[Leica] Re: Weatherproof camera

[craig at craigschroeder.com (Craig Schroeder)]

A few years back, a friend asked me for ideas to equip his insurance 
adjusters with a common camera.  We ended up with the WR series of 
Pentax (I believe we bought 6 of them).  The optics were surprisingly 
competent and the stories of their survival are quite amazing.  Tumbles 
from roofs, storm duty, etc and they never lost one when being used in 
this rugged, everyday manner.  Perhaps you were looking for something 
more specialized, but this might provide an inexpensive alternative that 
may be enough for the task that you're on?

lrzeitlin@optonline.net wrote:
>
>
> Unless the weatherproof camera is the only one you need, I would 
> reconsider the Nikonos, particularly the older model II and III versions. 
> These metal cased cameras are extremely rugged and absolutely waterproof. 
> The 35mm f2.8 stock Nikon lens is excellent and the 80mm lens is also 
> quite good. 
>
> Twenty years ago I did a travel story about kayaking down the Grand Canyon 
> section of the Colorado. Rather than risk my Leicas, I used a Nikonos II. 
> The camera and I spent half the trip submerged in silty river water, but, 
> since God protects fools and idiots, both of us emerged unscathed. True, 
> the lens is scale focusing and there is no camera automation but depth of 
> field and film latitude compensates adequately. Since then I have always 
> kept the Nikonos in the bottom of my camera bag for use
>  in really bad weather. You can pick up a good used Nikonos in any dive 
> shop for less than $200.
>
> And if you get tired of taking pictures with the camera, you can always 
> use it to crack walnuts.
>
> Larry Z
>
>