Help! I need a new camrea

[WEEZER]

Right now I own a cheap vivitar camera that takes mediocre pictures at best and I'm getting a little ticked off about it! I am willing to pay a quite a bit for a good camera if that's what it takes but I don't really want to.
Usually the camera is kept in the back pouch of my fly vest in a ziploc so I need one that is compact and water resistant and capable of freezind temperatures as well.
Can anybody suggest something? I also need to know about some good film to use as well.
Thanks ~Rick
BTW my pictures from last weekend are the ones I'm complaining about, but I still plan on posting one of the better ones Thursday night.

[trout]

Keep the weight down so you don't feel like you are hauling an anchor.Try any of the small zoom 35s at Miejers or where ever.Try some different film first.Tell your photo supplier what you want, clear sharp pics and the type of camera you have.Shoot a roll at anything in diferent light conditions and check out the results.

[Steve]

I use a Fuji MX-1700 for taking pictures for this site. Its a digital camera, very small, and takes great pictures. Doesn't like the cold too much, but it does still work. Very easy to get pictures from it to the net. The fly of the month pictures you see on the site are taken with it.

[Pureluck]

I highly recommend a digital camera, especially if you take a lot of pics. I've had mine for about six months, and haven't picked up the old 35mm since. I bought an Olympus C-2000Z. It's a bit pricey (probably around $700 now) but quality is great, 2.1 megapixels. I found and bought it on line at http://electronics.killerapp.com/. (You'll need a good printer and photo quality paper for prints, but they come out great.)Be sure and buy the rechargable batteries and charger.

[Steve]

Yes, the camera I have is only 1.5 Mpixel, but it still does a great job. It will be with me on all future hunting and fishing trips. Pictures blown up to 8x10 are almost 35mm quality. I imagine anything over 2M pixels would be right there with 35mm quality.

[WEEZER]

Thanks for the tips on the digital cameras but I still have a few more questions.
Are they capable of taking night shots (IE during the Salmon Run)?
What do you mean by photo-quality paper? Is that Like the glossy paper that the pictures are developed on?
Are they waterproof and fish slim proof? This is a requirement for what I do!!!
If anyone else has any other suggestions please let me know because my next outing is Sunday and I have to either borrow a camera from a relative or buy one before then!
~Rick

[Steve]

Well, my camera isn't too whether or slime proof. When fishing I keep it in a zip lock bag. It has a flash for pictures at night, and you can even take pictures with no flash at night if your subject is very still.

[TimT]

Eventually, when all of the manufacturers decide on a memory standard, the cost of digital cameras will come down. You'll also end up with cameras aimed at different people for different uses. Until then they'll be expensive and, if you find one that is weatherproof, you'll be thinking "maybe I should just buy a throw-away and spend this money on two more poles". As far as your current camera is concerned, I believe that 20/20 did a spot on film. It seems to me that the "Walgreen" and "Kodak Gold" did best outdoors. I'm not positive. Just my .02.

[msiebers]

Weezer, if the high cost of Digital cameras is too much for you to swallow. You can get great shots from one of the compact 35mm cameras for around $100 to $160 bucks. I have a 35mm olympas that I use, only for packing along fishing. It takes pictures as good as my 35mm SLR Minolta. Just make sure not to buy one with an automatic lens cover.The olympas I have, you have to manually slide the lens cover over to turn it on and take pictures. The new ones are water resistant as well
I had another one with the auto lens cover that didnt even last a season. The plastic shutters got something on them (diet coke I think) and never would open or close again. :rolleyes:

For film, I like Kodak gold 200 or Max 400 and I always use a fill flash even in bright sun (especially) to eliminate shadows. :cool:

For procesing, dont take those kids at Target for granted. The one that does most of my procesing has a degree in photagraphy.
He's very good.
I also, have yet to see any difference in photo quality from Target VS. the camera shop in town where I get some of my "artsy" stuff developed...Target is almost half the price as well.
And you get free double prints too. ;)

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Mike

[This message has been edited by msiebers (edited 03-09-2000).]

[Steve]

Yes you can get an Olympus 35 mm, very compact and water resistant. Nice protective cover over the lense, zoom, wide angle, zoom, all for about $200.

[msiebers]

Heres a photo, my dad took of me, using my little 35mm olympas. Kadak gold 200 and a fill flash. This was also scanned from a reprint, done at Target for like 35 cents.
http://homestead.com/fishtalesgametrails/files/kzoobrwn003.jpg

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Mike

[WEEZER]

Mike, wow that's a great picture! It looks like I'll get a camera like yours!
That steelie had a lot of color it looks a lot like a Lake run Brown.

[msiebers]

Thats right Weezer, it is a lake run Brown. Just about the prettiest one I've ever caught too. Usually when I catch them up river in the late fall, they are all beat up and ready to cash in there...uhh, spawn. :)

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Mike

[Steve]

What river was that on?

[WEEZER]

It's amazing how silver the Lake Run Browns get, They look almost the same as a steelie. I have caught these browns in the Fall on the Rifle but none as large as Mike's!!!!
My guess is that you caught it on the Big Man or the Joe.

[Pureluck]

I've never seen photo lab paper before a pic was printed on it, but I can say that the pics that you print from a digital rival photo shop quality. Again, I have to say that you need good paper and a high resolution printer to get near the quality. I have an Epson Stylus 600 that has since been replaced by a newer version ( sorry, can't remember the model # offhand, but I think it may be the 740 ). This printer has a resolution of 1440 x 720, and for many pics ( even on glossy paper ) the 720x720 is quite satisfactory.
As far as waterproof and slimeproof goes, it's about the same as a small 35 ( Cannon Sure Shot®) style, but you probably will want to protect the little video screen more. ( used for previewing pics that you've taken, or framing a shot instead of using the viewfinder )
My camera has a flash for night pics, as well as options to change the 'digital asa' between 100, 200 and 400. Also has automatic mode, shutter and aperture priorities, remote controlled shutter release, and red eye reduction flash. ( wow, I sound like a dang salesman )
As you can tell, I think that a digital is the way to go.. Not too many cameras are really fish and slime proof, and mine is no different, but if you're careful with it you'll love the flexibility that a digital gives you.

[msiebers]

That brown I posted the photo of, came out of the Kalamazoo River. I have another photo of one even bigger(over 15 lbs.). However it's not nearly as pretty, it's just about the ugliest trout i've ever caught. :eek:

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Mike

[msiebers]

Pureluck, I have the epson 740 printer myself, it's a very nice printer. I have never tried to print a photo with it however (I guess I'm stuck in my ways too often). I have always wondered if the quality was really there, I mean compared to profesional processing.
Do you think in the long run, even considering the cost's of ink cartridges, that this saves you some money?

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Mike

[trout]

thats one pretty brown trout.Great photo!