Trusted Review is one of the many photography sites I have in my feed reader. Last week I received an update notice about its three-page review of six point-and-shoot waterproof cameras. The first page reviews two budget priced cameras; the second page reviews two mid-priced cameras; and the third page reviews two "premium" cameras.
My favorite is the Panasonic Lumix. Though the review says image quality is "so so", both the Lumix and the Sony (both reviewed as "premium" cameras) were nevertheless the best of the group with image quality scores of 8 of 10.
On the other hand, if you already have a good camera and just want something to stuff in your vest to take pictures of the "fish that didn't get away", perhaps one of the budget options would be worth considering.
If you are in the market for a waterproof camera to take fly fishing, here's the link:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/the-best-waterproof-shockproof-and-dustproof-tough-cameras-of-2011
Showing posts with label camera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camera. Show all posts
Friday, July 1, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Panasonic TS3 ups the ante over the new Fuji GPS-featured waterproof camera by throwing in GPS, barometer, altimeter and compass!
In my last post I was pretty excited about the new Fuji "tough" camera that included GPS. But my favorite modern "tough" cameras are coming from Panasonic, and Pany has just upped the ante. Their new model (there are actually two new models, but I view the one shown here as the better one) is the DMC-TS3. I'd add a link to the panasonic Web site, but the camera is so new (and not yet available) that it is not yet on the panasonic USA Web site.
I don't know how the image quality will be but I like the fact that this has fewer pixels (12 megepixels) than the 14 megapixel Fuji. Even 12 megapixels is way too many on a camera with such a small sensor. But more pixels is what marketing departments want. Image quality would be far better with 6 megapixels on sensors of the size of 99% of all pocket cameras. Did you know that even on a 24" monitor that images are downsized to about 2 megapixels to fit?! About 5 megapixels is all you need for an uncompromisingly sharp 8"x10" print. I've even had some gorgeous 9"x12" prints from my old Pentax 3.3 megapixel waterproof camera. The problem with more pixels is that the camera's ability to take low-light images is decreased and there is much more noise (grain) in the image... all else being equal.
...So, here are some of the main features of this new panasonic:
GPS
Altimeter
Barometer
Compass
Image stabilization
28-140mm (effective field of view) lens
Full HD movie capability
Waterproof to 12' (40m)
Shock proof for drop of 6.6' (2m)
Dustproof
Freeze proof down to 14F (-10C)
Pretty awesome, I would say.
Pretty awesome, I would say.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Fuji builds first compact waterproof camera with GPS (Fujifilm XP30)
I've been a big fan of the waterproof point and shoot cameras since acquiring the now "old" pentax 33WR in 2003. I still keep this camera in my fly vest, but am always following the newest cameras and dreaming that I might buy an "upgraded" replacement. The Fujifilm XP40 XP30 was announced earlier this month as a "pre-CES 2011" announcement. CES is the International Consumer Electronics Show held annually in Las Vegas.
[In the "for-what-it's-worth" department: So far, my choice would be the Panasonic, for it's useful 5x zoom with 28mm wide angle, effective image stabilization, and arguably the best image quality of the "tough" camera category. I say this after reading perhaps every review available on the Internet. Panasonic will remain my choice until I can read reviews on the Fuji's image quality. Perhaps some meaningful reviews will be available before the spring fishing season begins!]
So far, I believe Panasonic has offered a better camera than has Fuji, which until now did not have image stabilization. I find image stabilization to be very important for low light photos because it allows you to take shots at slower shutter speeds, and therefore get a good exposure without increasing the ISO. (Higher ISO settings increase the sensor's sensitivity to light so you can get a good exposure using a higher shutter speed, but image quality is compromised.)
The new Fuji has included image stabilization, but more importantly (or perhaps just more interestingly) it has included GPS features. I can see using this whenever I find a "hot" fishing spot on a remote stream. Just take a picture of the location... perhaps, if you're lucky, a picture of one of the fish caught there.... and this will record the location. It is my understanding that it will record the more exacting latitude and longitude and/or simply the place name (such as Yellowstone National Park). According to the press release, the camera has an imbedded list of over one-half million place names around the world.
It is waterproof to 5 meters, shockproof up to 1.5 meters, dust and sandproof, and freezeproof to minus 10C. These features are all pretty common on this category of cameras.
