One disadvantage of the Pentax Optio compared to the Canon is that the
W60 does not support RAW format, which many users of Adobe Photoshop
and Lightroom may prefer. (Go here [http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html
] to see the cameras supporting RAW format.)
Two small Canon cameras supporting RAW are the Canon PowerShot S90 and
the Canon PowerShot SG11 but I'm not sure if either are waterproof and
will focus down to 1 cm which are two of my requirements. I think the
Olympus Stylus 300 and 400 are waterproof - any cavers out there using
one of these that cares to comment?
- Pete
On Feb 18, 2010, at 10:47 AM, Fofo wrote:
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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