Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:19:35 +0000
From: John Waddington 
Subject: [Paddlewise] camera storage

I can't remember if this topic has come up lately; if so please accept
my apologies.
At our paddling club get together the other night the subject of keeping
cameras both safe and handy came up.  Many of us carry our cameras in
waterproof bags in our laps or on the boat bottom, but often by the time
that we get the camera out of its container the picture that we wanted
is no longer there.  Someone thought that they had heard of a new,
waterproof container that could store a camera under (and tied to) the
deck bungies.  Does anyone know of such a container, or anything else
that works well? What does everyone else who carries a camera use?

Thanks,
John



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 11:37:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Julio MacWilliams 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] camera storage

I have a Minolta waterproof to 33ft camera. I usually carry it
with the bildge pump in a bungie inside the hull. 

When the sea is rough, I can not take any photographs because taking
off my spray skirt and getting my hands off the paddle gets to be risky.

I have tried tying the camera in the front deck bungies, but I keep
hitting it with the paddle. 

The best solution seems to be tying the camera in the aft deck bungies,
tethered with a bungie cord. Many of the photographs I have taken have
water drops in the lenses, though.

my two cents,

- - Julio



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:53:23 -0500
From: "Dan Volker" 
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] camera storage

Many dive shops carry a plastic bag that fits over many cameras, allowing
them to be operated underwater to about 25 feet deep.
Try a yahoo search on underwater cameras and plastic bags, etc.
Dan Volker



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:59:02 -0500 (EST)
From: "Mark H. Hunt" 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] camera storage

   I often keep my camera (weather-proof whatever that means) on its 
strap around my neck with the camera tucked into the front of my PFD (yet 
another reason to wear that PFD) This allows quick and easy access when 
needed but keeps drops off the lense and keeps it out of harms way when 
not in use. So far it seems a good compromise.
                                                   mark



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:04:31 -0500
From: "Sisler, Clyde"
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] camera storage

I use something called a Sima Sports Pouch
http://www.simacorp.com/photo.html I got from Campmor for about $20US.  It
has a strap I attach to the bungies with a 'beener.  I can get my camera,
GPS and binouclars in there with no problem.

Of course it floats.  After leaving a ramp for a day trip, I turned around
to make sure I hadn't left anything behind and there was the pouch bobbing
about in the waves.  No problems at all once I retrieved it.



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:02:03 -0600
From: (Christine Wein)
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] camera storage

You can bungee/tie a pelican case to the deck 
or mount D-rings in the cockpit and bungee/tie 
a pelican case to the them.

Or, like a guy in my paddling club did, you can
cut a hole in your deck and epoxy or glass in
a lexan o-ring sealed box in that hole. Its
a fast access place for camera, gps, marine radio
and cookies....

He used a clear lexan box and it sure looks like a
"sun roof" to me! Hasn't leaked yet (3 months) and I 
have even watched him roll in 4 ft surf with it.

- -chris



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:16:04 -0600
From: (Chuck Holst)
Subject: [Paddlewise] FW: camera storage

>>
I have a Minolta waterproof to 33ft camera. I usually carry it
with the bildge pump in a bungie inside the hull.
>>

I bought one of these cameras for my wife (she received her Christmas
present in August, just before a week-long kayak trip). She carries it
under a front bungie without managing to hit it with her paddle, but
droplets on the lens are a problem. I've thought of making some kind
of splash cover for the lens or finding a pouch for the camera that
could be fastened to the bungie. Even an open-ended pouch, for quick
access, would keep most droplets off the lens.

For my SLR, I bought a Lowe Elite camera bag, which is narrow enough
to fit between my knees. I made an internal dry bag for it with velcro
patches for the bag's partions. Though the dry bag isn't completely
waterproof, when the bag is loaded with my camera, a flash, and extra
lenses, it floats with the mouth of the bag uppermost. However, I don't
like paddling with the bag between my knees, so I am increasingly
leaving my SLR home and using just my waterproof Nikonos V, which hangs
around my neck under my PFD (one reason I won't buy a side zip PFD). I
have a semi-waterproof lens cap for the Nikonos.

One fellow I know cut a rectangular hole in the foredeck of his kayak,
into which he sealed a clear, watertight Pelican box for his camera.
It kind of spoils the resale value, but it works for him. Besides, he
had already cut two holes in the deck for his big feet. I've thought
about giving him a bra for the two domes that close up the holes.

Chuck Holst



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 16:25:17 -0500
From: Lloyd Bowles 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] camera storage

I have a Sports Pouch too. It does a great job of protecting my pocket
35 camera & binoculars from bangs. Unfortunately it's ziplock doesn't
work at all well in cold weather.
 
