The wave that killed my camera

[drowningbitbybit]

As some of you know, I briefly had a waterproof camera, but it all it took was a session with CheeZee to render it not as waterproof as we hoped

(To be fair, it wasnt actually cheezee's fault)

Happily though, I could get it replaced under warranty, and I just got the replacement. Now, the camera didnt stand up to the atlantic very well, but the memory card (which got equally drenched) did just fine. So here it is - the picture of the wave which destroyed 200 pounds worth of camera





Yup, thats me paddling for that storm-surf mess!

CheeZee, you could at least have waited until I was on it before destroying the camera!



But for a bit of balance, this was what it was like the day before - and this is when it was dropping right off as the tide was going out and me n' phil were knackered!



Ah, happy memories of the hurricane season.....

[scuba steve]

where were you surfing?

[GowerCharger]

what camera was it? i been thinkin about gettin a waterproof digi, just so i know to avoid that model

[drowningbitbybit]

where were you surfing?

That was Puts a couple of months ago. Classic conditions on the saturday - BIG and offshore

[drowningbitbybit]

what camera was it? i been thinkin about gettin a waterproof digi, just so i know to avoid that model

You havent got a lot choice - there's real cheap ones, or theres REALLY expensive ones, but not many in the middle

Its a pentax optio, and its pretty good - but the catch for the memory card/battery isnt very robust, so can come undone fairly easily. Next time the camera comes into the water, I'll put some tape over the catch to make sure!

Takes great shots in the water when it works!

[scuba steve]

Cool i was down there in late october, waves were prety good too but it went flat for a few days.

[Beachbum]

So water got into the case of the camrea?

[pat42]

Ooooooooh!!!

I was going to get one of those, but JEN told me not to buy a pentax cos they werent good at living up to their warranty.........so I didnt!!

I bought an Olympus Mju 720 SW. Brilliant camera, totally solid metal case and very waterproof.

I cant fault it!

[kitesurfer]

Waiting for comment on how small the wave was that killed your camera from dec!

[Beachbum]

Ooooooooh!!!

I was going to get one of those, but JEN told me not to buy a pentax cos they werent good at living up to their warranty.........so I didnt!!

I bought an Olympus Mju 720 SW. Brilliant camera, totally solid metal case and very waterproof.

I cant fault it!

How much is that Olumpus camera? Is the case included in the price of the camera or do you have to pay extra for it?

[.Jen.]

Ooooooooh!!!

I was going to get one of those, but JEN told me not to buy a pentax cos they werent good at living up to their warranty.........so I didnt!!

I bought an Olympus Mju 720 SW. Brilliant camera, totally solid metal case and very waterproof.

I cant fault it!

Dont go blaming me yer tart!! At the time, Pentax were renowned for dismissing valid warranty repairs on their ''waterproof'' cameras. Water damaged supposedly wasnt covered. So ner

Would however say that you made a good choice with the Olympus Mju though, the whole Mju range is fantastic.

[Dec]

Waiting for comment on how small the wave was that killed your camera from dec!

I was resisting! But it did seem rather small to break a camera!

I've heard about camera's breaking in chopes and pipe, but like 3ft Putts!

[pat42]

Dont go blaming me yer tart!! At the time, Pentax were renowned for dismissing valid warranty repairs on their ''waterproof'' cameras. Water damaged supposedly wasnt covered. So ner

Would however say that you made a good choice with the Olympus Mju though, the whole Mju range is fantastic.

I'm not blaming you

I'm mereley pointing out that I trusted your judgement and didnt buy that model...................you should feel privelaged that I trust your judgement

Beachbum, what do you mean 'is the case included'??

Are you talking waterproof case?

[.Jen.]

I'm not blaming you

I'm mereley pointing out that I trusted your judgement and didnt buy that model...................you should feel privelaged that I trust your judgement

Beachbum, what do you mean 'is the case included'??

Are you talking waterproof case?

Very privileged Bear in mind that it is some ridiculous hour of the morning and im on a huge caffeine induced stupor

[drowningbitbybit]

But it did seem rather small to break a camera!

I've heard about camera's breaking in chopes and pipe, but like 3ft Putts!

It was a big day... out back... at Putts, but blown to bits and we were trying to get some shots where cheezee could stand (rather than drowning out back) but it was the first of the winter swells and these waves had POWER, so it landed on cheezee, he went backwards, to be pounded three seconds later by the next one, then another, then another, then another.....

By the time he re-emerged (I'd been surfing on that wave, standing there like a statue watching cheezee drown my camera. Oh, and himself too) the cacth for the battery/memory slot had come open.

Result - drowned camera.

So it was poor design more than anything - but easily remedied by either going out on cleaner days or a bit of tape!


Pentax were pretty good - they replaced the camera with no quibbles. Upgraded it in fact to a better one, so no complaints there.