Which camera for yakking? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

steveooo · 08-05-2011, 02:27 PM

Go-Pro is good for video, but very iffy for photos. In the right light, under perfect circumstances you will end up with a decent photo. It even has a bit of a fish-eye effect, so it will make your catches look bigger.

The go-pro has no flash, no zoom, no image stabilization, does VERY poor in lower light conditions, and you need to be uncomfortably close to the subject to get them framed in the photo right. If you want a camera for taking photos, I'd look at someting else than the go-pro.

I've had an Olympus Tough for a few years. Haven't had the same bad luck as Wade though. I've beat the snot out of it for a few years with no issues. Image quality isn't that spectacular though, but it has worked for me.

I've read the Canon has the best Image quality of the group, but I could never carry around that big blue thing.

I think I may swing by costco to check out the Fujis, see what all the hype is about

ryan111 · 08-05-2011, 07:51 PM

gopro 100% mine is worth every penny

Saba Slayer · 08-06-2011, 03:09 AM

Olympus for stills and Go-Pro for video!
I've had 2 Olympus waterproof cameras for the last 5 years, they are waterproof, take some great photos, some rough treatment, and I haven't had any problems with them at all.
The Go-Pro camera is great for video. It's just too much fun with all the various ways and places you can mount it. The downside of the Go-Pro is the lack of choices of lenses. It's only a wide lens that's available, and it's not the most flattering of lenses up close.
Jim / Saba Slayer

CobraTandem · 08-06-2011, 06:46 AM

I have used my Canon S300 since 2000 when it first came out. At that time it cost $499 without the Compact Flash Card. It has been abused, dropped and kicked in parking lots, left in a salty puddle a couple of times on deck and been handled by wet hands and splashed in salt water continuously. It is only 2.1 megapixels and has about a 1" long LCD. Finally in 2009, the lens cover started to get sticky and required a manual assist to open. It does still work, though.

So in 2009, at the recommendation of LakersFan, I got a cheap Olympus Stylus 550WP online through Amazon brand new for only $88.00 with free shipping and, shhhhh, no tax! This is the cheapest waterproof Olympus they make (if it's still made). I have been using this since then and it has been happily dunked in salt water in attempt of underwater shots. It hasn't had an issue yet. 95% of my kayak fishing is in the harbors so it has never been slapped by a yellow's tail but it definitely survives being submersed (so far). At this price and after two years, it won't be a giant loss if I lose it or if it dies a salty death.

Negatives of both cameras is probably consistent with most cameras in that it is difficult to see the LCD in bright sunlight through sunglasses. The Olympus has a close shooting range which is important when you can only take photos at arm's length. But I still have trouble fitting the whole fish in the frame. I wish you could take a close range shot and zoom out to get more area in the picture (I don't know what that is called in lens or camera terminology).

08-05-2011, 07:51 PM	#2
ryan111 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: la jolla CA Posts: 146	gopro 100% mine is worth every penny __________________

08-06-2011, 03:09 AM	#3
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,872	Cameras Olympus for stills and Go-Pro for video! I've had 2 Olympus waterproof cameras for the last 5 years, they are waterproof, take some great photos, some rough treatment, and I haven't had any problems with them at all. The Go-Pro camera is great for video. It's just too much fun with all the various ways and places you can mount it. The downside of the Go-Pro is the lack of choices of lenses. It's only a wide lens that's available, and it's not the most flattering of lenses up close. Jim / Saba Slayer

08-05-2011, 02:27 PM	#1
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	Go-Pro is good for video, but very iffy for photos. In the right light, under perfect circumstances you will end up with a decent photo. It even has a bit of a fish-eye effect, so it will make your catches look bigger. The go-pro has no flash, no zoom, no image stabilization, does VERY poor in lower light conditions, and you need to be uncomfortably close to the subject to get them framed in the photo right. If you want a camera for taking photos, I'd look at someting else than the go-pro. I've had an Olympus Tough for a few years. Haven't had the same bad luck as Wade though. I've beat the snot out of it for a few years with no issues. Image quality isn't that spectacular though, but it has worked for me. I've read the Canon has the best Image quality of the group, but I could never carry around that big blue thing. I think I may swing by costco to check out the Fujis, see what all the hype is about

08-06-2011, 06:46 AM	#4
CobraTandem Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 76	I have used my Canon S300 since 2000 when it first came out. At that time it cost $499 without the Compact Flash Card. It has been abused, dropped and kicked in parking lots, left in a salty puddle a couple of times on deck and been handled by wet hands and splashed in salt water continuously. It is only 2.1 megapixels and has about a 1" long LCD. Finally in 2009, the lens cover started to get sticky and required a manual assist to open. It does still work, though. So in 2009, at the recommendation of LakersFan, I got a cheap Olympus Stylus 550WP online through Amazon brand new for only $88.00 with free shipping and, shhhhh, no tax! This is the cheapest waterproof Olympus they make (if it's still made). I have been using this since then and it has been happily dunked in salt water in attempt of underwater shots. It hasn't had an issue yet. 95% of my kayak fishing is in the harbors so it has never been slapped by a yellow's tail but it definitely survives being submersed (so far). At this price and after two years, it won't be a giant loss if I lose it or if it dies a salty death. Negatives of both cameras is probably consistent with most cameras in that it is difficult to see the LCD in bright sunlight through sunglasses. The Olympus has a close shooting range which is important when you can only take photos at arm's length. But I still have trouble fitting the whole fish in the frame. I wish you could take a close range shot and zoom out to get more area in the picture (I don't know what that is called in lens or camera terminology).