Post by lelaiskandar on Mar 2, 2012 5:10:08 GMT
I know that most people here bring a camera to their fishing trip (some use it to prove to their wives that huge bass brought home do come from the trip and not from the nearby wet market).
But electronics and water are not supposed to play together. Except if you have waterproof, rugged cameras.
I am writing this as a simple guide for those considering one.
1. Sensor stabilizer is important
Not all waterproof cameras has mechanical stabilizers. This is an important feature for us since we take pictures in a rocking boat or kayak. If not, you could end up with blurry or soft pictures.
Beware with some marketing ploy by established companies (like Pentax). Some say their camera has "Triple Vibration Reduction" etc. But when you check closely there's no mechanical or sensor shift stabilizers built into the cameras. What they do is just digitally manipulate your pictures to reduce blurs. You don't want those.
As of 2011, rugged cameras with real stabilizers come from brands like Panasonic and Sony.
2. Buy a Floating Strap
Do you wonder why many rugged cameras have fancy colors? They design it that way so that you could locate the camera should you drop one on the seabed. They don't float.
So, remember to put aside $15 to buy a floating strap for your camera.
3. Most have Poor Low Light Pictures
Forget great sunset pictures if you use a rugged camera. All waterproof cameras has fixed lens enclosed in a glass cover, and they don't extend or retract like your normal P&S.
As of 2011, most waterproof cameras (except for Sony TX10) gives you poor, grainy indoor or sunset pictures. But I am waiting for 2012 cameras to test since most comes with better backlit CMOS sensors. They should be better equipped for taking pictures when light is low.
4. Buy Around March or April
Waterproof cameras normally come out during these two months. This makes the last year model much cheaper. If you don't mind picking up a much cheaper (we are talking about ~ $50 to $90 savings here) but slightly outdated gadget, this is the right time to buy.
A camera that is one or two years old doesn't mean it is not good. The Canon D10 released in 2009 is still one of the best waterproof P&S out there (though the VGA video sucks) and the Sony TX5 released in 2010 is actually better than the TX10 released in 2011.
But if you feel adventurous enough, you could just pre-order the new ones during these months too.
5. Remember to Clean Them
You must clean your camera in a bucket of fresh water after every trip. We all know what saltwater can do. Failure to do so will only reduce the life of your expensive camera. And if you use it often, you MUST change the rubber seal around the camera ( ask your manufacturer where to get this done). If not, the camera will one day die underwater and turn into an expensive paperweight.
That's my 5 tips for those thinking of buying a rugged camera for your next trip. Of course, I could add some more tips but since I am new here, I think I should just stop rambling for now.
Enjoy your next trip folks!
But electronics and water are not supposed to play together. Except if you have waterproof, rugged cameras.
I am writing this as a simple guide for those considering one.
1. Sensor stabilizer is important
Not all waterproof cameras has mechanical stabilizers. This is an important feature for us since we take pictures in a rocking boat or kayak. If not, you could end up with blurry or soft pictures.
Beware with some marketing ploy by established companies (like Pentax). Some say their camera has "Triple Vibration Reduction" etc. But when you check closely there's no mechanical or sensor shift stabilizers built into the cameras. What they do is just digitally manipulate your pictures to reduce blurs. You don't want those.
As of 2011, rugged cameras with real stabilizers come from brands like Panasonic and Sony.
2. Buy a Floating Strap
Do you wonder why many rugged cameras have fancy colors? They design it that way so that you could locate the camera should you drop one on the seabed. They don't float.
So, remember to put aside $15 to buy a floating strap for your camera.
3. Most have Poor Low Light Pictures
Forget great sunset pictures if you use a rugged camera. All waterproof cameras has fixed lens enclosed in a glass cover, and they don't extend or retract like your normal P&S.
As of 2011, most waterproof cameras (except for Sony TX10) gives you poor, grainy indoor or sunset pictures. But I am waiting for 2012 cameras to test since most comes with better backlit CMOS sensors. They should be better equipped for taking pictures when light is low.
4. Buy Around March or April
Waterproof cameras normally come out during these two months. This makes the last year model much cheaper. If you don't mind picking up a much cheaper (we are talking about ~ $50 to $90 savings here) but slightly outdated gadget, this is the right time to buy.
A camera that is one or two years old doesn't mean it is not good. The Canon D10 released in 2009 is still one of the best waterproof P&S out there (though the VGA video sucks) and the Sony TX5 released in 2010 is actually better than the TX10 released in 2011.
But if you feel adventurous enough, you could just pre-order the new ones during these months too.
5. Remember to Clean Them
You must clean your camera in a bucket of fresh water after every trip. We all know what saltwater can do. Failure to do so will only reduce the life of your expensive camera. And if you use it often, you MUST change the rubber seal around the camera ( ask your manufacturer where to get this done). If not, the camera will one day die underwater and turn into an expensive paperweight.
That's my 5 tips for those thinking of buying a rugged camera for your next trip. Of course, I could add some more tips but since I am new here, I think I should just stop rambling for now.
Enjoy your next trip folks!
