Cameras? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

lamb · 03-14-2008, 11:00 PM

I'm with you Chris.

And that ray must have been a heluva fight, hoping for a big beaver...

I never owned Pentax, but I'll testify that my Olympus 720 SW has gone down with me to 15' deep, took some pics, no problem (it's rated up to 10'... oops, remembered later)

... Great stellar case, everything proof. No problem being soaked in blood for a good awhile...

Descent quality photos, considering everything.

But Nate, I'd say I would never get it if it were to double for pics of my 2 year old. I took many better pictures of my kid with many other way cheaper cameras then I did with 720 SW.

Great camera for kayak fishing, there must be some better cameras in the same price range for the "life on shore" pics.

dgax65 · 03-15-2008, 07:31 AM

I've been using a Pentax Optio W10 for the last two years and I've been very happy with it. It takes lots of abuse and hasn't failed me yet. I've had it submerged to 4'-5' for several minutes without problems. I also use it as my everyday GP camera. I keep it with me in my backpack everywhere I go. The size, image quality and battery life are the big selling points. Negatives: some halation when shooting with flash in very dark conditions, no lens cover and a waterproof camera should have some sort of rubberized grip. Get the silcone cover if you will be using it in the water. I just coated parts of mine with Marine Goop.

dorf · 03-15-2008, 09:09 AM

I have had my Olympus 720 SW for over a year and a half now and love it. Takes great pics on land as well as shore. I took my family Christmas card pic with it las year. It takes okay video with sound above and under water. If you have young kids it is great for videoing their first time swimming at La Jolla and things like that.

I have a retractable leash for it when I am on the water. It DOES NOT float! I have dropped it from about 4-5 feet and have not had any problems with it.

This camera is about the size of a pack of cards so it easily fits into a Life Vest pocket. Other water cameras I have looked at are way to bulky to have on the yak.

I had a Sony water camera once but the battery life was about 20 minutes. The 720SW has a rechargeable battery that lasts for a couple of days.

Good luck on your choice.

sbsyncro · 03-15-2008, 09:17 AM

One "nit" I forgot to mention is that the PENTAX Optio W30 has a proprietary USB connector, so it is another cable to worry about. it does NOT use the standard "mini-USB" connector that a lot of other cameras and DVRs use. Most of us probably have several of these cables lying around and use them interchangeably - unfortunately with the PENTAX, you have to keep track of this specific cable.

I also bought a 4GB SD card and an extra battery. With these, I am able to go on multi-day outings away from power sources and computers.

Oh, and I agree with the idea of having a silicone skin - definitely helps with grip-ability and keeps it from getting banged up while rolling around with all the other gear on deck. Here's a video review I posted to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-Optio-S...5601498&sr=8-1

Here are also some more snapshots taken with the PENTAX that show a variety of lighting and range situations - all taken in true "snapshot" fashion (e.g. no regard for the settings, just using the full auto settings):
http://gallery.mac.com/bpchristensen#100094

GHOSTHUNTR · 03-15-2008, 12:40 PM

I have the Olymus 770sw and I think it is great. I agree that a slow shutter speed is very annoying(especially for taking pictures of your kids).The 770 doesn't have that problem. One thing, make sure you hold the camera under fresh water and open the shutter several times to clean it up. This will keep the shutter cover from freezing up.

MVC · 03-15-2008, 12:43 PM

I was in Target a few weeks ago and they have the Olympus for $199.00

mg2969 · 03-15-2008, 01:03 PM

vivitar 6200w
@ $125
AA battery
Standard SD card
waterproof to 30 ft
seems to be identical to sealife models just lower rated depth
comes with extra 0-ring

http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-6%252e...5614896&sr=8-1

nunyabizness1 · 03-16-2008, 04:29 PM

Nathan,

I had the SW770 Olympus and was not happy with it at all. On the plus side, it's great for water use and no problem dropping it due to the shock absorbing feature. On the serious negative side, it's only a 3X zoom and the quality of the pics is really poor and grainy. That's a huge disappointment to me for the price of the camera. If you are counting on that camera to record pics of your kids that you want to come out good, forget it. Also, it's not user-friendly to switch from pic mode to video mode or other settings. You wiill miss the shot if you need to quickly switch from video to still shots. I lost some great opportunities due to that. I do not recommend the Olympus camera at all.

h2ofishfo · 06-23-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg2969

vivitar 6200w
@ $125
AA battery
Standard SD card
waterproof to 30 ft
seems to be identical to sealife models just lower rated depth
comes with extra 0-ring

http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-6%252e...5614896&sr=8-1

---------where did u get that camera the model just above that one on the amazon link looked nice

