Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I admit that I am spoiled by my Minolta Vectis SLR that has rubber gaskets and O rings everywhere making it splash proof. It has come in handy many times when I am trudging through the swamps, I never have to worry about handling it with wet hands!

I am looking to spend ~$500 on a high zoom (10x or greater) dig cam. Must also have good macro setting. I am currently looking at the Kodak DX7590 for $450 (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/kodak/dx7590-review/) which has many features that would be advantageous to wildlife photography. But obviously this has no water resistance.

Anybody know of a dig cam with some kind of water resistant feature?

Also, it's been a while since I looked at dig cams, what is the standard/most popular media card now adays? That will also factor into my decision.

Thanks

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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

I think you’ll find that your choices are pretty limited if you are looking for a digicam with claims of water resistance. The only ones I’ve seen are made by Pentax, Casio, and Bushnell (of gun scope and binocular fame). I think you’ll be sacrificing significant image quality for water resistance if you go with one of these. At the other extreme, pro-level digital SLRs from Nikon (D1, D2) and Canon are built like tanks and can take a little moisture and abuse, but they’re heavy and will put a big dent in your wallet.

Since you are accustomed to the SLR format, another option would be to buy an entry level digital SLR like a D70 or digital Rebel and just be a little more careful. I take mine in the woods, swamps, etc. and haven’t had any problems. As you know, with SLRs you can get lenses with long focal lengths so you can photo subjects from farther away and not have to get down and dirty with them.

Regarding storage cards, my cameras have only ever used compact flash cards. I’ve not had any problems with them and you can get up to 2MB capacity cards. I’ve accidentally washed these with the laundry and not lost data.

Here’s a pic of some more chorus frogs like you’ve pictured (these are uplands chorus, Pseudacris t. feriarum). They are calling in the woods nearby now and I photographed this pair in amplexus earlier tonight.

Cheers,
WK

D70
Sigma 105mm
SB800 off camera fill flash
f16
1/125second
Hand held

Just realized your Vectis is in fact not an SLR, so disregard my comments regarding these. Sorry for the mixup. Cheers...

Just realized that some Vectis are indeed true SLRs, so please disregard my addendum. Shows how much I know about Minoltas. I'll shut up now.

Don't worry about it, I did't provide you with a model number anyway.

Since the last time I posted I have changed my deciding criteria. I only recently found out that Sony has their night shot feature on their digital cameras as well. At the last North Carolina Herp Society needing, I saw an excellent presentation on the use of night vision technology to document cottonmouth behaviors with very little disturbance. I had assumed I was going to have to buy a new digital camera, AND THEN a camcorder with the night shot feature.

So assuming that other manufacturers do not have similar features, I am looking at exclusively Sony's. I have decided on the much more expensive DSC-F828. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf828/

In this case I am actually letting the features dictate the camera I buy, and not necessarily the money! This camera has several features I like for nature photography: night shot feature, the largest optical zoom on a Sony camera (7x), and a pivoting LCD screen (absolutely necessary for taking pictures at water level). With the amount of positive reviews by professional photographers, and the large 8 megapixel picture size, I would expect to use this camera for 5 to 10 years before it becomes obsolete!

I have a friend that is going to bring in a Sony camera for me to check out, since I am really letting the night shot feature be the biggest deciding factor. I guess my question for you and for anybody else is if you have experience with this particular camera, or have any comments on the night shot feature. I actually plan on using this camera simply as a pair of glasses that allow me to see in the dark without disturbing herps, and of course occasionally recording anything interesting I find.

Thank you WK, for your thorough previous reply. BTW, the reason why I am not looking at an SLR camera is that I DON'T want interchangeable lenses. I want one camera that can do it ALL!

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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

Hello;
I saw your message about the Sony F828. Go to www.bizrate.com, or other internet search engines, and you can find the F828 for much less than the $999 quoted in reviews. It can be found for under $500 now. Yes. The camera has excellent infrared capabilities. It has a small lens on the flash that projects infrared light. You can either shoot in total darkness, (the camera shifts to ISO 1600, but you can override that), or you can use the IR to frame your subject, then shoot it with flash, so you get full color. You mentioned a video camera. The Sony does that too. You can shoot 30 fps at 640X480 (greater than TV quality), with sound. The video is MPEG1 format, which can be read by most video editing software, converted to MPEG2 format, and burned to a DVD. This eliminates video capture cards, as it is already digital.

