paddling with a camera

Below, I am listing 7 reviews and other resources related to Pentax Optio W60 which may be useful for somebody shopping for a new compact camera for kayaking and other outdoor activities.

I am paddling with Pentax Optio W30. It is still a good choice for paddlers and cheaper than W60.

1. Steve's DigiCams Reviews

Bottom Line - The Pentax Optio W60 is an easy to use and very versatile, go anywhere camera. With various pre-programmed shooting modes and the one-push green "Easy" mode, the W60 is easy enough for anyone to use. While many features are the same as found on the W30, the 10-megapixel imaging sensor, HD movie mode and 28mm wide 5x optical zoom make great additions. Overall, we found that shooting performance and image quality were great for a camera in this class. With a MSRP of US$329, this is an excellent deal for anyone that travels or spends a lot of time around water.

2. Trusted Reviews

The W60’s overall image quality is quite good, although it does have a couple of issues. The level of detail is very good, performing as well as any good 10MP compact, and the relatively low compression at the highest quality setting (average file size 3.4MB) produces very few artefacts.

The lens is a bit of a problem, because it suffers from particularly bad barrel distortion at wide angle settings, with less-than-stellar corner sharpness, although to be completely fair this may be less of a problem when shooting underwater.

I did find that my review camera tended to under-expose on a lot of shots, resulting in some very murky shadows in high contrast scenes, but it was possible to correct this using exposure compensation.

Verdict. The Pentax Optio W60 is a unique camera. It offers much the same performance, image quality and features as a typical modern compact camera, but with the added bonus of being waterproof and ruggedly built. If you’re looking for a camera for a travel and adventure, but also want a stylish pocket camera for social photography, then you’ve just found it.

3. Owners rating and opinions

W60 is a fine little camera with convenient zoom range and satisfactory image quality. Images are better than with other P&S cameras at elevated sensitivity. Macro is just short of excellent and after using it for more than 3-4 hours underwater it has shown no stress at all.

Construction does not look very robust.

For an underwater compact camera this one is fine. Not great but fine. Image quality does not stand a chance compared with any of the Canon Ixus. However, I don't like the clumsy underwater housing for Ixus, so I've been looking for a camera like this to have with my fishing gear. Olympus has a few cameras in this category, but I don't like xD memory card format. IQ of Oly and W60 is similar.

I think the overall responsiveness of the camera has improved over the W30. It costs more than a normal 10mp pocket size, however, with its water proof abilty, the W60 opens up another world of photographing opportunities. In another words, I am loving it!

Love being able to turn off the flash and have the setting "stick" so it never comes on.

4. How does the new Pentax Optio W60 stack up against Olympus waterproof digital cameras?

Based on specs alone, the only thing drawing me to the 1030 SW over the Pentax would be the waterproof depth rating since I am a scuba diver. But otherwise, the Optio W60 seems poised to give Olympus a run for its money. Image quality will be the kicker, so stay tuned.

5. Pentax Optio W60 KAP Report

Background: I have been looking for a waterproof camera to use when kayaking and swimming (Atlantic Ocean) and a camera that I could dual use for water sports and for KAP (given my habits of dropping my camera and KAP rig into various bodies of water).

First impressions: The Pentax Optio W60 will be a good KAP camera (especially where water risks are high). I like the light weight AND the 10 MP. I am still sticking with my Canon A570IS for most KAP work (mainly due to CHDK, RAW, Video, scripts for zoom and much more). But I can find a place for the new W60. The W60 is a true point and shoot (no direct control over the shutter speeds or F stop). The intervolmeter is a bit tricky. It is hard to stop once it gets going (sequence of keys to hit to stop it are hard to time). The selection of how many shots to take is tricky also… it seems you cannot change the number of pictures to take till the sequence complete…I am still playing with this.

6. Pentax Optio W60 Review

7. Pentax Optio W60 Review

One problem the w30 had was trying to focus in low light situations, it would take an eternity to get a focus lock on the subject indoors with incandescent lighting, this problem seems to have been solved with the new W60, after a few shots in low light situations the focus on the photos were near perfect.

