Camera's - SLR, Point & Shoot, Video and Helmet Camera Info

Our passion and we definitely spend the money on camera gear.  It is the most important aspect of our trip while on the road and gives us the most rewards once at home.  A lot of time goes in set up and research. 

Current SLR - Nikon D200:

Bought January 2007 from B&H.  Cost $3044.99CDN
Model: Nikon D200
Weight: approx. 1.4 kg

We use the Nikon D200 for most of our photos. The D200 employs a 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor, which captures images with remarkable resolution and clarity. It's sophisticated 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II system ensures ideal exposures, and an advanced Nikon image processing engine renders images with superb clarity and smooth color gradations.

The D200 reacts with lightning speed, powering-up in a mere 0.15 seconds and firing in an imperceptible 50 millisecond shutter-release lag time. It can shoot five frames per second with a drastically shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds between shots. Its large, bright viewfinder offers 0.94x magnification for comfortable and precise composition, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen provides an ultra-wide 170 Deg viewing angle from all directions.

We carry two 4GB compact flash cards that will each store about 450 photos taken at JPEG Fine resolution.  This will get us through even a heavy day of shooting.

The main lens that we use is the Nikon 18-200mm AF-S DX VR Zoom lens.  The lens is absolutely amazing.  It has built in vibration reduction and allows us to shoot in low light situations and long exposure situations for special effects.  The combination of this lens and the D200 are perfect for our needs.

We carry an external Nikon SB-800 Speedlight flash to help out in the many varied lighting conditions that we find in our travels.  The SB-800 can be used off-camera as a remote flash as well.  This is very useful for the field photography that we do.

Other accessories that we carry are a small tri-pod, a wireless remote shutter release, and a special brush, called the Arctic Butterfly made by Visible Dust, to clean the dust off the CCD chip.

For more information visit Nikon's website at www.Nikon.com.

Current Point & Shoot Camera (Waterproof):

Bought May 2005.  Cost at time of purchase approx. $550.00CDN
Model: Pentax Optio WP
Weight: approx. 135g

Our number two camera is the Pentax Optio WP.  The Optio WP is a 5.0 effective megapixel point and shoot digital camera.  The best thing about the Optio WP is that it is a waterproof digital camera.  The Optio WP allows underwater photography to a depth of 1.5 meters.  This waterproof feature is the main reason that we decided on this as our second camera.  It allows us to shoot while snorkeling or while standing in major rain storm without worrying about camera damage.

Other features of the Pentax Optio WP are a 2.0 inch LCD low reflection/glare control screen, easy operation mode, and a built in flash.  The Pentax Optio WP is also very small and light weight which allows us to take it places that we may not be able to take the big Nikon camera.

For more information visit Pentax's website at www.Pentax.com.

Current Helmet & Video Camera Set-up:

Bought July 2005 from JonesCamTV.  Cost $340US
Model: JonesCam 480EX
Weight: approx. 1.4 kg

Complete Set-up incl. Helmet Cam, Video Cam, Batteries, Microphone and Cabling
(Pen for Scale Reference)

              Helmet Camera (Size of a Lipstick)                                         Batteries

                        Helmet Camera Microphone                  Helmet Camera Handlebar On/Off Switch

Power Converter

The Helmet Camera that we use is a JonesCam 480EX.  The 480EX uses a Sony EX View HAD 480TVL image sensor.  This provides a very sharp 480 lines of resolution and most people are surprised with the excellent quality.  The image sensor is mounted inside a 21mm x 77mm waterproof alloy tube known as a "lipstick camera".  The "lipstick camera" is mounted to the motorcycle helmets with Velcro and duct tape.  A video signal/power cable is run from the helmet to the Sony DCR HC-32 mini DV digital video camera stored in the tank bag.

Power from the motorcycle is run through two lithium-ion batteries and then on to the Sony mini DVD camera and the JonesCam helmet camera.  A push-button switch mounted on the handlebar allows Ruby to start and stop recording with just a push of the button.

The helmet camera has provided us with many unforgettable and amazing moments of video footage.  The small size and discrete nature of the helmet camera means that most people do not know that they are being recorded, and this provides some very candid and very natural looking images that show the people just as we see them.

We are still working to improve the video set-up that we use and we will add more details as we sort out little issues along the way.   

For more information visit JonesCam's website at www.JonesCam.TV

Other SLR's:

From left Nikon D200 (Digital), Nikon D100 (Digital) and Nikon F70 (Film)

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