March 3, 2009 Las Vegas Nevada: A Special “Out Of The Box” Camera and Photography Equipment Review from the floor of the Photo Marketing Association International Trade Show, Las Vegas Nevada, for the Chicago Power Squadron.
Today was opening day of PMA 2009, the largest yearly photo equipment trade show in the country, and I decided to start things off right with an information article specifically tailored to boaters for the CPS’s March 2009 issue of the Chicago Log.
For a show that’s always used to showcase the newest and the best from all the major camera manufacturers in the world, this year’s event came as a surprise with few if any new releases from the traditional pro lines.
Instead, they came from their “point and shoot’ subset arenas, in particular, the Waterproof or Water Resistant models.
After listening to a variety of reps, experts, and managers tout the wonders of their individual products (there was only one or two new models released per company), it became instantly obvious that the best models for sail and power boaters, occasional snorkelers, beach combers, and desert wayfarers weren’t always the expensive ones. (This fact, I discovered first hand, runs contrary to the best efforts of the sales force of the major retailers around Chicago to sell you closeout Weather and Water Proof items at vastly inflated prices).
Here are the latest and greatest choices that will be available within the next 60 days, just in time for the upcoming vacation and boating season. Disclaimer time: Actual controlled, side-by-side image comparison testing for this article was unavailable at the show, but given all the similar exposures I was able to make and view from each camera, more than enough data was available to make a series of end user recommendations.
Right off the bat, it’s almost impossible to find under one retailer’s roof in Chicago, one or more competing models of affordable, Water Proof/Resistant digital cameras. Accurate comparison information on competing lines is even scarcer. To save you the trouble of looking and asking, check out the following on the following Water Proof/Resistant models complete with prices to point you in the right direction for your own needs.
First off, Nikon doesn’t have one so don’t bother looking.
The newly released Canon model has yet to hit the streets, with definite shipping dates and pricing still up in the air (estimated at late Spring and about $399.95). Not a bargain given it’s a 10-mega pixel (MP) camera with few pluses due to a lack of information from its reps.
That leaves the rest of the pack to look at including Panasonic, Fuji, Kodak, Pentax, and Olympus.
Panasonic has the new 12 MP Lumix GS1 w/a leica lens. It’s Shock Proof (droppable) from five feet, Water Proof to only 10 feet, but offers HD 720P Video w/sound (“great to record underwater bubbles”), for $399.00. The most expensive of the bunch right now, for what you get.
Pentax offers two models to choose from. Right now, the 10 MP W60 that’s Water Proof to 13 feet, has a 5x optical zoom, no video capabilities, but expected to go on sale for $250.00 by June. The newest and soon to be released, 10 MP W80 is due out by May. Besides all the W60 capabilities, it will be shock proof from about five feet, dust proof, and temperature resistant to about –10C! Price is expected in the $299.00 range.
Kodak is a new arrival on the Weather (NOT WATER) Proof/Resistant scene with the ZX1 Video camera that looks like a Razor Cell Phone. Weather Resistant means that it will take splashes, work in snow while skiing the slopes, and in dusty and sandy conditions without problems. It offers Full 720P HD Video recording with times of up to10 hrs on a 33mb card as well as 3.1 MP VGA video and/or still photo capabilities! The images looked great, and Popular Mechanics lauded the newly released camera in a recent issue. At $149.95, providing it’s not dropped overboard, it’s a steal!
The Olympus models were by far the most impressive from a purely survival standpoint. The 10 MP Stylus 550 is Water Proof to 10 feet for up to one hour and sells for $199.00. The 12 MP Stylus Tough 8000 is Water Proof to 33 feet, shock proof from six feet and has a 6x optical zoom lens. Remarkably, all it’s internal components are sealed in protective gel within a stainless steel body enabling it to take incredible amount of physical punishment including being frozen in a block of ice, all for $399.00. In between, there’s the 10 MP Stylus Tough 6000 that’s similar in build to the 8000, except it’s Water Proof to only 10 feet, Shock Proof from five feet, and priced at $299.00.
The Fuji is the last conventional camera with the Fujifim Finepix Z33 WP. It’s the latest in the Fujifilm Go Anywhere Anytime camera line. The 10 MP Z33 is packed with an unbelievable number of functions and capabilities. It’s Water Proof to 10 feet, has a 3x optical zoom, a very bright 2.7 inch high resolution viewing screen, six different auto image scene recognition modes which automatically identifies and corrects for different shooting situations (backlit, portrait, night time, daytime, people and macro capabilities to 1”), one touch 60 second movie clip start/stop to 60 minutes w/sound and image stabilization, Blog mode w/12 editing functions for instant uploading to your web site, facial recognition for groups up to 12 people, and red eye prevention all in the worlds smallest Water Proof camera! All for $199.95!
The most unusual model seen was made by Liquid Image. The company has two integrated masks and camera combination's, which they sell thru Dive Shops and the Internet. One version is the Snorkel Mask, that’s waterproof to 15 feet and sells for $99.00. It uses 2GB micro SD cards and produces 3000-5MP images or 72 minutes of VGA (video) images. The Scuba version is Water Proof to 115 feet and sells for $250. For those deep dives, there’s also an LED light set with strobe and continuous lighting capabilities that sells for $118.00.
Again, everyone’s camera requirements are as different as their own individual situations, needs, requirements, and expectations. To one extreme, there’s the nearly indestructible Olympus line. On the other falls an eclectic array of near-specialty cameras. In the middle, is the Fuji Z33, a very nicely equipped, quite affordable piece of photo equipment. The common thread tying them all together is that their images are very similar, leaving their capabilities and your needs to make the final call.
The one final word I have for you is caution. Underwater housings are available for your regular point and shoots. The hard case versions are cumbersome and easily start at $100.00 with plastic bag versions at $50 and above. I’ve had a $70.00 “baggie” model flood after three swims ruining my Fuji. Most consumer grade housings are limiting, bulky, leak easily, and were few and far between at the show, proving they’re on the way out for a reason.
Wayne Toberman, for Out of the Box Reviews. 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment