camera + water hiking

[gloo]

I'm going down to the Narrows at the end of June - if its open that is. I really want to be able to take my 60D and a few of my goodies with me on said hike. But - I have never taken my gear on a hike down a river and this worries me. I have a clik elite probody sport. its a great day hiker and has weather resistant zippers. but if i slip and fall...bye bye...

What means do you guys use to keep your gear dry and safe while doing these kinds of hikes?

[jman]

I'm not much of a photographer bur why not get a waterproof housing for it?

[CarpeyBiggs]

if you want easier access (like chest access) you could try renting one of the ortlieb camera dry bags from ZAC, which is what I use in pretty much every wet canyon. Housings suck, are expensive, heavy, cumbersome, and undesirable in every way. chest mounts suck because they are awkward and block your vision looking toward your feet.

If you don't need immediate access every few minutes, you could drybag the pack, or you could get a keg for just the camera.

[wes242]

I have always just double bagged my with dry bags to be safe.

[gloo]

If I could afford waterproof housing...it would be an easy choice. being a college student...throwing down ~1000 on waterproof housing is a bit high :(

I have some good dry bags that I am planning on using until i find a better alt

[Deadeye008]

Google SLR Aquapac. You can find them on Amazon for around $100.

[gloo]

Google SLR Aquapac. You can find them on Amazon for around $100.

Nice. are they any good / do you have one?

[CarpeyBiggs]

Nice. are they any good / do you have one?
i have one. it sucks. i used it once in a canyon. it is like having a thick ziploc bag over your camera. but it's good if you want to get shots of it submerged under water. however, any basic functions are a total pain in the ass to use, especially control wheels and buttons. forget trying to change values on the fly. the only reason you would need a housing of any sort is if you are going to take pictures with the camera IN the water. the narrows you are walking in water, but the camera should never touch it.

additionally, the optical glass on the port on the front is not very good. (worse than a filter, for sure) and it makes double reflections and ghosting patterns, and overall lack of sharpness and contrast. i spent $250 on mine, and i probably won't use it again. here's a canyon i did though -

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/01kalebraptoeye1.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/04ramsplashrap1.jpg

i'd highly recommend just finding a solution for transporting the camera and keeping it dry when not in use, and then take out the camera when you want to use it. also, a little towel helps to have in the case to so you can dry your hands and drops on the camera body if you get it wet too.

here's what i've used for about 20 days of wet canyons this year, including swims and tons of potholes -

[gnwatts]

I use a Clik Elite large Capsule, in a dry bag duffel (can't remember the brand), it works better than a normal dry bag because it opens like a duffel- wider opening. Put it inside my day pack and I have my flotation device also.