Anyone have a Nikon d90 dslr on the boat?

[merlin2375]

Just wondering if anyone shoots with a nikon d90 on their boat? How has it been for you, has it held up to the abuse.

I am also looking at the d300, canon 50d.

Thanks!

[AE28]

I'm satisfied with my D80, if that helps.
Paul

[merlin2375]

It does help! My biggest concern is the "weather sealing" that other models like the canon 50d or signifigantly more expensive d300 offer. I need something that can take some abuse so that I'm not wary of taking it around with me.

[AE28]

merlin...

Our boat is a wet-sailing daysailer in anything more than 15kts, as the shoal lake we're on gets very choppy very quickly.

On nice days, I keep the camera in a Tupperware container behind the cockpit seat, under the gunwale. On not nice days, it stays in the camera bag, in the cabin!!! Unfortunately, that means missing some of the nicest action shots.

So, until I win the lottery and can afford a waterproof camera with decent lens...

Paul

[Maine Sail]

Have used a D-70 and currently use my wife's D-40 and my D-200. The D-200 is more water resistant, like the D-300, but I have honestly never had a problem with moisture on a Nikon body. I pretty much treat my cameras like a tool, use them hard, and it's why I shoot Nikon. IMHO Nikon bodies are tougher and hold up better than Canon.

If they get wet with salt spray I wipe them down with a freshwater dampened microfiber rag. My D-200 is going on its fourth or fifth year and the D-40 it's third summer. I still bring the D-70 too and use it as my dedicated wide angle lens camera. The D-70 has many boat seasons..

[AE28]

Maine Sail...
For on-the-water action shots, what lens(es) do you use?
Thanks,
Paul

[Stillraining]

I also shoot with a D70 but I have the cheap "came in the kit" lenses..I pretty much just use the 55-200 zoom full time on boat trips and my camera is 6 years old now and still going strong.
I cant say it has seen much salt spray though as I am carful with it pretty much just using a 100.00 Kodak point and shoot camera for thoes risky shots.

I have wished at times I went with Canon instead... as I believe they focus better then Nikon for fast action like Soccer..but it could be just the cheap lenses that they bundled with the camera...If you go Nikon dont by a kit like I did..buy everything separately and spend the extra bucks on good glass..you wont be sorry you did.

[alwheeler98]

Yes, I bought it at the end of last year. My pics are in the webpage in my signature.

It's held up pretty well, I had one wave splash over the cabin top and into my open camera case and it still works. And we are saltwater sailors. The on off switch seems a little less smooth when I switch it, but honestly it works fine, and it could be in my (paranoid) imagination. The camera guy at the camera store recommended wiping everything down with rubbing alcohol after the wave incident.

I'm thinking about getting an underwater case for it so I don't have to worry so much, but it's the 2nd DSLR I've consistently taken with me when we go out sailing, so I've taken every step short of that to keep the camera safe.

We recently were loaned a small (wet) boat that I could use. I sometimes get distracted by taking pictures on our current boat and my sailing skills are not where I'd like them to be. So the expectation is that the smaller boat will help me learn the basics. When I improve my skills, I might get this Olympus to use on the smaller boat.

[merlin2375]

thanks! /\/\

Did you ever consider the d300 or now the d300s?

[alwheeler98]

Originally Posted by merlin2375

Did you ever consider the d300 or now the d300s?

I did before the D90 came out (my first DSLR was a refurbished D50). I think of camera bodies kind of like computers ...you know in a few years they will be better, faster, and tie your shoes for you. So I got the least expensive camera that would meet all my needs. I heard great reviews about the D90 (not the video part so much, but everything else was pretty positive). Full frame seems to be the next step, and if that carries over to the prosumer side in a few years, it won't be as big a deal for me to step up.

Unless you are a professional photographer, then I am not the person to ask.

From my reading, it seems like lenses are the place to make the big investment. You'll upgrade your camera, but still continue to use the same lenses. Lens technology doesn't seem to move as quickly, and reselling them is a more financially lucrative option. (For example, if I was going to sell the camera/lens package I bought in 2006, you'd probably be more interested in buying the 18-70mm lens vs buying the D50 camera body).

DPReview is one pretty good resource and is worth checking out if you are shopping around. It's a big investment in a hobby (much like boating), you want to go with whatever works best for you.