Cameras for Dark and Wet Locations? 68
Lorenzo de Medici asks: "In August I have the great pleasure of being able to hike all sixteen miles of the Zion
Narrows. I'd like to take along a camera, but the problem is that the water level in the Narrows can be unpredictable, with flash floods arriving with little warning. Light levels tend to be low as well. Does anyone have any advice on what kind of camera I could bring that would survive yet still bring in decent photo quality?"
Well SOMEONE's gonna say it ... (Score:4, Funny)
waterproof, disposable (Score:5, Informative)
$20 waterproof, reusable (Score:1)
Waterproof (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Waterproof (Score:2)
There are a few other things I would be concerned with, if there was a flash flood in a narrow 16+ mile canyon.
Point and click inside a ziplock bag! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Point and click inside a ziplock bag! (Score:1)
Re:Point and click inside a ziplock bag! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Point and click inside a ziplock bag! (Score:4, Insightful)
It's similar to the problem of trying to shoot through a window.
Bag-It! (Score:2, Informative)
Or get yourself one of those professional underwater cameras.
As far as lighting issues, either a nice external flash, or a nice lense should help.
Re:Bag-It! (Score:1)
A Graflex (Score:4, Funny)
What's your budget? Are you experienced? (Score:1)
If you are not too keen on renting equipment then there are a bunch [dpreview.com] of waterproof [steves-digicams.com] cameras out there... [amazon.com]
Nikonos (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Nikonos (Score:2)
Flashfloods? (Score:2)
Digital or Film? (Score:4, Interesting)
For landscape type photos you may be better off concentrating on camera shake instead of lens/film speed. Take a pocket tripod or clamp. I've shot quite reasonable night photos with an old digital camera just by using the tripod hand-held against a wall or tree.
For film, choose your camera based on how much weight you are willing to carry vs. the f-stop of your lens (the larger your light gathering opening the lower light you can shoot in for a given ISO but of course that is also going to make for a heavier camera). Once you have settled on that, take film of a high enough speed to get the shots you want.
For digital, I've always liked the Olympus cameras. IIRC, the Olympus C-series support ISO equivalents up to 400 and have optional waterproof housings. Also check out the Olympus "Stylus Digital" series of "ultra-compact, metal, all-weather digital" cameras that according to Olympus "can be used in rain, snow and any other situation Mother Nature throws at it"
Re:Digital or Film? (Score:2)
Yeah, but he did say decent photo quality. In my books that still means film.
waterproof case + tripod + long exposures (Score:3, Informative)
As for wetness, just get any popular camera that has a waterproof housing available as an option. These housing are typically very rugged and probably also afford the camera a greater degree of resiliance to physical damage.
Try Olympus C5050 with PT-015 underwater housing (Score:1)
The camera is a little positively buoyant when used in the housing which will help you not to lose it if you have to jump in a river or a pool.
Camera review [dpreview.com]
repost to photo.net (Score:4, Informative)
Take a tripod (Score:1)
Well.. (Score:2)
perhaps your camera has a similar accessory..
Parents... (Score:4, Funny)
Do they own a camera?
borrow it..
(parents are very understanding)
Cannon A60 - A80 (Score:1)
Ikelite? (Score:1)
A cheap solution... (Score:2)
Re:A cheap solution... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:A cheap solution... (Score:2)
One major advantage of getting a disposable camera: weight, about 4oz. The picture quality is indifferent but composition is 9
your kidding right? (Score:2)
Ask Google [google.com]
Cameras for Dark and Wet Locations? (Score:2)
Re:Cameras for Dark and Wet Locations? (Score:1)
Re:Cameras for Dark and Wet Locations? (Score:2)
Canon A1 for 35mm. (Score:1)
Priorities (Score:2, Funny)
Why not... (Score:2)
Instead of asking a bunch of inexperienced amateurs on Slashdot, why not ask Brian what he used and what he recommends? He left his email [mailto] for all to see. Ask him.
Followup... (Score:2)
You should still probably ask him what to use because even though his pictures are fabulous, he may have learned, through his experience, that a different camera would have been better for that particular trip.
Virtual Treks? (Score:2)
This reminds me of an idea I had a few years ago. I'm something of an outdoor enthusiast, hiker, etc.
Wouldn't it be cool to have outdoor trips recorded completely in video?
This would be the kind of thing that would make a great dynamic screensaver backdrop, or something to put on the TV in place of commercial chatter and hype (kind of like fishtank, fireplace, etc.)
But it could be really useful in planning trips, to help people know which fork to take, what do the landmarks really look like at different
Canon digicam with waterproof enclosure (Score:1)
Presumably you could overcome the low-light issue with a tripod and and a long exposure.
expensize plastic bags..with lens glass (Score:3, Informative)
They make waterproof plastic bags that you can put and use the camera in. These bags aren't cheap (about 100$) although cheaper than a full hardshell case. There not just plasic bags because the have some glass/plastic you attach the lens to so you can shoot with the camera in the bag. It seems perfect for your use.
As for the dark conditions get a bright lens (f1.8 to f2.8) and/or use 400 or 800 iso film.
check adorama for other makes/models but here is an example
http://www.waterproofcases.net/ziplock.html [waterproofcases.net]
Re:expensize plastic bags..with lens glass (Score:1)
Waterproof security cams (Score:2, Interesting)
Point-and-shoots, and camera cases (Score:2)
Many die-hards out there will undoubtedly tell you that it's not the camera; it's the photographer. Thus, a waterproof point-and-shoot will work fun. That said, it's much more of a pain in the ass to try and figure out how the point-and-shoot will react... and you don't often see those die-hard professionals using point-and-shoots, anyway.
I'm assuming that by nature of the fact that you posted this question, you're concerned with your shots coming out well, so I'll ignore the disposables for now. Your
Pentax Optio 33wr (Score:2)
Either cheap or expensive (Score:2)
Being a scuba diver, dark and wet is where I take most of my photos.
Reefmaster [sealife-cameras.com] makes reasonably priced waterproof cameras in digital and film version.
Above that price level, get any good quality film or digital 35mm SLR camera or digital camcorder, and buy a good waterproof case from Ikelite [ikelite.com] or Light and Motion [uwimaging.com]. These cases aren't cheap ($1000USD+, but are pretty damn rugged.
Too heavy and expensive..... (Score:2)
For low-light you NEED an SLR (Score:1)
As for dealing dith water, keep it in a dry bag. If you want to use it underwater then be prepared to spend lots of money. Lots.
Waterproof case (Score:2)
I've only been there once, but it was my favorite place in all of Utah.
DC5000 (Score:2)
Only storage (Score:2)
And for the dark conditions get a TRIPOD. Don't use sensitive film. Yes, I have been in Zion [gdargaud.net].
Cameras which can survive water (Score:1)
Most rugged camera for wet conditions
Any of the Nikonos series - these are Nikon cameras designed for underwater use. In an emergency you can drive nails with them. Older ones can be had on ebay for cheap money.
The newer automatic ones can be rented from most large camera rental houses if you do not want to buy them
Minolta makes a great underwater point and shoot camera the Vectis Weathermatic. Uses APS film and is bright yellow and rubber armored it's about $250 US
Underwa