Camera Info

[AlanP]

What kind of cameras are people using from their kayaks? Film, digital, disposable? Waterproof housings?

[ruge13]

old Fugi digital. Mine is made from stone. 2.2 megapixel or something like that, its big, heavy, and has very limited functions but I can't seem to drown it. Soon I wil be upgrading to one with digital video, and a housing for underwater.

[AlanP]

How do you store it on the yak? In a zip lock bag or do you have a special waterproof bag?

[ruge13]

I use a regular 9x20 dry bag for everything. But that doesn't matter, keeps it dry while its in there but the second I take it out to get pics it gets wet. Your hands are wet, splashes, rain ect. No matter how hard I try I always get it wet. For a kayak, unless you are willing to take the risk of ruining the camera or you have a good unconditional warrenty, I would recomend a cheap digital camera, or buy a used one for less money. Unless you get a good one and also a housing. I think I have been lucky. I have even dunked it and it still works.

[Wes]

Second the cheap digital. I have an old 1.2 pixel Fuji hand me down I got from a friend. It's basicly worthless but it's good enough for fish pics you view on a PC. I keep it in a tackle bag in the well of an SOT. It's in a cheap vinyl case, doubled ziplocks over the bottom and one over the top. It isn't tightly sealed up as that seems to gather a lot of condensation. Gets wet regularly but never dunked, wouldn't survive that. Everytime it seems to have given up the ghost I check the batteries and we're back in action. I'd like to have a housing for eventual replacement, would take a lot more pics, but last I looked they were real pricey so likely it will go in an otter box.

[JonS]

I and many of the guys I fish with are presently using Kodak DC5000s. They are o ring sealed and can take getting wet. We keep them in Otter Boxes, size 3500 and fit perfectly without any play.
Another route is to get a nice digital and us a shoot through waterproof bag. I just got some in to test. We also got one of the bags for a video camera we just picked up. Its designed to be used for snorkeling, the pool or wherever there's a chance of the camera getting wet. I ruined one digital with water and won't do that again.

[SamRiley]

All digital cameras should be able to take a little moisture but for a truly waterproof camera, your options are slim. There are the hard and soft camera housings mentioned above (which I find awkward) but the only truly waterproof digital cameras I am aware of are the Sealife line. The Sony DSC-U60 Cyber Shot looks interesting but at only 2.0 megapixels and limited to 5' under it is clearly lacking. When someone finally comes out with a 5 megapixel+ underwater model I'll jump, but until then I'll stick with a dry bag and my Olympus C3040.