The screen shot below is from the Fuji Web site. My daughter will be happy that it comes in her favorite color, orange.
Here's a link so you can read more about this new model:
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/xp/finepix_xp30/
[In the "for-what-it's-worth" department: So far, my choice would be the Panasonic, for it's useful 5x zoom with 28mm wide angle, effective image stabilization, and arguably the best image quality of the "tough" camera category. I say this after reading perhaps every review available on the Internet. Panasonic will remain my choice until I can read reviews on the Fuji's image quality. Perhaps some meaningful reviews will be available before the spring fishing season begins!]
So far, I believe Panasonic has offered a better camera than has Fuji, which until now did not have image stabilization. I find image stabilization to be very important for low light photos because it allows you to take shots at slower shutter speeds, and therefore get a good exposure without increasing the ISO. (Higher ISO settings increase the sensor's sensitivity to light so you can get a good exposure using a higher shutter speed, but image quality is compromised.)
The new Fuji has included image stabilization, but more importantly (or perhaps just more interestingly) it has included GPS features. I can see using this whenever I find a "hot" fishing spot on a remote stream. Just take a picture of the location... perhaps, if you're lucky, a picture of one of the fish caught there.... and this will record the location. It is my understanding that it will record the more exacting latitude and longitude and/or simply the place name (such as Yellowstone National Park). According to the press release, the camera has an imbedded list of over one-half million place names around the world.
It is waterproof to 5 meters, shockproof up to 1.5 meters, dust and sandproof, and freezeproof to minus 10C. These features are all pretty common on this category of cameras.
The screen shot below is from the Fuji Web site. My daughter will be happy that it comes in her favorite color, orange.
Here's a link so you can read more about this new model:
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/xp/finepix_xp30/
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Panasonic announces its first waterproof compact camera
Panasonic entered the shockproof, waterproof, dustproof market this week with the new 12 megapixel DMC-TS1. I am a real fan of panasonic cameras, owning a Pany FZ8 ultrazoom and having given my son the well-regarded Pany TZ5.
Unfortunately (in my opinion), like the Olympus and Pentax water-proof offerings, there is no optical viewfinder. Nice big LCDs (this one is quite ample at 2.7") are nice, but in bright light on the water an optical viewfinder is always a nice option... especially since LCDs are often hard to see with polarized glasses.
What has promise with the TS1 is that the zoom is a very useable range of 28mm wide to 128mm. The Olympus has a similar zoom range. And, like the Olympus, the camera is equipped with image stabilization. The Pentax, however, has a less useful zoom and lack image stabilization.
A 60 second minimum shutter speed sounds pretty good. Perhaps it can get some good evening pictures, as the sun sets and the hatch emerges.
The bad news is that when available in April 2009, the price will start at $400, whereas the older Olympus (if you define "old" as being announced in August, 2008) sells currently for about $250. Though this may make purchasing the Olympus a "no brainer", I am personally looking forward to the online reviews on the TS1, as both the Olympus 1050 and Pentax W60 water-proof cameras scored a low 15 of 20 in image quality in recent reviews on cameralabs.com. That's pretty poor as it is pretty easy to find compact cameras (non-waterproof) scoring higher.
Unfortunately (in my opinion), like the Olympus and Pentax water-proof offerings, there is no optical viewfinder. Nice big LCDs (this one is quite ample at 2.7") are nice, but in bright light on the water an optical viewfinder is always a nice option... especially since LCDs are often hard to see with polarized glasses.
What has promise with the TS1 is that the zoom is a very useable range of 28mm wide to 128mm. The Olympus has a similar zoom range. And, like the Olympus, the camera is equipped with image stabilization. The Pentax, however, has a less useful zoom and lack image stabilization.
A 60 second minimum shutter speed sounds pretty good. Perhaps it can get some good evening pictures, as the sun sets and the hatch emerges.
The bad news is that when available in April 2009, the price will start at $400, whereas the older Olympus (if you define "old" as being announced in August, 2008) sells currently for about $250. Though this may make purchasing the Olympus a "no brainer", I am personally looking forward to the online reviews on the TS1, as both the Olympus 1050 and Pentax W60 water-proof cameras scored a low 15 of 20 in image quality in recent reviews on cameralabs.com. That's pretty poor as it is pretty easy to find compact cameras (non-waterproof) scoring higher.
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