03-15-2008, 07:31 AM	#2
dgax65 Guerro Grande Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 629	I've been using a Pentax Optio W10 for the last two years and I've been very happy with it. It takes lots of abuse and hasn't failed me yet. I've had it submerged to 4'-5' for several minutes without problems. I also use it as my everyday GP camera. I keep it with me in my backpack everywhere I go. The size, image quality and battery life are the big selling points. Negatives: some halation when shooting with flash in very dark conditions, no lens cover and a waterproof camera should have some sort of rubberized grip. Get the silcone cover if you will be using it in the water. I just coated parts of mine with Marine Goop. __________________ Douglas Gaxiola Team No Fish- Amateur Staff

03-15-2008, 09:09 AM	#3
dorf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 279	I have had my Olympus 720 SW for over a year and a half now and love it. Takes great pics on land as well as shore. I took my family Christmas card pic with it las year. It takes okay video with sound above and under water. If you have young kids it is great for videoing their first time swimming at La Jolla and things like that. I have a retractable leash for it when I am on the water. It DOES NOT float! I have dropped it from about 4-5 feet and have not had any problems with it. This camera is about the size of a pack of cards so it easily fits into a Life Vest pocket. Other water cameras I have looked at are way to bulky to have on the yak. I had a Sony water camera once but the battery life was about 20 minutes. The 720SW has a rechargeable battery that lasts for a couple of days. Good luck on your choice. __________________ Don't try to confuse me with facts! I hereby reject your reality and submit my own.

03-15-2008, 09:17 AM	#4
sbsyncro Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 80	One "nit" I forgot to mention is that the PENTAX Optio W30 has a proprietary USB connector, so it is another cable to worry about. it does NOT use the standard "mini-USB" connector that a lot of other cameras and DVRs use. Most of us probably have several of these cables lying around and use them interchangeably - unfortunately with the PENTAX, you have to keep track of this specific cable. I also bought a 4GB SD card and an extra battery. With these, I am able to go on multi-day outings away from power sources and computers. Oh, and I agree with the idea of having a silicone skin - definitely helps with grip-ability and keeps it from getting banged up while rolling around with all the other gear on deck. Here's a video review I posted to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-Optio-S...5601498&sr=8-1 Here are also some more snapshots taken with the PENTAX that show a variety of lighting and range situations - all taken in true "snapshot" fashion (e.g. no regard for the settings, just using the full auto settings): http://gallery.mac.com/bpchristensen#100094 Last edited by sbsyncro; 03-15-2008 at 09:47 AM.

03-15-2008, 01:03 PM	#7
mg2969 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Beach / Lakewood Posts: 85	vivitar 6200w @ $125 AA battery Standard SD card waterproof to 30 ft seems to be identical to sealife models just lower rated depth comes with extra 0-ring http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-6%252e...5614896&sr=8-1 __________________ Hobie Mirage Revolution Prowler 13 - Look ma no hands

03-16-2008, 04:29 PM	#8
nunyabizness1 Maggie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nunya Posts: 126	SW770 Nathan, I had the SW770 Olympus and was not happy with it at all. On the plus side, it's great for water use and no problem dropping it due to the shock absorbing feature. On the serious negative side, it's only a 3X zoom and the quality of the pics is really poor and grainy. That's a huge disappointment to me for the price of the camera. If you are counting on that camera to record pics of your kids that you want to come out good, forget it. Also, it's not user-friendly to switch from pic mode to video mode or other settings. You wiill miss the shot if you need to quickly switch from video to still shots. I lost some great opportunities due to that. I do not recommend the Olympus camera at all.

03-14-2008, 11:00 PM	#1
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	I'm with you Chris. And that ray must have been a heluva fight, hoping for a big beaver... I never owned Pentax, but I'll testify that my Olympus 720 SW has gone down with me to 15' deep, took some pics, no problem (it's rated up to 10'... oops, remembered later) ... Great stellar case, everything proof. No problem being soaked in blood for a good awhile... Descent quality photos, considering everything. But Nate, I'd say I would never get it if it were to double for pics of my 2 year old. I took many better pictures of my kid with many other way cheaper cameras then I did with 720 SW. Great camera for kayak fishing, there must be some better cameras in the same price range for the "life on shore" pics. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

03-15-2008, 12:40 PM	#5
GHOSTHUNTR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poway Posts: 160	I have the Olymus 770sw and I think it is great. I agree that a slow shutter speed is very annoying(especially for taking pictures of your kids).The 770 doesn't have that problem. One thing, make sure you hold the camera under fresh water and open the shutter several times to clean it up. This will keep the shutter cover from freezing up.

03-15-2008, 12:43 PM	#6
MVC Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Costa Mesa Posts: 278	I was in Target a few weeks ago and they have the Olympus for $199.00