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General => General Topwater & Jigging Discussion => Topic started by: Brandon Khoo on April 02, 2010, 07:38:40 AM
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I was wondering how people handled their camera gear on trips and what their choice of equipment is.
I always find this is a difficult compromise to be had between convenience and ultimate quality of picture. Obviously, SLRs take the best pictures but they're hardy convenient to carry around. At the other end of the spectrum, the little waterproof cameras like the Olympus' are just so convenient but their pictures are only so-so and the shutter lag could drive a man mad!
Currently, I'm carrying an Canon G10. I have the waterproof casing but this sure is a big unit. Still not quite sure I've found the right compromise.
The photos from this leave those from my little Olympus for dead and it is an acceptable size without the waterproof casing but then there is the challenge of then ensuring you keep it dry and away from the saltwater whilst still having it accessible. I've just gotten my hands onto a small Ortleib waterproof case that is also padded. This was recommended by Malcolm Crane and it certainly looks the goods.
The search continues .........
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Brandon...is that case fully waterproof? As you know I have the same setup as you except I got the pov version (G9). I find the best option when out on the water is to keep the whole unit in the waterproof housing. I keep it all safe by putting it in a neoprene reel case ,Daiwa medium I think. Then I know I can just throw the whole thing into my tackle bag amongst hooks and lures etc without it getting damaged or wet, result is it's ready to go all the time. ;)
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Hi Crusty - I've got the waterproof casing for the G10. Does the waterproof casing fit into that neoprene reel case?
You're talking about something like a Dogfight reel bag?
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When out on the rocks, I have my camera in one of those small drybags you can get from the outdoor stores like paddy pallin, kathmandu. They come in various sizes and seal up nicely and stop the water . Never had any issues with those bags so far.
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Yes, Like dogfight bag but with no handle part. Just make sure you sew the strap onto the housing because it will come undone at the worst time, don't worry the camera in case will float but the first time it happens is real heart in mouth stuff.
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I'm about to try the Panasonic Lumix Ft1: http://www.cnet.com.au/panasonic-lumix-dmc-ft1-339294668.htm (http://www.cnet.com.au/panasonic-lumix-dmc-ft1-339294668.htm)
Supposedly waterproof, dust proof and shock proof to being bumped or dropped. It is a compact with limited manual control but at 12megapixels more than enough for digital images or even printing a few. Of course its going to produce no where near as good photos as a digital SLR or equivalent but for the sake of being able to pull it out and take good looking snaps it looks like a reasonable option.
My main concern on buying a compact was the speed it took the photo as that latency can be very annoying. Testing it in a shop the other day, this model felt pretty instant and was faster than equivalent the Olmypus Tough compact offering. The FT1 has just been superseded by a new model - FT2, similar cosmetics and same basic camera but at an increased 14megapixels. It has made the price drop on the FT1 from 500 a month ago to around 300-400 new so seems like a good time to purchase.
I'll get some photos from it up sometime soon.
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We use a Canon G10 in a waterproof housing and I have just ordered two GoPro cameras. They shoot HD video and 5 megapixel images. Will see how they go. Tried an Olympus water proof point and shoot but did not like the images.
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Only problem with housing for Canon G series is can not fit polarizing filter which makes all the difference in the photo quality.
Currently using G11 with Lens mate adaptor and Kenko PRO1D circular polarizer kept in pelican case with digital video camera, OLYMPUS 725 waterproof kept in pocket for quick snaps.
This site is great for reviews and camera info http://www.dpreview.com/ (http://www.dpreview.com/)
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Brandon, I am shooting a Canon 40D and due to upgrade to the 50D. The lens is a Sigma 10-22mm and shoots a magnificent pic. also have UV and polar filter. this camera has seen a lot of salt water, sand and been dropped repeatedly and somehow still works a treat. although I am wanting to get into underwater photography I am going to Purchase a Lumix ($400) and is 12megapixels.
As for the 40D as big as it is, I have a special bag I got in from Singapore that carries everything in it I need.
It is hard photographing and fishing which is why these days i spend more time taking photo's. Most people don't know how to use camera's correctly which is why i spend a lot of time doing so......to get the right shot.
