The Paddler’s Camera

Today I want to talk about a piece of paddling gear that is all too often found sitting on a shelf in the closet at home instead by your side where it belongs. Whether you favor the canoe or a kayak a good quality digital camera should be an essential part of your adventure gear, so you can relive those precious moments for years to come.

With today’s technology you don’t need to break the bank to produce fantastic pictures. Even at the lower end of the price scale you can buy a great digital camera that will produce 5 to 8 mega pixels of resolution with all the features you’ll ever need. Unless you intend to make a poster sized print, resolution over 5 mega pixels is not really noticeable, so don’t get too hung up on resolution.

Instead consider things like compactness, ease of use, and weather resistance. Do you need something that’s waterproof – a good idea for fishermen and paddlers? And of course how much zoom capability you want.

Often a matter of personal preference and feel, you’ll want something that is easy for you to use in the field. You don’t want to be scrolling through menus as you watch that family of loons slip into the reeds, or constantly push the zoom button because it’s located where they shutter button should be.

When selecting the amount of zoom capability you want stick with the optical zoom numbers. Many cameras offer a combination of optical and digital zoom, but be careful when using digital zoom because as the zoom increases the resolution decreases and your perfect shot could wind up being nothing more than a grainy blur. Look for a camera that won’t automatically switch to digital zoom when you reach the maximum range of your optical zoom.

Whenever you get new camera use it, and use it a lot. Get familiar with all of the features so selecting the correct setting becomes as natural as depressing the shutter button. One of the real benefits that digital photography has brought to outdoors enthusiasts is that you can produce literally thousands of photos and it doesn’t cost you a cent. Unlike the days of film anyone can afford to take several shots of the same image and decide later which one is a keeper.

Capturing memories of your paddling adventures is something that should be just as important as the activity itself. Whether it’s a picture of Uncle Joe upside down in a kayak, your daughter’s first solo run down a set of rapids, or the glow of a Grand River sunset as the campfire starts to crackle, having your camera at the ready will keep those memories alive for a lifetime.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions