Many small point and shoot digital cameras have no viewfinder, just a
LCD monitor which may be hard to read in bright sunlight. The lack of a
viewfinder is perhaps the main reason preventing some photographers from
buying waterproof Pentax Optio cameras. The new shock and waterproof
Olympus Stylus SW 720 also features the LCD monitor but no viewfinder. I
think that this a reasonable compromise in a camera of this size. It
shouldn't stop you from buying these cameras, photographing and having fun.

After paddling with Pentax Optio WP for more than a year, I have
gathered some tips and comments on shooting pictures using these tiny
cameras without a viewfinder.

http://users.frii.com/uliasz/weblog/...645/index.html

What is your experience with digital cameras without a viewfinder?
Do you have any other tips, comments or suggestions for photographing
paddlers?

Marek

In article ,
"Marek \"Wayfarer\"" wrote:

Many small point and shoot digital cameras have no viewfinder, just a
LCD monitor which may be hard to read in bright sunlight. The lack of a
viewfinder is perhaps the main reason preventing some photographers from
buying waterproof Pentax Optio cameras. The new shock and waterproof
Olympus Stylus SW 720 also features the LCD monitor but no viewfinder. I
think that this a reasonable compromise in a camera of this size. It
shouldn't stop you from buying these cameras, photographing and having fun.

After paddling with Pentax Optio WP for more than a year, I have
gathered some tips and comments on shooting pictures using these tiny
cameras without a viewfinder.

http://users.frii.com/uliasz/weblog/...645/index.html

What is your experience with digital cameras without a viewfinder?

I've got a Pentax Optio WP, use it while kayaking. Works great; if the
sun is too bright to see the monitor, I can usually get by with wrapping
both hands around the top and sides of the camera to shade the monitor
enough to see what I'm aiming at. (A wide-brimmed hat would be more
useful than it is if my close accomodation wasn't to far gone. Getting
older beats the alternative, though.)

Do you have any other tips, comments or suggestions for photographing
paddlers?

We've tried using a Canon S-50 in an underwater housing, but it's
bulkier than the Pentax, and you can't use the viewfinder much with it;
the LCD isn't quite as good as the Pentax.

On the other hand, if you drop the Canon in the housing, it floats; the
Pentax doesn't, which is why I keep it lashed to my PFD.

No way am I using my Olympus DSLR until/if I get an underwater housing
for it. Pity, the 50-200 tele would be great for birding shots.