So far, My 40d has over clocked itself and is up to about 15000 photo's. My last, a Canon 350d shot over 20,000 images before I upgraded........
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Still not quite sure I've found the right compromise.
I don't really like to compromise when it comes to cameras on trips. SLR all the way for me, even if it means carrying a bit of extra weight or being a little more inconvenient. I'm due to upgrade soon and will probably get a pelican case.
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I shoot an old version Canon 5D in the dry (old camera but great images if married to L series lenses - very expensive lenses and worth every penny) and am about to buy a Canon D10 for wet/underwater shots. Lots of reviews suggest that this is the top image producer of newish waterproof cameras (came out last year) and it is relatively cheap, small and 12MGP.
Of course there is no compact or waterproof camera that can compete with an SLR combined with a great lens (especially if you shoot RAW rather than JPEG). That said, it all depends on what use you make of your images and how much processing you want to do after a trip. You certainly do not need expensive kit to post perfectly good images on the forum!
I keep my 5D and lenses dry in a Lowepro waterproof camera bag for transit and in a small, sealable Lifeventure bag in action.
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Colin how do you find the Lowepro waterproof bag? Ive been looking at the the dryzone 100 but cant make my mind up between that or a pelican case.
Cheers
Rob
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Colin how do you find the Lowepro waterproof bag? Ive been looking at the the dryzone 100 but cant make my mind up between that or a pelican case.
Cheers
Rob
Hi Rob,
I've had my dryzone 100 for many years and it's been subjected to temps of -40 in Canada, +48 in Oman and torrential rain in an open boat (everywhere). Can't speak for other waterproofs 'cause I've never felt the need to change. One tip - if you buy one, make sure you lubricate the zipper that closes the waterproof section before every trip (if it doesn't operate smoothly, the zipper can fail to close properly and render the thing non-waterproof). Any kind of silicon gel (supplied with it) or spray will do.
Cheers
Colin
PS
When I don't fill the case with camera gear, I top it up with a couple of my reels (despooled) - nice way to carry some onto the plane with you!
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http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/ (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/)
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I have a Nikon D90. I have a waterproof lens and camera bag that I just stow in a dry hatch on the boat. I leave the camera on the console, and just grab it when I need it.
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I notice that quite a few of us use the Canon G series cameras. They are a pretty good bit of kit, specially when you learn how to use them fully, which I might add I don't :-[
After Steve mentioned the Polarise filter I did a bit of searching and found these lenses, Wide angle, telephoto, fisheye, macro to name a few, you can also mount a circular polerise filter to them.
Certainly can turn these little cameras into a versatile piece of gear .
Check them out at www.raynox.com (http://www.raynox.com)
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Colin how do you find the Lowepro waterproof bag? Ive been looking at the the dryzone 100 but cant make my mind up between that or a pelican case.
Cheers
Rob
Hi Rob,
I've had my dryzone 100 for many years and it's been subjected to temps of -40 in Canada, +48 in Oman and torrential rain in an open boat (everywhere). Can't speak for other waterproofs 'cause I've never felt the need to change. One tip - if you buy one, make sure you lubricate the zipper that closes the waterproof section before every trip (if it doesn't operate smoothly, the zipper can fail to close properly and render the thing non-waterproof). Any kind of silicon gel (supplied with it) or spray will do.
Cheers
Colin
PS
When I don't fill the case with camera gear, I top it up with a couple of my reels (despooled) - nice way to carry some onto the plane with you!
Thanks Colin i think i may go ahead and get one of these bags, and the idea filling the bag up with reels also sounds a good one to me.
Cheers for your input.
Rob
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When I go fishing , my small Lumix LX3 is always the one I bring and the big camera stays home , even then I don't seem to take enough photo with it , fishing come first and I am pre-occupied by it so I let other take the photos .
Jon .
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I have gone to the opposite extreme with cameras, I like the idea of compact, and I do carry around a Canon D10 waterproof for quick shots. However, when it comes to getting consistent quality shots, still nothing beats a quality SLR, good lenses and a flash.
