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DP Review rounded up the available waterproof cameras for a thorough review. For Kayaking it is a constant question as to which unit offers the best image quality, waterproofing, and durability. In my experience I am 2 Pentax Optio’s into my digital photography career. I am considering a switch to an Olympus. Looks like the 8000 Tough Might be worthwhile.

Check out the review and let me know what you think!

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Canon has released a new camera for kayakers to consider, the Canon Powershot D10.

Digital Photography review has a preliminary set of specs and information on the Canon Powershot D10.

Olympus and Pentax have been holding court over this dominion for quite some time. Any third party competition is welcome in my opinion. Pentax has been known for some time to have some issues with quality. Their cameras tend to be finicky, and to have bad waterproof seals around the battery and memory card. My camera a Pentax Optio WP20 developed fog under the LCD in the first year of use. The Pentax Optio models also tended not to operate well at colder temperatures. The camera would simply shut down when it was cold.
The Olympus Stylus has fared a little better for their quality, but not by much. I’ve heard similar complaints from Olympus owners about their Stylus cameras having battery, cold and longevity.

Kayaking with a digital camera, even a waterproof one is risky business. They tend not to last long. Derrick Mayoleth and I have had many a conversation about this. Simply put it is hard to think of a $300 item being disposable. I certainly don’t want to think of a camera this way.

That said having a point and shoot camera at the ready in your Lifevest can really make your life fun. I’ve gotten some great shots with my Pentax Camera.

The Canon Power Shot D10 camera itself is a little different than the Olympus Stylus or the Pentax Optio.

First it has an unusual bulge to allow the lens to zoom. Check out this image.

Hopefully this lens bulge doesn’t get in the way of stuffing it in a lifevest pocket as easily as the Olympus Stylus or the Pentax Optio.

Second the camera is a 12.1 Megapixel with a 1/2.3″ CCD Image Sensor. Which without seeing the image quality doesn’t sound like it will really create any better of an image than the 10.1 and 10.0 Mega Pixel images.

Third the zoom, despite that bulge doesn’t look like it will be any better.
Canon Power Shot D10 Focal Length: 6.2-18.6mm f/2.8-4.9 (35mm film equivalent: 35-105mm
Pentax Optio W60 Focal Length: 5-25mm (28-140mm)
Olympus Stylus 1030:5.0 – 18.2 mm (28 – 102 mm equivalent in 35mm photography)

Fourth the LCD screen, which is what paddlers use to preview their image before shooting has always been the Achilles heel of kayaking photography, is no larger than the other two. 2.5″. Not sure if they have any glare reduction or super bright LCD technology to crack this problem for waterproof cameras.

If you end up buying a Canon Powershot D10 drop me a line and let me see some photos. Let me know how it is doing in the cold, the saltwater, and after being dropped on a sandy and or rocky beach.