Thursday, April 17, 2008

Camera's Dead- Any photogs out there?

Okay- I need some advice here. I'm looking for a new camera so if you know anything about water cams you need to get back to me. I know Olympus has a little waterproof/freezeproof/shockproof /kookproof unit- how's the picture quality on that? Pentax has the Optio- I've read it's got good picture quality but questionable durability. What's up?

Here are my needs: tough, waterproof, fit in the wax pocket of my trunks and good enough picture quality that I may publish photos to print (translation: pictures may be used in a book I'm completing...) if desired. If you've got some experience or advice please post in the comments section. I'd like to get a camera before the Hennessey's River Run which is May 2nd.

If you've got pictures up and posted send me the URLs so I can check 'em out- be sure to tell me what kind of camera you're running. Thanks guys!

11 comments:

Brian Welsh said...

I have the Pentax and it takes good photos outdoors. It has all of the photo functions of larger cameras. However it is only waterproof up to a 5 foot submersion. I think the Olympus goes deeper, and may be a safer bet.

Anonymous said...

John,

I have a Pentax Optio WP. Its a good, not great camera. Fits the bill as far a size goes,fits in any pocket. Slow to fire and photo quality is just OK. You're welcome to try it.

Denis

Chad said...

Here is the one that I have. It is cheap ($269), durable and has great quality 8 megapixel photos. It will also shoot video. It is water proof(10 feet) and shock proof(5 feet) and looks and feels like a normal sized digital camera. I love this thing. It will fit around your neck and stuff inside your suit by your shoulder or fit in the pocket of your favorite surf truncks. I have had this camera for about 9 months now, have had it in the water a lot and have had no problems. It also takes pictures just like a standard digital camera out of the water. It is a great travel camera for its durability, ease of use, size, and the fact that it can literally go anywhere into any element (except maybe a baja bonfire). HEre is the link at to circuit city where it is on sale right now for $269, which is $30 off the normal $299 price.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Olympus-Stylus-850-SW-8-Megapixel-Digital-Camera-Black-STYLUS850SWBK/sem/rpsm/oid/205898/catOid/-16941/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Here is the link to the Olympus website. They have newer model that is waterproof(30 feet) and has a 10 megapixel sensor. That sounds sweet. Wish I didn't already have the older one.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1363

Jim Brewer said...

I have the Pentax Optio. I have it under water all the time and so far it works fine. The pic quality is always different. Some pics are great while others suck. Hope that helps a little.

John Ashley said...

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Definitely better info to work with than what I'm randomly finding on the web.

I especially like being able to check out the photos and how they look on the blogs.

Thanks again- going to pull the trigger tomorrow on something...

Anonymous said...

I got a Optio W30 too and it died a couple months after I bought it. Six weeks later Pentax replaced it. You're more than welcom eto try it. I'll be down at LJ Shores at 8 for the Eaton paddleboard race tomorrow.

NC Paddle Surfer said...

All photos on my blog are with the Olympus.

I owned the Pentax prior, but it filled with water and died.

Ponobill said...

I use both the Sanyo Xacti and the Olympus 770SW. the xacti takes better video and the pictures are good, the controls are intuitive but there's no viewfinder so you need to either point and go or use the screen which folds out and looks fragile. The warranty kind of sucks--90 days labor, 1 year parts, and mine is on the way to be repaired after i lost it in the surf and a fisherman found it a day or so later. No visible problems, just wouldn't go. It will cost me about $150 to get it repaired. Not something I want to do regularly.

The 770SW is bulletproof. I thought that was the one you had though. Fits in a pocket, you can get a floating strap for it, no viewfinder and the screen is impossible to see in sunlight so it's shoot and go. takes good video and pictures, waterproof to 35 feet, shockproof, and apparently dumbproof--mine still works after a lot of stupidity, including stepping on it, sitting on it, dropping it and then exacerbating the fall with a fumbled grab that shot it about ten feet across the room. The picture of my daughter and grandson on the yellow Naish board was shot with the Olympus. the rest are Nikon d80 (NOT waterproof or anything proof). http://www.kenalu.com/2008/04/grand-gremlins/

The model after the 770sw is lighter weight but not nearly as sturdy. The newest version returns to the steel case and bulletproof nature.

PonoBill
www.kenalu.com

John Ashley said...

Thanks again for the info! New camera has been purchased- it' being shipped even as we speak- I went for durability- I'm tough on things.

Anonymous said...

What did you end up getting?

John Ashley said...

Went with a new Olympus 1030SW. Needed something I could beat on and not worry about too much.