I end up carrying around a Nikon D700, 2-3 lenses (a super wide angle 12-24mm is my standard lens in a boat) and an SB600 flash, all in a Pelican case. The 1520 case is a bit of overkill, size wise, but it is a hangover from days when I used to carry a 80-200 2.8 in the kit as well. When choosing a case for an SLR, I would recommend sizing it to fit the camera with an accessory flash permanently on the camera. This cuts down a whole lot of mucking around when you dive in to grab the camera for quick shots.
The benefit of the case is that they are virtually indestructible - I've held my hilux rear axle off the ground with the case standing up (long story, would have taken a photo but the camera was still in the case!). We have even used them as raised casting platforms on fly fishing trips. The downside of the case is that they are heavy and bulky, but as far as I can see it is the only way to guarantee the safety of an SLR camera on a boat.
I think which way you go really comes down to what your priorities are out on the water. If the only time you pull out a camera is when a fish is being landed, then stick to a small compact. If you are in the habit of putting down your rod specifically to take photos, even right in the middle of a hot session, then an SLR will be worth pushing your weight limits for. Plus, if you want a proper wide angle lens to get up close and personal with your subject and really make the pictures stand out, the only way you can do it is with an SLR. Another way of looking at it is if you want a record of your trip, then modern compacts do an awesome job, but if you want to get your pics in a magazine on a regular basis or want to explore the art of photography, then pro-style compacts like the Canon G series or better still a full blown SLR is pretty much the way to go in my opinion.
In regards to the polarising lens issue, I used to use them 100% of the time in a boat, until purchasing the 12-24mm lens. This is so wide angle that it can't shoot with a polariser at any wider than 24mm or it cuts in at the edge of the shot. I've found that not using the polariser makes little difference to most of the 'grab and grin' style shots. Where you do miss it, is when shooting a fish swimming around in the water - the polariser cuts down substantially the amount of glare on the water surface. Usually I make a dash for another lens I keep with the polariser on for in-water shots. Another reason that people use polarisers is to make the colours look deeper and richer. These days, with the quality of editing programs available, it is pretty easy to duplicate this at home. In fact most quality cameras deliver as standard the rich, punchy colours that we used to really have to work for back in 'ye olden days' of film.
Duncan
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I end up carrying around a Nikon D700, 2-3 lenses (a super wide angle 12-24mm is my standard lens in a boat) and an SB600 flash, all in a Pelican case.
Duncan
Is that the lens you used while we were in Bugatti?
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Got an Ixus 75 in a waterprrof housing - looks like a fisher price toy ...
Wanted a GoPro wide angle surf cam but not got round to it so I have a waterproof sanyo vid cam and a waterproof HD headcam - hoping to get some POV vid from our trip next week - don't think anyone has done that yet?
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a waterproof HD headcam - hoping to get some POV vid from our trip next week - don't think anyone has done that yet?
Alex that would be awesome!! But you are gonna look pretty frikken funny walking around Brando flats wearing a helmet cam!!! Make sure Sharpie gets some pics of that!!! : )
I have used a number of cameras over teh years, and being in the production business, I get exposed to and get to play with the best of the best out there... very few of which are actually suitable for angling photography unfortunately... taking a 60 Megapixel Phase One Digital Back on a Hassleblad H3 out on the flats is probably not the smartest idea, especially as the whole rig costs more than my house!!!
SLR's are truly they way forward if you want to spend as much time capturing fishing pics, as fishing.... I think someone above hit the nail on the head when they said exactly that... Nothing can compare to the freedom an SLR gives you in shooting style, options, clarity.
At the same time, they are bulky, and expensive... Bulky isn't a problem on a boat, but if you are trekking across the flats or Land Based, its an extra b1tch to carry and unpack everytime you wanna shoot...
There are some pretty good "dry bag" casings which fit SLR's with Flash and all... while one wouldn't take them to 5 metres, for keeping the camera dry and frree of salt and other worries, they are great and allow you to have them on hand at all times....
That being siad, the modern compacts like the G series from Canon shoot incredible pictures so easily, so are a great bet as well...
I think it all breaks down to how much fishing vs photography you want to do, and how important those images at the end of a trip are for you.
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Is that the lens you used while we were in Bugatti?
