Have an Pentax OptioWPI waterproof/resistant (haven't swam with it yet) that
works ok and fits nicely between me and my pfd. My Olympus 740 - 10optic
zoom -with housing is MUCH better but is pricey and cumbersome. The Optio
is 3 optic zoom and is an ok "snap shot" camera. Have found that on default
resolution settings, the battery will last for a 128 card with no
movies/audio/flash, 100 pictures at 2816 X 2112. Unlike the 740 you're stuck
with their rechargeable battery at @ $60 each. I found that I had to reset
all the factory stuff, i.e. digital zoom to optic, turn off auto flash on
every shot, and all the noise affects. Also discovered that the majority of
the info on the screen is too small to read with my "older" eyes without my
reading glasses. Good luck and happy paddling.

Carol Krueger

"Oci-One Kanubi" wrote in message
ups.com...
Yup, it gets asked six times a year, but until my ol' Minolta
Weathermatic 85 broke down I never paid any attention to the replies.

I'm leaving Friday for three weeks of boating in the Rockies, and I
need a new water-resistant camera; digital with a lotta memory because
we'll be driving hard and sleeping (and cooking) in National Forests so
I don't know how often I'll get to a place that can download to CD for
me [1]. This will be for on-river fotos, and must survive the
occasional full immersion.

Since te only opportunity I will have to shop will be Thursday evening
after work, I need a reliable water-resistant digital camera with a
good zoom that I can get in Best Buy or Circuit City. OK, if I really
must I'll compromise and go to Walmart for the first time in five or
six years. I need to know what I want so I can just walk in and ask
for it; I really, really don't have time to shop around (the good news
is that groceries are bought, the truck is loaded, and I'm all ready in
almost all other respects!)

[1] I'll also need suggestions about places in Colorado, Wyoming, and
Montana that will download from the camera to a CD. Drugstores?
Libraries? Internet cafes?


-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
--

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Richard Hopley Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Nothing really matters except Boats, Sex, and Rock'n'Roll
rhopley[at]earthlink[dot]net
OK, OK; computer programming for scientific research also matters
rhopley[at]wfubmc[dot]edu
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