Hi!
I use the Pentax Optio too (but the W30). I think it's very good for
in-cave use, it's waterproof and relatively rugged (I use a neoprene
sleeve too) and compact enough that often I just leave it hanging from
my neck (tucked in the suit), ready to snap then next picture. And it
doesn't have a moving lens cover or lens, which tend to have a gritty
death in caves.
At the International Congress in Kerrville, Bill Frantz talked about the
"Always Ready" photography kit, which is pretty much this setup, but
adding a flash and Firefly in a small clear Pelican box.
The Pentax Optio is nice for caving, but I think that Canon has better
picture quality. The PowerShot D10 would be great, but it's bulkier, so
it's not a comfortable camera for leaving around your neck.
- Fofo
Pete Lindsley wrote, on 18/2/10 8:55:
I didn't see the waterproof Pentax Optio W60 mentioned yet. I have had
mine now for a year and a half and keep it in a small belt pouch with an
extra SD card and battery in the small pocket. I picked it as my light
weight cave camera because it has a really nice close-focusing ability
plus the other more common features. I found a small imported slave
flash on e-Bay (~$15) with a choice of 1,2,3 or 4 trigger flashes for
use with digital cameras. It's apart now because I want to move the
slave sensor from the "front" to the "side" so it will be more versatile
for cave photography. Another caver modified a similar unit that works
well by moving the slave sensor to the "back" of the flash. I prefer the
selector switch, particularly when working with other photographers, to
the much more sensitive FireFly model because it's hard to remember the
programming sequence for the FF when you are at the end of a long day in
the cave.
- Pete
On Feb 18, 2010, at 6:45 AM, Chad Fenner wrote:
The digital Firefly is designed to "count" the flashes and not trigger
the strobe until the focus/exposure pre-flashes are complete. It can be
programed for a various number of flashes based on the specific camera
you are using. The down side is that it has a long (10ish seconds?
Can't remember for sure) recycle time, meaning you cannot take 2
pictures close together.
And be careful using olf school flashes with new digital cameras. The
trigger voltage on the old model 283/285 is over 200 volts, and many of
todays digital cameras (assuming you have a hot shoe to begin with)
cannot handle that much voltage. Check your camera specs. There are
newer versions of the 283/285 designed for digital cameras with a lower
trigger voltage.
Sent on the go from my Peek
CF
-------------------------------------
Chris Vreeland<cvreel...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
Firefly makes a version of their slave that's designed to work with
digital cameras -- the timing on them is somehow different from film
cameras.
I have a hot-shoe adaptor for my Nikon D50 which causes it to function
with my Old Skool Vivitar 285, but with a point & shoot built in
flash, one of those digital Fireflys and one extra flash might not be
too much to tote with a compact camera.
The touch-screen seems worrisome, though. I thing it'd get pretty
dirty pretty quick.
My daughter's Olympus waterproof/shockproof camera couldn't withstand
the shock of being carted around in her book bag, so I wouldn't put
too much stock in them, either.
On Feb 18, 2010, at 1:34 AM, David wrote:
Here is a new camera that would easily fit in your cave pack:
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=4262
I doubt the flash is bright enough for cave photography, but is any
pocket size camera?
There is probably some cave passage where you don't want to drag photo
equipment, like beyond the sump in Honeycreek. This camera
might come in handy there.
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