Yes that was the one
Duncan
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Personally I found the Lowepro to fiddley compared to a two clip Pelican lid.
Yes the backpacks great for travel and dragging your gear around airports but for action time with fish ready for release nothing beats the ease of a Pelican.
Regarding camera gear, I'm on the SLR team here but I don't get to go as much as some so I try to get the best shot possible.
D5mkII with a combo of "L" series lenses and a Speedlite 580 flash. A combo like this makes even a novice like me fluke a few decent shots!
Greg
Colin how do you find the Lowepro waterproof bag? Ive been looking at the the dryzone 100 but cant make my mind up between that or a pelican case.
Cheers
Rob
Hi Rob,
I've had my dryzone 100 for many years and it's been subjected to temps of -40 in Canada, +48 in Oman and torrential rain in an open boat (everywhere). Can't speak for other waterproofs 'cause I've never felt the need to change. One tip - if you buy one, make sure you lubricate the zipper that closes the waterproof section before every trip (if it doesn't operate smoothly, the zipper can fail to close properly and render the thing non-waterproof). Any kind of silicon gel (supplied with it) or spray will do.
Cheers
Colin
PS
When I don't fill the case with camera gear, I top it up with a couple of my reels (despooled) - nice way to carry some onto the plane with you!
Thanks Colin i think i may go ahead and get one of these bags, and the idea filling the bag up with reels also sounds a good one to me.
Cheers for your input.
Rob
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Personally I found the Lowepro to fiddley compared to a two clip Pelican lid.
Yes the backpacks great for travel and dragging your gear around airports but for action time with fish ready for release nothing beats the ease of a Pelican.
Regarding camera gear, I'm on the SLR team here but I don't get to go as much as some so I try to get the best shot possible.
D5mkII with a combo of "L" series lenses and a Speedlite 580 flash. A combo like this makes even a novice like me fluke a few decent shots!
Greg
Hi Greg thanks for your input, another thing to think about. May i ask what size pelican case you use?
Thanks
Rob
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G'day Rob
I run two different ones dependant on lens and if I take a video camera as well. I have an older model thats similar to a 1520 but a little deeper and a 1560 with built in trolley if weights aren't an issue.
Greg
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Im with Andre - DicaPak dry bag for $50-$60
Its not what Im after being a spearo as well, but there was a pro photographer on our recent freediving course with his $25,000 SLR get up swimming around with us.
I think they are limited to about 10m depth.
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I have the cannon 50d and rebel xsi with different lenses all fitted inside a small pelican box. I ruined 3 camera's before investing in the Pelican case and it has been a godsend. I travel with it on the plane as well as my backpack with no issues. I am on the water almost on a daily basis and the boss doesn't want average quality pics taken on a point n shoot.
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I'm using the new Canon Powershot S90. It's very similar to the Lumix LX3 and G10 but much more compact (and user friendly). Still wide angle, perfect for boat shots. I'm stoked with it and have bought an underwater housing for it. I'm still getting used to it, especially the housing though I'd recommend this to anyone.. Takes excellent low light pics also. I don't think I will bother with the pelican case on boats, it can live in it's u/w housing in the Lowepro camera backpack and handle any treatment.
Cheers David
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I have a canon slr and a olympus underwater camera. I only took the olympus on the last trip to Fiji due to lack of room and the wife isnt real fond of me taking the slr. The olympus was very handy and does take some good pics but just not up to the standard of the slr , I only really noticed comparing pictures from the last trip to Hervey bay using the slr. I will diffently be taking the canon slr from now on and using the olympus for kayak trips. Also I have a pelican case for the canon and it is a valuable investment especially if you are as ruff on gear as I am.
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I don't compromise with photo gear and take both G10 and 5DII with me. Cameras stay in the cabin until called for. I mainly shoot with wide-angled L series lens and spend the time getting "the shot". Bit of a problem when I'm holding the fish but set the camera to auto and school the deckie or a mate to shoot for you. Camera stays in the cabin whenever seas are rough and spray about. The G10 can be worn around the neck on a strap and under your clothing. Easy to bring it out to pop off those point and shoot opportunities.