I really like it, it has a stiffener that keeps the mouth open, so easy to access the camera and I can throw a cloth in for drying off the lens. The bungees can hold my water bottle and other gear.
But I found I don’t like having a deck bag, and I find I can get into my day hatch without too much trouble, so currently I am leaving the camera in my day hatch, until I think a photo op is likely, then take the camera out and wear it around my neck, as it is so light I really do not notice it. And, of course splash proof too. Then I put it back into the day hatch if photo ops seem to be lacking, or just keep wearing it around my neck. I have a cloth for wiping the lens in my glove box (small “day” hatch just in front of the cockpit).
Still pondering the perfect solution, but these two seem to work OK for now.
I have the FZ300 now and I am super pleased with it, but even though it’s splash proof I don’t want to leave it just sitting on the deck. You’re brave! Today I had it in a dry bag in my day hatch, behind me. I found I didn’t take many photos because it wasn’t as easy to quickly and quietly extricate it.
I did get this shot of some wood ducks. I’ve never seen them on this creek before. They are so cute! They were quite far away from me and this is the max zoom as well as cropped. They’re shy little things.
That’s the deck bag I am considering, but I’m not sure I’ll like having one, either. The deck on my new boat seems higher than my past boat. I’m going to stuff a bag full of clothes and strap it to the deck and see if it annoys me next time I paddle.
Good idea. I will say that when I use it, I really like having the quick access, much quicker than when it is in my day hatch. And, I can stow it just as quickly, so if I think I will be getting it in and out a lot, I will use the deck bag. It is a good solution if you want easy in and out.
When I have the camera in my day hatch, I don’t bother with bagging it. I just leave it on my fiber pile top that is stowed there as well. That keeps it up at the top, and makes it even easier to grab.
As I feared would be the case, the day hatch in my new-to-me boat is not dry. But it’s because of a leak at the bulkhead. The cover probably leaks, too, but I knew that would be the case with this boat - I just didn’t test that today. I am going to need a better dry bag whichever route I go. I hope I don’t mind having a bag on my deck because it would be so very handy.
Excellent shot! Best feature is how much you can really reach out and touch something with the zoom. Wish mine would always auto-focus on what I want it to auto-focus on instead of background or foreground stuff.
Mine has spent dozens of hours getting wet on the deck. Only issue was in the rain - I have a protective filter on the lens and moisture got between the filter and the lens. I also bought a screw-on lens cap, the OOTB cap kept coming off when I didn’t want it to.
You can set the autofocus to be a smaller area. I can’t remember how I did this, but I set it up to focus on a small square in the center. I also set it up so that when I partially press the shutter it will hold that focus while I reframe the shot. I’m also shooting aperture priority with the aperture wide open so the background/foreground is blurred. I’m still learning this camera, but these settings have helped.
I’ve always been fascinated by wood ducks, and never seen them in person. They look like a creation from a child’s imagination. They are utterly enchanting.
Amazing shot! Speaking of squirrels, I saw something hauling across the creek the other day. At first I thought was a snake but it didn’t look quite right, so I chased after it to get a better look (not something I normally do to animals). It was a squirrel, and it was really moving! I’ve never seen one swimming. The wildlife is enjoying less traffic on the water as much as I am.
