My $.02 on cameras

While on a 4 day steelie excursion on the Eel I dropped my Coolpix after just having taken pics of the second fish of the day, a gorgeous #15 hen. I was bank fishing. I was trembling from the fish, (and the cold, there was ice on my guides), and it just slipped out of my hand, bounced on the rocks and went into a swirly, cold, '12 deep hole. It managed to land on a steep ledge about '3 deep. I wanted to get on my belly and fish it out, but common sense took over and told me to suck it up and try to just enjoy the sight of bubbles drifting out of it. I calmed down and snagged it out with a trebled plug reeled up to the rod tip. I really missed my camera the next following days.
So I bought the Optio. Nice camera and all but it's difficult to use one handed as it doesn't have something to hold onto. It's too sleek. My old Optio has a ridge along one end that acts as a grip area which makes it great for the one-handed shots, which many are when one is alone. I might get used to the Optio, I hope so.
And get this, I dried out the Coolpix for over a week and it struggled back to life! The lens doesn't quite close all the way anymore, but it takes pictures!

I agree , I also miss the view finder too, I still bring it up to my eye. But more importantly where are the pictures of that hen??
Maybe you should have bought Olympus it is shockproof   Bueller

I have the Optio W30 and I'm still getting used to how/when it shoots the picture.  I'm used to cameras that, after 1/2 pressing (focus) then full pressing to take the shot.  Well, the W30 operates this way, but after the full "take the picture" press, camera again focuses, then a pause then the shot is taken, and by that time, I've got a blurry picture, because while it was thinking, or taking the shot, I've moved the camera, resulting in blur.
  Once I adapt to the "pause" of the camera my pic quality will increase.

 Juan don't feel alone. My old pocket camera just croaked. It decided to take a swim, while I was taking a leak,standing in water. I'm still going round and round on what to replace it with.
 My kid took my optio to the snow and cracked the lens cover, its his now! My old Canon went swimming without its waterproof housing. The waterproof cameras compromise function and build quality for waterproofness. Whats a camera snob to do?
 I've been looking at ultra-compact cameras that have housings available for them. Ideally I want one to fish and dive with,taking stills and video. The size of the housing is the deal breaker, and the cost is higher. But they will float!
 Some of the Sony's are looking good,but will the case fit in a pocket!

I wash electronics with water all the time, so getting wet won't always kill them.  Corrosion and salt deposits can though.  You may find that the cameras battery life is significantly reduced.  If you do dunk one, take it apart (carefully) and use and air compressor (and common sense) to blow the water off the components without damaging it, maybe rinse with distilled water.  Let dry a bit an reassemble.  That is likely to get it working again as good as new. 

I wash electronics with water all the time, so getting wet won't always kill them.  Corrosion and salt deposits can though.  You may find that the cameras battery life is significantly reduced.  If you do dunk one, take it apart (carefully) and use and air compressor (and common sense) to blow the water off the components without damaging it, maybe rinse with distilled water.  Let dry a bit an reassemble.  That is likely to get it working again as good as new. 

I dropped my sony (non-waterproof) into the water several times.  I took out the batteries right away & dried it out.  It worked ok (I dropped it on the ground alot too), but the over times the lens cover won't open all the way & the lens got foggy...  I put into the sonic water bath & washed w/ DI water, but still the cloudiness won't go away...
I just got a new Olympus from my GF for chrismas & my b-day gift , and I got the floating strap & silicon case right away cuz I drop stuff all the time.  If I lose that camera, I will lose major GAF...
if anyone wanna know floating strap look like...
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1287&fl=5&acccategory=all
they're small strap that only goes on your wrist (not on your neck)...

suck it up and try to just enjoy the sight of bubbles drifting out of it.       


So I bought the Optio. Nice camera and all but it's difficult to use one handed as it doesn't have something to hold onto. It's too sleek. My old Optio has a ridge along one end that acts as a grip area which makes it great for the one-handed shots, which many are when one is alone.

Good to hear that you plan to take more pics Juan!   there is a cover for the Optio that is GRIPPIER than the shell.....don't leave it on after a wet days outing....remove, rinse and let it dry.
Doug/Miramite had a problem with his retaining moisture and needed to return it.

Right when I was all set to buy what I thought was the perfect camera, I did some more research and found a few reviews on it and because it has a "digital zoom" and not lense zoom the photo quality is not so great... I feel like I'm back to square one... still not sure what to get. 

here is that example jonesz is refering to:
top pic is no zoom

bot. pic is *cropped/modified after loaded into computer.

OptioW20 

Right when I was all set to buy what I thought was the perfect camera, I did some more research and found a few reviews on it and because it has a "digital zoom" and not lense zoom the photo quality is not so great... I feel like I'm back to square one... still not sure what to get. 

There's actually a certain amount of mechanical zoom before it goes digital. There's a scale on the VF and let's you know when it goes over to digital. And 2/3 of the zoom is mechanical, more than enough IMO.

IMHO I wouldn't worry about zoom too much. When you zoom w/ such a small camera the shaking that it produces can ruin your shot anyway. If you're going to be using a tripod I think zoom could be an issue.

Z

I have never ZOOMED a pic....always shoot it in full screen, then if the CAM. has the option to crop/ manipulate the pic. it does O.K.
butWUTdoIknow!    i just point and click!   and the camera does all the hard work.