Follow-up to the Digital SLR Thread: What camera on the boat?

jwoytek · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008

I just caught-up on the Digital SLR thread here in the Off-Topic area. I have a Nikon D70 that was part of a wedding present from my best man at our wedding in 2006. I had (well, actually, still have) a Nikon N6006 film SLR, so I already had some investment in glass and accessories. The D70 has been great. It came with the standard 18-70mm Nikon lens (I think it's f3.5-4.5 or thereabouts). I also had my old film lens (size I don't recall, I think it is a 25-70--I usually keep it on the film camera for the occasional B&W shoot that I still do for folks), and a Quantaray 70-200mm that was a gift from a while ago. I've been pretty happy with the camera and its performance, and have a few new pieces of glass on my wish list for the next year or so (including a 50mm f1.8, and I'm looking at a previously-recommended Sigma 24-70 to become my new "everyday" lens).

Now that my wife and I are headed toward boat ownership (finally looking at one in a serious way next week!), I'm starting to think about what sort of camera stuff I want to have on-board. My father is a professor teaching multimedia and video technology at a university here, and he's given me some recommendations on waterproof or waterproof-able video cameras for doing some video blogging on the boat. I'd also like to carry a still camera with me, but I get a little wary of water + photographic instruments.

That said, I'm wondering what other people keep on their boat for photography. I'm especially interested in what waterproofing and/or protection measures people take if they are taking "good" photo gear with them on a boat. Thoughts?

jonathan

poopdeckpappy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008

A vented pelican hard case and a couple silica bag , store your film in the refer until needed

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008

JWOTEK

If you just want a small camera to use on the boat, I'd recommend either one of the Olympus Stylus SW series, like the 1030 SW, which is a 10.1 MP camera that is waterproof to 34' or so; or the Pentax Optio W series... also waterproof.

As for video cameras... both of the above will take basic video...but if you're serious you should get a mini-DV or mini-HD camcorder and a waterproof housing.