8 Pentax Optio W60: Underwater Field Test

Downloads:

• Pentax Optio W60 User Manual
• Pentax Optio W60 PC Connection Manual

Related posts:

• Waterproof Digital Cameras for Paddling and Water Sports - A Shopping Guide
• Pentax Optio W60 - A New Waterproof Camera Is Coming
• 3 Reviews of Waterproof Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Camera
• A Floating Strap for Your Waterproof but Sinkable Camera
• 10 Tips How to Avoid Blurry Pictures when Shooting on Water

What is the best camera for paddling? There is no simple answer to this question. With a proper care and protection you can use almost any photographic gear when paddling a kayak or canoe. However, as a casual paddling photographer I would like a digital camera which is

• compact, so it can be carried in a pocket of my life jacket and is easy accessible
• waterproof to survive splashes, rain, eskimo roll, but I am not going to dive
• capable to shoot video in addition to decent quality still pictures,
• relatively inexpensive, so I can deal with a risk of loosing or damaging it

I have assembled a shopping guide for available cameras which seems to fit into the above criteria:

1. Pentax Optio "W" models
2. Olympus Stylus "SW" models
3. GoPro Digital Hero 3
4. Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 camcorder

Of course, these are not only options available for a paddler. I have not covered here any point and shoot camera available with waterproof cases like many Canonmodels. However, these cameras are typically more bulky and more expensive than Pentax Optio or Olympus Stylus discussed here.

It seems that all weather or splashproof cameras offered, e.g., by Olympus are less popular than waterproof models. There are also other video options including waterproof bullet cameras connected to a camcorder protected by a waterproof box or simpler devices like Oregon Scientific Action Cam.

GoPro Digitial Hero is the simplest camera listed here. It is not known for high quality pictures, but it can produce a decent video comparable (or better according to some owners) with Pentax Optio W cameras. It is available with different mounts including a helmet mount and a suction cup mount which may be pretty useful for paddlers.

I am providing my referral links to amazon.com for all cameras listed below. It is where I am buying all photo gear, GPS, other electronic gadgets, and, of course, books. You can usually find the best prices there and you can choose free shipping for items above $25 shipped directly from amazon (third party items available through amazon may be cheaper, but shipping is not usually free).

Pentax Optio W10, W20, W30, W60

Pentax Optio W60	see it at Amazon
Pentax Optio W30	see it at Amazon
Pentax Optio W20	see it at Amazon
Pentax Optio W10	see it at Amazon
Sandisk SD memory cards	1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4 Gb
Related posts: 7 Reviews of Pentax Optio W60, a New Waterproof Camera for Paddlers 44 Miles on the North Platte River in 2 Minutes - Video Animation Pentax Optio W60 - A New Waterproof Camera Is Coming Pentax Optio W(aterproof) Cameras for Paddling and Racing Photography Polarizer Filter with Pentax Optio W10 Camera - Prelimary Tests Waterproof Pentax Optio W30 and Olympus Stylus 770 SW among 12 Best Cameras of the Year 2007 How to Add Filters and Lens Attachments to Your Waterproof Pentax Optio or Olympus Stylus Camera? 10 Reviews of Pentax Optio W30 Camera - Waterproof and Ready for Paddling Is Pentax Optio W10/W20 the Paddler's Camera? Many Boats, Many Cameras ... Pentax Optio WP, WPi, W10 and W20 Wateproof Camera Comparison A New Optio W20 7MP Digital Camera from Pentax for Paddling Photographers Can Pentax Optio waterproof cameras be used in the water? Audio Recording with Pentax Optio W10 and Other Compact Digital Cameras

Olympus Stylus SW 720, 770, 790 and 1030

Similar features to Pentax cameras, advertised as shockproof, good pictures, lower quality video (15 fps vs 30 fps in Pentax, the new Stylus 790SW features 30 fps), more expensive $230-370. The video clip time is limited even in the newest Stylus SW 850 and 1030 models, but the firmware update fixes the movie problem in 1030SW camera.

Olympus Stylus 1030SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 850SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 790SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 770SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus SW 720	see it at Amazon
Related posts: 3 Reviews of Waterproof Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Camera - Firmware Fix for Video Problem Olympus Stylus SW 850 and 1030 - Two New Digital Compact Waterproof Cameras Waterproof Pentax Optio W30 and Olympus Stylus 770 SW among 12 Best Cameras of the Year 2007 A New Waterproof Olympus Stylus 790SW Camera with Improved 30 fps Video New Olympus Stylus 790SW in Review by InfoSync World - 76% Very Good Waterproof Pentax Optio W30 and Olympus Stylus 770 SW on Video in TigerTV Review of Waterproof Olympus Stylus 720 SW Camera by a Whitewater Kayaker. Pentax Optio WP, WPi, W10 and W20 Waterproof Camera Comparison Waterproof Pentax Optio W20 or Olympus Stylus SW 720 Camera for Paddling? Waterproof Olympus Stylus 770 SW Camera - A Review in Steve's Digicams Popular Photography Underwater Camera Shootout: Pentax Optio W20 and Olympus Stylus SW 720

GoPro Digital Hero 3

A simple wrist mounted camera in a waterproof case. Good video (better than from Pentax in some opinions), poor still pictures. Not so cheap at ~$140,. Helmet and deck mount kits available.