I usually use a large mouth 1 litre Nalgene jar with padding & strap
added on the outside. Very tough, very waterproof, but little room for
padding inside & I have to be careful not to crossthread the lid.
 
I ordered a small Pelican case in July from a local camera shop but
haven't recieved it yet - backordered.
- -- 
Lloyd Bowles
The Mad Canoeist
"Keep the open side up!"
http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/clearstreets/358/index.html



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 18:11:58 -0500
From: outdoors
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] camera storage

I'm currently reading the June '98 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine and
there's a good article on cameras and accessible storage for them while
paddling.  You might try their web site for old articles like this one.

			Bill Ridlon
			Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 18:15:58 -0500
From: Gabriel L Romeu 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] camera storage

My solution has been a Canon Sure Shot a1 which is a waterproof camera,
velcro on the strap which attatches to velcro on the waterbottle belt
which is strapped to the bungies.  The rather long camera strap is also
secured to the bungies as a secondary.  This is not the 'nature' camera
having a rather short lens, 32mm, but is not expensive as  a nikonos. 
Having used both, I prefer the mechanics (or rather electronics) of this
one.
Havn't figured out an application yet for it, enough postcards and
calenders of great blue herons for me to want to duplicate, but I have a
camera with me all the time so it was one of the first things I outfited
my boat with.  It will be an interesting problem to figure out what I
want to document that may be an interesting investigation.
> 

- -- 
gabriel l romeu
http://members.aol.com/romeug     studio furniture
http://members.aol.com/romeugp    paintings, photos, prints, etc.
http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR  a daily photo journal



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 18:41:45 -0500
From: "Rene Milo" 
Subject: [Paddlewise] camera storage

 >  "She carries it
 > under a front bungie without managing to hit it with her paddle, but
 > droplets on the lens are a problem. "

I ruined several award winning photos :-)  this way until I learned a 
trick.  Lick the lens with your tongue just before taking the picture.  
Works pretty well.

I keep my waterproof Minolta in a deck bag made for my Feathercraft.  (I 
used to keep it under the deck bungies, but I kept hitting with my 
paddle as well.  Then I "adjusted" my stroke so I wouldn't hit it and 
started getting shoulder and elbow pains.  I seem to have less of a 
problem with it in the deck bag -- more or less centered.)

Milo



Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 19:34:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Paul Hollerbach 
Subject: [Paddlewise] Camera storage

Voyageur has two deck-mounted camera bags in the catalog, the one I use is
the costlier of them. It has grommets in the four corners, two inflatable
chambers and that N.A.S.A.-designed zipper that makes it so expensive, but
ultimately worth it. This bag is made of ballistic nylon & is roomier than
I'll ever need. I love it. I'm a professional photographer, BTW.

Paul Hollerbach
Burlington, NJ
~on the banks of the Delaware



Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 09:09:36 -0500
From: Bob Denton 
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] camera storage

I use a belt mounted water bottle holder: I cut of the belt and put In a
brass grommet. I use some thin bungee with SS hooks that passes through the
grommet and keeps the holder centered on the deck, and away from the paddle
blades. There is an additional elastic strap, designed to secure the
included water bottle, which retains the camera, GPS or bottle of Gator Aid
I usually keep on the deck. It easily detaches and fits all my boats. I also
have a large fanny pack, attached in the same manner, which I keep further
forward and use for items needed less frequently.
 
cya



Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 14:43:03 -0800
From: Philip Torrens skerries@hotmail.com 
Subject: [Paddlewise] SLR camera housings

Bob wrote:
>I've seen a few flexible camera bags/housings that would be suitable for
>kayaking, but those that I've seen are sized for the typical small
>viewfinder cameras. If anyone knows of a waterproof bag that that would
>hold a DC-50 (6.5" x 5" x 2"), I'd like to hear about it.

I used to have a large flexible housing for my SLR made by a (German?)
company called, I think, EWA. 
Frankly, though it was very well made, it was pretty clumsy. For my shots
from the cockpit, I now use the 
Pentax WR90 others have mentioned, and a Nikon AWAF (All-Weather
Auto-Focus) viewfinder camera. The Nikon has a fixed focal length 50mm
lens, is as heavy and durable as a tank. It is truly waterproof - I've had
it down to thirty feet. This model is no longer made, but you might find it
second-hand.
My SLR, when it comes along, travels in a Pelicase, and is used only
ashore. FYI, you can use polarizing filters on viewfinder cameras - just
look through them to adjust them, then hold them over the lens. If the
polarizer is not also covering the light meter, you may have to fool the
light meter with your finger, being sure to "bracket" shots. A great way to
bring out the astonishing blues of sea and sky.

Cheers,

Philip T.