nephew's pictures the first time I tried to load them. This has not happened since and it may have been a defective card but who knows. They are around $350.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_secti ... oduct=1363

[mike ritenour]

We also have the Olympus Stylus SW 720 SW and find it the camera of choice for sailing.

Hasn't missed a picture in over 5,000 taken on various voyages.

Their new models have even more capability.

Rit

[Shipscarver]

I had a little Cannon A70 that I liked, but the view screen went black. I checked with Cannon and learned that the problem was a recall item (although my camera shop - a nation chain - told me there was no way to get it fixed when I brought it in to them). I called Cannon back and they sent me a free UPS shipping container and fixed it for free, and sent it back looking brand new.
Then, 3 weeks ago I fell in Tampa Bay with the camera in a belt holster and murdered it.

[Aaron Headly]

I've had luck with the relatively cheap Pentax Optio waterproof cameras.

No special treatment required, they're just water-'proof'.

(Mine's only guaranteed to 5' deep for 30 minutes, but it handles spray, rain and dunking with aplomb.)

Here's some on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e?url ... of&x=0&y=0

Here's a Google Shopping search:
http://www.google.com/products?rls=en-u ... 1&ct=title

[Jeff G]

I use the Sanyo Exacti. It takes both video and still. The best thing is it's completely water proof. You can find the specs on line. I used it this summer on my 25D. Check out the youtube link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEg_Mhh01Wc

[Maine Sail]

I use expensive Nikon DSLR's D-200, D-70 & a D-40. My D-200 has 0ver 40k shutter actuation's & seen lots of abuse and is always by my side in the cockpit. Never once have I had a problem or broken one and yes they all get rained on or take spray but I wipe them clean with a chamois..

[MarcMcCarron]

I shoot with a Nikon D300 ..... the camera is made to keep the elements from getting in. I make my living as a commercial photographer and feel like digital photography is a colossal failure for many individuals who want a camera but don't want to be computer jockeys. Frustration for others is a result to understand (read the manual more than once) how to properly operate their camera. Sad to say but my Nikon D300 is the first digital camera I have owned that does a good job of working as a point and shoot. Focus, color and exposure is the starting point of creating usable images..... consistently.

I owned a Nikon D-100 that produced erratic color much too often
and seldom produced good flesh tones. Non SLR digital cameras
have issues with shutter lag, poor focus at inconvenient times and
generally produce images that are inferior to the $200 roll film
cameras people used ten years ago. The equipment I use today
is vastly superior to film (I use digital backs that attach to larger
cameras) but they require the operator to have excellent computer
skills to get proper results. "You press the button and we do the
rest " produced relatively good results before digital cameras dominated the camera stores. Now, to use the equipment you
need to understand your camera and the software that is supplied
with it.

[Maine Sail]

I make my living as a commercial photographer and feel like digital photography is a colossal failure for many individuals who want a camera but don't want to be computer jockeys.

Might I suggest Picasa for any novice! I don't consider myself a pro but do have many published photos and will have another in next months Sail Magazine. When doing work for mags I use Adobe Lightroom. For 95% of my other stuff including every photo on my we site I use Picasa.

By a LARGE margin it is the simplest, easiest and most user intuitive photo organizer and basic editor out there!!

Best of all Picasa is FREE from Google!!!!!!!!!!!!!