GoPro Digital Hero 3	wrist camera
GoPro Digital Hero 3	with helmet mounts
Sandisk SD memory cards	1 Gb, 2 Gb
Related posts: GoPro Digital Hero 3 as a Helmet Cam for Paddlers and Racers GoPro Digital Hero Reviewed by Helmet Cam Central: Affordable, Durable, Waterproof GoPro Digital Hero 3 Camera in Outrigger Canoe Paddling and Racing Windsurfing with Digital Hero 3 - a Waterproof Wrist Camera from GoPro Digital Hero 3 Waterproof Wrist Camera from GoPro - Sea Kayaker and CNET Reviews.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Camcorder

Waterproof flash card camcorder, very good video, 6 MP still pictures (I havent' seen a reliable review of that feature yet). Expensive: ~$450.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1	see it at Amazon
Sandisk SD memory cards	1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4 Gb
SanDisk SDHC memory card	4 Gb
Related posts: ... paddling photography speedlinking for January 5, 2008 7 Reviews of Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Digital Camcorder Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Camcorder Review and Sample Footage at FreeVlog Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder - A New Camera for Paddlers? Panasonic New Flash Memory Camcorder, SDR-SW20, Waterproof up to 5 Feet

Sticky Pod Camera Mounts

Related posts - tips for kayak photography:

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• 7 Digital Camera Predators - Do They Threat Your Waterproof Pentax or Olympus?
• A Floating Strap for Your Waterproof but Sinkable Camera
• 10 Tips How to Avoid Blurry Pictures when Shooting on Water
• 7 Comments on Kayak Photography: How Did You Shoot It?
• Pentax Optio W20 Waterproof Camera Review, Tips, and Sample Photos
• Kayak Photography: Using Your Paddle to Stabilize the Camera - Video Clip
• How Do You Carry Your Waterproof Pentax Optio When Paddling?
• Interval shooting with Pentax Optio W10
• No Viewfinder? 10 Tips on Shooting Pictures without Viewfinder
• Kayak Photography Links - Tips and Hints for Paddling Photographers
• Pentax Optio W10 as Kayak Cam on Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon
• 10 Mile River Race in 60 Seconds - Thunderbolt Kayak in the Glenwood Canyon - a video animation using 180 pictures shot in an interval mode
• Sticky Pod Review - A Suction Cup Camera Mount for Kayak Photography

... from Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography:

For years photographers have struggled to work around limitations of available light: from fine tuning exposure, to relying on flash, to inverting in expensive lighting setups. The advent of digital photography offered many advantages over film for manipulating light, but even today's high-end professional cameras are often not capable of capturing the full dynamic range of light in a single image.

High dynamic range (HDR) digital photography offers a solution. By taking multiple photographs of the same scene at varying exposure levels then merging and tone mapping them with HDR software, photographers of all skill levels can master even the most difficult lighting situations with ease. The resulting images can be ultra-realistic or incredibly surreal.

I have been playing with HDR photography for a longer while, but I am getting more serious with this technique. So, here is the HDR image from my recent evening paddling on the Lonetree Reservoir near Loveland, Colorado: sunset over mountains and white Sea Wind canoe. There was no way I could include in this scene my paddling partner, Pixel, who was extremely busy chasing dragonflies.

I shot five frames of this scene in the aperture mode with Canon EOS 40D DSLR camera on a tripod with exposure varying from -2 EV to +2 EV (see thumbnails on left). I combined them into the HDR image using Photomatix software, then I applied tone mapping (details enhancer) to obtain the final image. Of course, many different settings and interpretations are possible.

You will see more HDR pictures coming into this blog. It may be a solution for problems of photographing white and black (carbon fiber) decks of my boats. Well, at least, when I am using a DSLR camera. Taking multiple exposures with a tripod mounted Pentax Optio W30 without any shaking may be more challenging.

You can find numerous on-line resources and tutorials on HDR photography. There are also several books on the subject. I have bought two books which I can recommend: Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography by Ferrell McCollough and, and a little bit more technical Mastering HDR Photography by Michael Freeman.

The Lonetree Reservoir is a great place to observe nice sunsets over the Front Range of Rocky Mountains. Here are some other sunset pictures from that location:

• 3 Pictures from Sunset Paddling in Northern Colorado
• Sunset Is Not Always Spectacular over the Front Range of Rocky Mountains
• A Peaceful Sunset after a Heavy Gun Fire on the Lonetree Reservoir
• 7 Pictures under Stormy Sky - Paddling Lonetree Reservoir in Colorado