Calm before the storm - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

amsurferoceanbeach · 01-07-2008, 01:24 PM

Jan 2 2008 had to be the calmest day
I have ever spent on the ocean. From dawn
till dark, no wind, no swell, not even a
ripple on the water.
I got an Olympus stylus 770 sw camera
for Xmas. The verdict is still out if I like
it or not. Too many modes to choose
from. Thought I'd share a couple cool
picks.

Iceman · 01-07-2008, 03:08 PM

nice whale shot!

lamb · 01-07-2008, 06:19 PM

Very cool... that’s a big whale!

Paul, I got your cam's older brother, Stylus 720 SW. I've had it since the last summer.

I like how tough the camera case is. The thing seems indestructible.

I love how I can just rinse it with fresh water after fishing, and never ever have to worry about getting my camera wet.

But I haven’t been happy with the picture quality, especially in the quick point-and-shoot situations. More often than not it seems out of focus. My old Cannon Powershot was waaaaaaaaaay better for that.

The modes are probably similar in our cameras – I find “auto” mode to be the best bet for majority of situations. I only play with manual mode if I’m taking underwater shots.

The sucky thing is – my camera remembers the last setting mode it was on after you turn it off and on.

And add to that that putting it back in auto mode is not as intuitive as you'd expect... I don’t like that.

Make sure it’s in full Auto mode.

amsurferoceanbeach · 01-07-2008, 09:26 PM

Thanks for the tips Adi. As you can see in the photos, quality
is lacking. I tried to get the blow, but the lag in the shutter
only caught some after spray. My manual photos come out with
happy trails.
If any one has this camera and knows how to use it to take
good quality photos from a kayak, I'm all ears.
I miss my Cannon. Point and shoot was so simple.
Andy I still miss all the nature shots you use to take of
LJ.
Paul

FISHIONADO · 01-08-2008, 07:18 AM

Paul, I've been using the 770sw for about a year now, I really like it. For most photos I reduce the resolution to 2048x1536, I'll crank it up to the max if I'm taking someone's fish photo. I like how fast it powers up and is ready for a photo and how the lens cover keeps the lens dry between photos. I've never noticed a shutter lag on it compared to my previous Pentax waterproof camera. It's important to push the photo button halfway and wait for the green dot to show that it is focused. I always use the auto mode on the water. I dropped it 3' onto concrete once, it seemed broken, lens cover flopping, wouldn't power up. Just before I sent it in for repair I tried powering it up while holding down the button furthest from the power button, the printer button, and it rebooted and has worked fine since. Sounds slightly stoopid but it worked. Hope to see you on the water soon.

tylerdurden · 01-08-2008, 08:38 AM

For action shots see if you can use a "burst" mode so you don't have to worry about shutter lag. I don't have an Olympus camera, but I know at least some digital cameras have a burst setting where it will take a couple pictures a second for as long as you have the button held down. You usually have to set it to burst mode first, you can't just hold down the button in regular mode.

I have tried this to get good whale pics and failed still, but I have gotten some cool pics of dolphins and kayak surfers this way.

01-07-2008, 01:24 PM	#1
amsurferoceanbeach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ocean Beach San Diego Ca Posts: 110	Calm before the storm Jan 2 2008 had to be the calmest day I have ever spent on the ocean. From dawn till dark, no wind, no swell, not even a ripple on the water. I got an Olympus stylus 770 sw camera for Xmas. The verdict is still out if I like it or not. Too many modes to choose from. Thought I'd share a couple cool picks.

01-07-2008, 03:08 PM	#2
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	nice whale shot! __________________

01-07-2008, 06:19 PM	#3
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Very cool... that’s a big whale! Paul, I got your cam's older brother, Stylus 720 SW. I've had it since the last summer. I like how tough the camera case is. The thing seems indestructible. I love how I can just rinse it with fresh water after fishing, and never ever have to worry about getting my camera wet. But I haven’t been happy with the picture quality, especially in the quick point-and-shoot situations. More often than not it seems out of focus. My old Cannon Powershot was waaaaaaaaaay better for that. The modes are probably similar in our cameras – I find “auto” mode to be the best bet for majority of situations. I only play with manual mode if I’m taking underwater shots. The sucky thing is – my camera remembers the last setting mode it was on after you turn it off and on. And add to that that putting it back in auto mode is not as intuitive as you'd expect... I don’t like that. Make sure it’s in full Auto mode. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

01-07-2008, 09:26 PM	#4
amsurferoceanbeach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ocean Beach San Diego Ca Posts: 110	770SW Thanks for the tips Adi. As you can see in the photos, quality is lacking. I tried to get the blow, but the lag in the shutter only caught some after spray. My manual photos come out with happy trails. If any one has this camera and knows how to use it to take good quality photos from a kayak, I'm all ears. I miss my Cannon. Point and shoot was so simple. Andy I still miss all the nature shots you use to take of LJ. Paul

01-08-2008, 08:38 AM	#6
tylerdurden Bad Clone Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 874	For action shots see if you can use a "burst" mode so you don't have to worry about shutter lag. I don't have an Olympus camera, but I know at least some digital cameras have a burst setting where it will take a couple pictures a second for as long as you have the button held down. You usually have to set it to burst mode first, you can't just hold down the button in regular mode. I have tried this to get good whale pics and failed still, but I have gotten some cool pics of dolphins and kayak surfers this way. __________________ MLPA, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem Let the Fish and Game Commission know what you think about the proposed maps. Be ready for December 9th and 10th.

01-08-2008, 07:18 AM	#5
FISHIONADO Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 698	Paul, I've been using the 770sw for about a year now, I really like it. For most photos I reduce the resolution to 2048x1536, I'll crank it up to the max if I'm taking someone's fish photo. I like how fast it powers up and is ready for a photo and how the lens cover keeps the lens dry between photos. I've never noticed a shutter lag on it compared to my previous Pentax waterproof camera. It's important to push the photo button halfway and wait for the green dot to show that it is focused. I always use the auto mode on the water. I dropped it 3' onto concrete once, it seemed broken, lens cover flopping, wouldn't power up. Just before I sent it in for repair I tried powering it up while holding down the button furthest from the power button, the printer button, and it rebooted and has worked fine since. Sounds slightly stoopid but it worked. Hope to see you on the water soon.