Which Rugged Camera To Buy?

Back in February I posted an announcement on the new Pentax Optio WG-1 and Optio WG-1 GPS.  Mainly I love my Pentax W90 for the auto macro setting.  This feature turns on the LED lights and engages the macro - no fumbling with settings.  The down side, as with  most compact digital cameras, is the noise at a high ISO and in low light.  Let's face it.  These cameras can't replace a DSLR.  Regardless, it's the camera I keep with my fishing gear.  I can do things to it that I can't do with a DSLR.

Digital Photography Review posted it's new "Waterproof compact camera group test" and the new Pentax Optio WG-1 didn't fare well.  For daylight conditions it's a middle of the road choice, and in low light it's in the bottom of the class.  The camera which took best of the bunch in every category is the Panasonic DMC-TS3.  Sony TX10 came in a close second.  Missing from the test group was a Canon and Nikon camera.

Canon has not updated its Powershot D10.  Nikon's Coolpix AW100 just entered the market.  The new Nikon has my eye, mainly for brand reasons.  I've shot with a Nikon SLR and now a DSLR for the last 30 years. I did the math and could not believe it has been that long since my first Nikon. (These product reviews make to feel old.)  

The Nikon looks good on paper and is similar to the Panasonic.  Both cameras offer GPS tagging with a compass, shooting full 1080i HD video and image stabilization.  The Nikon edges out the Panasonic in the mega pixel area and optics, 16M vs. 12M / 28-140mm vs. 28-128mm equivalent. 

While the Nikon edges out the Panasonic on paper, the true test comes in the field.  Which one to buy...?  To add to the dilemma, both cameras cost less than $400.

The right answer for me is to wait for a full review with sample images.  By that time, I'm sure a new camera (maybe from Canon) will enter the mix.

If any of you have either camera please comment and give me your recommendation.


Thanks,

Fly and Fin

Pheasant Tail Anchor to the Rescue

Many readers know The Jersey Angler and I are friend's and we go out west and fish together quite often.  While in West Yellowstone this summer we'd tied up a few flies.  One of the pattens I'd tied up during one of our evening tying session was his Pheasant Tail Anchor (click to load his post).  It's been hard getting out fishing because of the  crazy high water.  Hurricane Irene and few tropical storms have flooded and kept our stream over flowing. 

The river I fish, fishes best around 150 cubic feet per second not the 250-300 it's been running.  I did manged to wet a line the other day, mainly to see what Hurricane Irene did to the stream.  Many of the pools and runs I know well have all changed.  It's like fishing a new river.

The water was high and moving but thanks to the Pheasant Tail Anchor and that over-sized  disco tungsten bead, I did well.  The fly sinks like a rock on steroid, ticking the bottom every time.  They worked so well I lost everyone I had in my box. Luckily I'd tied some up with standard tungsten beads. Now I'll need to stock up on those disco bead

Here are a few of the fish taken on that day.

NJ Fall Trout Stocking Coming in October

The Fall stocking of trout in New Jersey is set to start in the second week of October.  According to the Divisuion of Fish and Wildlife the fall stocking will start on Tuesday October 11, 2011, an estimated 20,000 Brook and Rainbow trout averaging 2 years and 14-17 inches will be stocked in 16 stream and ponds over a 2 week period. Beside the 20,000 an addition 1000 broodstock trout averaging 18-24 inches are to be stocked.  These breast are going to be mixed in with each truck load.

Here is a map of the stream and ponds being stocked and the listing of waters with numbers.

Week 1 - October 10-14, 2011

Monday, October 10 - No stocking
Tuesday, October 11
MONMOUTH & OCEAN COUNTIES

• Manasquan River - 650
• Metedeconk River, North Branch - 150
• Metedeconk River, South Branch - 240
• Tom's River (including TCA) - 360

SOMERSET COUNTY

• Raritan River, North Branch - 920

SUSSEX & WARREN COUNTIES

• Paulinskill River, and E/Br and W/Br - 1,720

Wednesday, October 12
HUNTERDON, MORRIS & WARREN COUNTIES

• Musconetcong River (including Point Mt. TCA, Hunterdon County) - 2,820

SUSSEX & WARREN COUNTIES

• Pequest River (including TCA, Pequest WMA) - 1,550

Thursday, October 13
SUSSEX COUNTY

• Big Flat Brook - 1,620
• Wallkill River - 470

MORRIS COUNTY

• Black River - 330
• Rockaway River - 1,290

WARREN COUNTY

• Pohatcong Creek - 800

Friday, October 14 BERGEN & PASSAIC COUNTIES

• Wanaque River - 330
• Ramapo River - 880

HUNTERDON, MORRIS & SOMERSET COUNTIES

• Raritan River, South Branch (including TCA, Ken Lockwood Gorge) - 2,570

Week 2, October 17-21, 2011

Monday, October 17 - No stocking
Tuesday, October 18
ATLANTIC & CUMBERLAND COUNTIES

• Giampetro Park Pond - 170
• Hammonton Lake - 340
• Mary Elmer Lake - 170
• Maurice River - 400

BURLINGTON, CAMDEN & GLOUCESTER COUNTIES

• Crystal Lake - 170
• Grenloch Lake - 170
• Oak Pond - 170
• Sylvan Lake - 170

Wednesday, October 19
GLOUCESTER & SALEM COUNTIES

• Greenwich Lake - 170
• Iona Lake - 170
• Schadlers Sand Wash Pond - 170
• Swedesboro Lake - 170

MIDDLESEX & MERCER COUNTIES

• Colonial Lake - 170
• Farrington Lake - 340
• Roosevelt Park Pond - 170
• Rosedale Lake - 170

Thursday, October 20 - No stocking Friday, October 21 - No stocking

For more information visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/flstk.htm

The next A River Runs Through It?

Coming to a theater near you Salmon Fishing in the Yemen the movie.  This adaptation of Paul Torday's 2007 novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival this week.   No release date for general audiences, but CBS Films acquired the U.S.distribution rights.

Here is the plot according to the Wikipedia. "A fisheries scientist finds himself reluctantly involved in a project to bring salmon fishing to the wadis of the Highlands of Yemen, and change British political history and the course of his life."

Will this be the next A River Runs Through It? I don't know, but they do need to practice their casting.