So I was fly-fishing for steelhead trout last Friday on the Situk River, outside of Yakutat, Alaska (that's th skinny bit where the southeast panhandle connects to the main part of the state). I saw what I am 90% certain was a Long-billed Curlew on the mudflats where the Situk River meets Ahrnklin Lagoon. It's only the second sighting of the species in Alaska. If you're a birder, it's a really, really big deal. And it's a really cool bird. And I didn't have a camera.
Now I'm not about to take a good camera steelheading. If I did. I'd have it in so many cases that by the time I got it out any sensible bird would be long gone. So I'm looking for recommendations for a pocket-sized camera that can take decent shots, tolerate a little bit of moisture, and be ready to use as quickly as possible. It should also inexpensive enough that when I fall in the river - again - I don't hate myself.
I can't remember the model Jim, and I'm not sure they make it any more, but here goes. Two Christmases ago I got my wife a little Canon pocket camera, the only one at the time with VR. I can't recall whether it had a 5 or 6mp sensor, but I'm relatively certain it wasn't an 8mp.
But WOW! What great pics it took, and how well that VR works. It's not waterproof by any means, but a ziploc takes care of that while it's in your pocket. Size is roughly the same as a pack of cigarettes, and I'm guessing it doesn't weigh as much as a pound.
My wife won't let me carry it (selfish, huh!), but she packs it all the time, including on our many fly fishing adventures. Buttoned or zipped into a pocket it's always available when needed, but never a burden and never in the way.
I'm not acquainted with any of the newer models, but especially when stretching the lens for the shooting you describe, I'd sure be wanting VR.
I shoot Nikon all the time, as you probably know, but I had the same dilemma as yourself not too long back and ended up with a Canon G9! Slower than a DSLR sure but I have to admit for a P&S WOW the image quality just rocks and shooting in RAW isn’t too slow! Fits nicely into the pocket as well (you can buy a telephoto lens to add to it making a whooping 400mm which is still light a can slip into a bag (i.e. Fishing Bag/Creel) apposed to a pocket though!).
I'm a fan of the Canon Elph series. You can't go wrong with any of them. They start with the SD 1100 and have a 750, 850 etc. They are smaller then a pack of cigarettes and they have the ability to take film clips. You can't believe how efficient they are. The Nikon series is also very attractive but, I have had great success with the Canon series. Can't speak highly enough for them. Because it is so small and compact I virtually carry it all the time.
Jim - One option might be to get a camera that can actually fall in the river and be just fine. There are a few out there now - two from Olympus (their SW line) and two from Pentax (their Optio W line) I think.
I have an Olympus 770 SW, and they have an updated version out. Very rugged and takes good pics. I don't like the interface as much as the little Canons, and the image quality isn't quite as good I don't think (although I tend to use it in tougher conditions than I've used the Canon - like ocean swimming) but still pretty darn good.
If you're sure you don't want full waterproof, I'd also recommend one of the little Canon's. There's a reason their the #1 seller in that market I guess.
We have a Canon SD1100 Elph, which has an 8MP sensor and IS. It will fit easily in a pocket with room to spare. We also got the Canon underwater housing for it (good to about 120 feet!) for when we want to snorkel. It's a great little camera and even with the underwater housing it will still fit in a larger pocket. Of course, the housing is almost as much as the camera (about $170 for the housing and $249 for the camera), but we like the flexiblity to be able to shoot underwater as opposed to just protecting the camera from a dunking.
I've been carrying an ultra-compact in my pocket for several years. They seem to last me a couple of years and then I get to choose a new one. So far I've had a Canon ELPH (I drowned it), a Nikon Coolpix (plastic body didn't hold up), a Sony (Circuit City didn't honor their extended warranty), and finally another ELPH.
For getting the occasional picture of a rare bird, you're unlikely to find enough zoom in a truly pocketable camera, but Panasonic has a 10x zoom (28-280) in a compact P&S. A lot of folks use a superzoom SLR-like digicam as their primary camera. Not really pocketable but lots of zoom range (10x, 12x, even 18x) in a small package.
Jim I just sent you and email about a P & S I took delivery of today. Nikon Coolpix P80
I think I am really going to enjoy it for those times I do not want to carry my DSLRs.
I just wanted you to know I was not happy at all with the quality of the mages from the Nikon Coolpix P80 and shipped it back. Out of 100 images taken not a single one had the sharpness I expected, the focusing was dreadfully slow, the action setting was so annoying that I found myself wanting to hurl the camera at a tree.
The specs on the camera sound good on Nikon's site and orther places that review cameras. Not so when using the camera.
Discussion
8 repliesNow I'm not about to take a good camera steelheading. If I did. I'd have it in so many cases that by the time I got it out any sensible bird would be long gone. So I'm looking for recommendations for a pocket-sized camera that can take decent shots, tolerate a little bit of moisture, and be ready to use as quickly as possible. It should also inexpensive enough that when I fall in the river - again - I don't hate myself.
Any recommendations?
I think I am really going to enjoy it for those times I do not want to carry my DSLRs.
But WOW! What great pics it took, and how well that VR works. It's not waterproof by any means, but a ziploc takes care of that while it's in your pocket. Size is roughly the same as a pack of cigarettes, and I'm guessing it doesn't weigh as much as a pound.
My wife won't let me carry it (selfish, huh!), but she packs it all the time, including on our many fly fishing adventures. Buttoned or zipped into a pocket it's always available when needed, but never a burden and never in the way.
I'm not acquainted with any of the newer models, but especially when stretching the lens for the shooting you describe, I'd sure be wanting VR.
I shoot Nikon all the time, as you probably know, but I had the same dilemma as yourself not too long back and ended up with a Canon G9! Slower than a DSLR sure but I have to admit for a P&S WOW the image quality just rocks and shooting in RAW isn’t too slow! Fits nicely into the pocket as well (you can buy a telephoto lens to add to it making a whooping 400mm which is still light a can slip into a bag (i.e. Fishing Bag/Creel) apposed to a pocket though!).
I have an Olympus 770 SW, and they have an updated version out. Very rugged and takes good pics. I don't like the interface as much as the little Canons, and the image quality isn't quite as good I don't think (although I tend to use it in tougher conditions than I've used the Canon - like ocean swimming) but still pretty darn good.
If you're sure you don't want full waterproof, I'd also recommend one of the little Canon's. There's a reason their the #1 seller in that market I guess.
Charlie
I've been carrying an ultra-compact in my pocket for several years. They seem to last me a couple of years and then I get to choose a new one. So far I've had a Canon ELPH (I drowned it), a Nikon Coolpix (plastic body didn't hold up), a Sony (Circuit City didn't honor their extended warranty), and finally another ELPH.
For getting the occasional picture of a rare bird, you're unlikely to find enough zoom in a truly pocketable camera, but Panasonic has a 10x zoom (28-280) in a compact P&S. A lot of folks use a superzoom SLR-like digicam as their primary camera. Not really pocketable but lots of zoom range (10x, 12x, even 18x) in a small package.
I just wanted you to know I was not happy at all with the quality of the mages from the Nikon Coolpix P80 and shipped it back. Out of 100 images taken not a single one had the sharpness I expected, the focusing was dreadfully slow, the action setting was so annoying that I found myself wanting to hurl the camera at a tree.
The specs on the camera sound good on Nikon's site and orther places that review cameras. Not so when using the camera.