Oh yes, did I mention that the 4 color sensors produce the most amazing saturated colors I have ever seen in a digital camera? I don't expect to outgrow this camera soon, if ever. It has tons of nice features, like a battey indicator that doesn't just tell you 1/4 charge left, but actually tells you how many MINUTES of power are left. That's what you really need to know. The display not only tilts up for low level macro, but also down, to allow you to take "Hail Mary" pictures over your head, while still seeing the veiwfinder to compose.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

Thank you for your review on the F828. I am convinced it will be the right camera for me just so long as one of my deciding factors checks out. I did get to try out one of the smaller Sony cameras and its night shot feature. It certainly was limited, and I was hoping that this larger model would have a bigger lamp in it. What experience do you have with the night shot feature, what kind of quality can you get, and what is the range of the infrared lamp? I think every review I've read on this camera has only mentioned the nightvision feature in passing, when actually it is a very important feature for me.

Which brings me to my next question. The smaller point-and-shoot camera I got to play with today did not allow you to use the night shot feature without using the LCD screen (the viewfinder is simply a look through style, not a miniature LCD like the F828). Does the F828 allow you to use the night shot feature and the viewfinder? It is very important for this feature to be worth while that you are able to use it without exposing yourself from the light of the screen on the back!

What size memory card do you use? I had planned on getting a 512 MB CompactFlash. I don't plan to take very many movies, but would like the option. It is 512 MB going to be plenty?

I did do a little searching and I could not find a credible source for this camera at $500, apparently the best one according to bixrate.com at a price of $750, but it was obvious from the reviews that they are guilty of the classic bait and switch. Unless you know of any sources, it looks like I may be stuck spending $900 plus.

Thank you very much for your time!
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

The F828 has a switch for either LCD or veiwfinder. In the viewfinder mode, the LCD is off, and will not show light out during night. I have many CF cards, as I have "worked" my way up a line of digital cameras which all take CF cards. My top 2 are a 1 Gig, and a 512Meg. I am looking at a 5 Gig CF type II microdrive from San Disk. This is because I use the F828 as a video camera, too. Look in the back of digital camera magazines, and you will see F828's for $500. Also, one of the negative comments in reviews of the F828 is Chromatic Abberation. I have never seen any Chromatic Aberration in my Sony. What I did see is a printout of an 8.5 X 11 taken at 8 Megapixels, that about brought tears to my eyes. I don't have much need for a film camera anymore. It helps to have a nice printer, too. I have an Epson Stylus Photo R300, with 6 ink tanks. I highly recommend this camera.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

Thanks again for your reply. If it weren't for the nightshot feature, I could get a camera I'd be happy with for a LOT less, so I hope it's worth it.

Concerning the prices in magazines: I bought one to see what you were talking about and sure enough there was one for only $389! I called and found out that is a REFURBISHED camera with no battery or anything. I would consider it, but prefer getting the whole kit. I haven't found a new camera sold by a credible company for less than $800.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

Colchicine, very nifty pic of a trap-jaw in a tube. Congrats on deciding on the Sony - it sounds like it is a good fit for you. Please do post some photos when you are up and running (or wading) with your new "toy".

Cheers,
WK

Here is a downsized photo taken with the Sony F828, of our 4 year old iguana, with a hat put in with Adobe Photoshop elements 3.0.

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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

That’s a great iguana pic. He looks like he would eat beads if he were turned loose on Mardi Gras. I’m interested to hear and see more about the night vision function of the Sony camera. Does it serve to help focus better in the dark, or does it actually produce images like those seen through night vision goggles? For focusing in the dark, I hold a pen light between my fingers to shed some light on my subject for focusing, and then take the pic with flash. This photo of an orb weaver is an example of a photo taken with this technique. Not as high-tech as night vision, but it works.

Cheers,
WK

The memory card type that has the most capacity is, by far, the Compact Flash type. They go up to 12 Gigs. You can get a 2.2 Gig Compact Flash Type II IBM microdrive for $129. Many cameras take them, and some other card type. My Sony F828 takes Compact Flash cards, and Sony Memory sticks.
I recommend getting the digital camera you want, and then going to Ewa Marine's website, and seeing if they have an underwater case for the camera. They aren't as expensive as you think, and are good for swamps, rivers, lakes, beach, sand, rain and snow too. The models that are made for underwater use, that I know of, are low resolution, with little or no zoom.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

I had posted my other reply before seeing your post. You happen to have the same camera I am looking at! Do you care to give your opinions on my post below? Thanks.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)