SAY CHEESE!
From camera to drone, it’s easy to capture angling photos
Y ou’re out on the kayak, fishing away, so far, so good. You bend into a fish that fights hard to the side of the kayak and you then realise that you have hooked a personal best. How do you record this momentous occasion?
In the past it was sufficient to be happy with the memory, but in our digital era, every little accomplishment has to be recorded and things ‘weighed’ on Facebook and Instagram.
How many times have you heard some moron saying “show us the pictures or it didn’t happen”? People expect to see pictures of fish and not to supply them seems to attract ridicule and scepticism. Don’t get me started on people doubting the claimed weight!
IMAGE QUALITY
Practically everybody now carries a mobile phone with integrated camera and most of these do a fine job of recording your catch. Camera phone technology has resulted in very high image quality.
One disadvantage of using mobile phones is their notoriously water-shy nature. Waterproof cases are available for different models, but you then run the risk of being pestered by the phone ringing – not ideal when out for a day’s fishing to get away from it all.
Compact ‘point and shoot’ cameras are produced by a range of manufacturers and range in quality and price. Generally, you get what you pay for and with this in mind it makes sense to get one of the better versions within your price range.
I have found with cameras that we can almost always discount megapixel count as a measure of quality. I have seen two cameras boast identical megapixel values but the final images to be hugely different in terms of quality. You can have the highest megapixel count you can think of, but good quality, clean, sharp images are a product of the lens. The more expensive the camera, the better quality the lens will be, particularly with the more established camera brands. Compact ‘point and shoot’ cameras also usually feature a threaded recess in the base that can be used for mounting on your kayak. ACTION ADVENTURE I couldn’t do an article on kayak cameras without mentioning GoPro. The actionadventure cameras are synonymous with outdoor activity and come with a fully waterproof housing, making them very kayak friendly.
There is an extensive range of mounting options available so almost any camera angle is now conceivable. GoPros offer powerful video and still imaging in a very compact little package and are by far the most popular type of camera to find on a kayak.
As with every good company, many imitators have attempted to create a similar camera for a smaller budget. Having not tried many of them it would be unfair to comment but that said I think the GoPro’s popularity speaks for itself.
Finally, an option is to bring out a DSLR. Most anglers would not be brave enough to attempt introducing their camera to a saltwater environment. If you do decide on this option you will get the best quality images but make doubly sure that your storage for it is bone dry.
Double packing in dry bags would not be a bad idea, and keep the camera stowed away until it is needed. The less time it is out of the dry bag, the less chance there is of saltwater contamination. RESOLUTION What do I use? A little from all three. I have an old Fuji ‘point and shoot’ camera that works really well underwater. My kayak has two GoPros mounted to it for video work and ‘trophy’ shots. I also carry a Canon DSLR for shots of other kayaks on the water – the GoPros just don’t really have the range for that type of work. Finally, I have just started trying a drone, which should be able to supply excellent panoramic shots.
With any digital camera, get good quality memory cards for them. Use high grade cards, particularly if you plan on HD video recording. With all stills and video I always shoot on the highest resolution and quality available, which can always be reduced later on. You can take it away later, but you can never add to it so it makes sense to start with the highest settings.
When you go afloat and catch a trophy fish you can now show the doubters what you really caught – just make sure you’ve fully charged the batteries.