By Vladimir Brezina
As with my kayaks
My Feathercraft folding kayaks. Left to right: K-Light (1990s), K1 (2000s), Heron (2012). Increasing in overall length from 12′ 10″ (K-Light) to 17′ 7″ (Heron).
so with my cameras
My Pentax Optio waterproof cameras. Left to right: W90 (2010), WG-2 (2012), WG-3 (2013). Increasing in weight from 5.7 oz (W90, with battery and memory card) to 7.4 oz (WG-3).
I’ve noticed a progressive hypertrophy ;-)
... kayaked the waters around New York for more than 15 years in his red Feathercraft folding kayak. He was originally from (the former) Czechoslovakia and lived in the U.K. and California before settling down in New York. He was a neuroscientist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He died in 2016.
... is a kayaker and technology researcher at Nemertes Research. She's an erstwhile engineer, particle physicist, and science fiction writer. She was born in California and has lived in Italy, Norway, Hawaii, and a few other places. She currently resides in New York City.
 | CurlsnSkirls on The First Leg! |
 | Johna Till Johnson on The First Leg! |
| Johna Till Johnson on The First Leg! |
 | Marilyn Albright on The First Leg! |
| CurlsnSkirls on The First Leg! |
| Johna Till Johnson on Looks Like They Made It! |
 | Pit on Looks Like They Made It! |
| Johna Till Johnson on More Scenes From the Nort… |
| CurlsnSkirls on Halfway There! |
 | Larry Jensen on More Scenes From the Nort… |
| Johna Till Johnson on R2AK: Scenes From the Northern… |
 | Frank Winters on R2AK: Scenes From the Northern… |
| Johna Till Johnson on Halfway There! |
| CurlsnSkirls on Halfway There! |
| Johna Till Johnson on And They’re Off! |
Wind Against Current 
Hey! Are you dissing Baby Vulcan!?!
LikeLike
I would never do—or dare—do that! :-)
Baby Vulcan is the little K-Light, on the left in the picture. Years before it became Baby Vulcan, I paddled it. In fact, it was my first boat. Now Johna paddles it, and has a wonderful time—
Compared to Johna’s hardshell boats, Baby Vulcan has certain advantages. For one thing, it folds! So Johna can take it on a plane and be paddling in Florida in a few hours…
But it is a bit slower than the longer Feathercrafts. It has much less storage volume for camping gear. And for me, it was a bit small to fit into, and when I was in it, a bit top-heavy, as I could see immediately once I upgraded to my first K1…
LikeLike
Looks like you’ve got it all figured out. ;)
LikeLike
Getting there… ;-)
LikeLike
I’ve always said that size DOES matter :) that’s some serious kit you’ve got there! Unfortunately I know nothing about Pentaxes so what’s the upgrade like feature-wise?
LikeLike
I buy new cameras not so much to upgrade the features, but to have enough cameras when, paddling in some exotic location that it may have cost thousands of dollars to get to, a camera will suddenly decide to die. It doesn’t happen often with these cameras but it has happened. Then an investment of a couple of hundred dollars in a spare camera is well worth it. And, of course, if I buy a spare camera, I might as well get the latest model in the series…
These Pentax cameras are packed with features, most of which I’ve never used. (For a review of the features of the WG-3, for instance, see here.) And the basic features haven’t changed all that much from the W90 to the WG-3, as far as I can see, except no doubt many of them have been enhanced and improved. I suspect there have been considerable improvements in the video capabilities, which however I haven’t seriously used.
The one improvement that I do appreciate is the increased number of pixels, going from 12 megapixels in the W90 to 16 megapixels in the WG-2 and WG-3. You can’t have too many pixels in kayak photography, at least my style of it, because there often isn’t enough time to frame the shot compactly, so I tend to shoot a bigger frame and then crop afterwards. Many pixels are lost, so you’ve got to start with as many as possible.
The other essential feature of these cameras is of course that they are completely waterproof—and all of them, going all the way back to the W30, have been very satisfactory in that respect.
LikeLike
But it’s the paddler or photographer that makes the difference – despite what the salesperson says. ;)
LikeLike
There’s of course a lot of truth in that! But, given equally capable paddlers or photographers, it’s the equipment that makes the difference… :-)
LikeLike
:)
LikeLike
How interesting, is the bigger kayak easier to paddle? And a new camera almost yearly, lucky you :-) I always wondered what camera you used, as I’m never brave enough to take one out with me when I go kayaking…..but I often think of you guys and your great photos when I’m out on the water. I did a wonderful paddle around Loch Carron yesterday evening…..millpond water, and the sun doesn’t set till 11pm….it was magical :-)
LikeLike
Is a bigger kayak easier to paddle? “Easier” isn’t really a precise enough term. A longer kayak will generally be faster, and have more volume to carry camping supplies, but probably will be harder to turn…
As far as cameras go, these are all waterproof… removes the fear completely! :-)
And your Loch Carron paddle sounds wonderful. I remember how light it was long into the evening in Scotland in the summer…
LikeLike
:D Great toys you have to play with, Vlad.
LikeLike
Gotta have some fun!
LikeLike
Lol! chuckle-chuckle…
;-)
LikeLike
:-)
LikeLike
For someone like me, bigger would give me more float!!
LikeLike
Well, yes, that’s certainly part of it! ;-)
LikeLike
A question for you Vladimir… I am looking at buying a waterproof camera with video capabilities. Are you still satisfied with your Pentax WG3 and have you ever explored the video feature yet. I see in your article that you had not at that time. I am primarily interested in the video feature and the ability to use a zoom lens… How does this camera stack up?
LikeLike
Unfortunately, I can’t really answer your question. I haven’t used the video on any of these cameras. Indeed, I haven’t really used the WG-3 much at all yet—I am still using mostly the WG-2, which I am very happy with. But I’ll be taking the WG-3 to the Everglades Challenge in March…
LikeLike
Hey thanks for your input… I enjoyed your photos and whatever you are using, seems to capture some really nice shots… And, I realize its not just the camera. Someone got operate that thing and you seem to have a knack for it.. Everglades Challenge… mmmm I will have to stay tuned… Sounds like hardwork AND Fun!
LikeLike
Both, we hope!
More on video: If I start with video—which I am constantly intending to ;-) —it will probably be with a GoPro (I have one of the older models) mounted on the boat or on my head. Many people are doing that, with some really amazing results. Although I like static photos, I think video does really work much better than static photos when there is something dynamic going on, such as on a paddle through interesting conditions… I haven’t done much with the GoPro because we don’t have interesting conditions around here all that often. But maybe in the Everglades Challenge… :-)
LikeLike
May Interesting Find You down there…. I was trying to find a one size fits all device… Right now I am strapping on my Iphone in a lifeproof case suctioned on my deck… I know its not optimal, but i’m using what I got.. The touchscreen doesn’t function when wet.. Ha! I have other cameras for land use. Thanks again for your thoughts.. Keep things Interesting!
LikeLike
Pingback: In Memoriam: Vladimir Brezina | Wind Against Current
Pingback: The Red Herring Rides Again! | Wind Against Current