BoatBanter.com - Sony DSC-U30

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Was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this waterproof
camera.

Is it any good?

(salvor) wrote in message news:1gjr1l4.1de34lx7d65hcN%sNaOlSvPoArMva@verizo n.net...
Was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this waterproof
camera.

Is it any good?

Don't know anything about the Sony but my buds just got back from a 10
day trip to the Wabakimi Region in Canada and the this pixs on the
page below were all done with the new 4 megapix Pentax Optio 43WR.

http://www.loshombresdelrio.com/wabakimimatt/

We've been using the WR film version WR90 and the WR105 from Pentax
and have swam with them many times and even had it underwater in a
pinned boat for at least 15 minutes and no leaks whatsoever. Assuming
that Pentax has the same WR standard for the WR digitals this new
digital WR little camera should be great for boating. A cool bonus is
that as with most of the new still digicams you can also capture mini
movies with it.

This little cam is quite small and will fit very nicely in the pocket
of any PFD. I am a pro photog and I must say that I'm quite impresed
with this little WR point and shoot digital. It is definetly on my
wish list.

salvor wrote:

Should have been the U60.

Sure is expensive for a 2 megapixel camera without optical zoom.

Bill Tuthill wrote:

salvor wrote:

Should have been the U60.

Sure is expensive for a 2 megapixel camera without optical zoom.

But, it is small and would appear to fit nicely into the pocket of a PFD
and is waterproof. I wonder how expensive other 2 mp cameras would be
should they be made waterproof.

Since small, compact, but functional is what matters most to a paddler,
I certainly don't mind paying extra.

However, it may be that Pentax Optio 43WR is a better option.

Pepe wrote:

Don't know anything about the Sony but my buds just got back from a 10
day trip to the Wabakimi Region in Canada and the this pixs on the
page below were all done with the new 4 megapix Pentax Optio 43WR.

Oh, one other question about the camera...

Does it use O-ring sealing closures to make it waterproof? As I
understand it, this technique requires some maintenance. Is this
maintenance difficult?

(The Sony camera uses O-ring sealing closures as well)

That is a neat little camera.

Does this camera have a lens cap (the sony one aooarently does not)?
From the looks of it, it does not appear to have one.

Dunno since I don't own it yet. I'll hafta ask my bud.

Oh, one other question about the camera...

Does it use O-ring sealing closures to make it waterproof? As I
understand it, this technique requires some maintenance. Is this
maintenance difficult?

All the solid material waterproof closures that I've ever seen work
with some sorta type rubber gasket or O ring so no matter what
waterproof camera or solid enclosure you use if it's waterproof or
water resistant it's gonna have some kinda O ring. I bought my Pentax
WR90 used on Ebay so it was already several years old when I got it. I
have owned it for 3 ro 4 years with many swims and being in a pinned
boat underwater for 15 mins. I have done no maintanace whatsoever and
it has had no leaks. I could be pushing my luck and have actually made
some attempts and asked some of my diving buds to see if they had some
silicone grease which is the standard lubricant that divers use on O
rings. My buds didn't have any but now that we're taking about it I
just moved and there's a dive shop near me and tomorrow I'll stop by
and check to see if they have the silicone grease so I can schmear up
my old trusty WR90, the seals on my Pelicans for my Nikons and the
battery compartment seals in my GPS.

The Optio 43WRs water proof rating is JIS Class 7 waterproof rating
which confirms the Optio43WR will remains watertight even when the
camera is rinsed, splashed and immersed in water. The Optio43WR may be
immersed up to three feet for less than 30 minutes but should not be
operated underwater.

The WR90 only has a JIS Class 5 rating and it has survived all the
dunkings and swims I've given it unscatheed so the Optio with it's
higher rating should survive anything but the most catastrophic
dunkings making it ideal for ww boating.

Unless something better comes out this small I'm pretty sure I'll be
getting one of these babies. The main thing that's keeping me from
getting it at the moment is that it uses SD mem cards and my Nikon
uses CF which would mean I'd hafta buy more memory to use with the
Optio which means more cash output.