Kayak camera mount parts
I'm throwing a few short reviews together:
1) Sanyo Xacti waterprood video camera
2 Stickypod camera mount
3) Stohlquist bPod drysuit
Sanyo Xacti Waterproof Video Camcorder
http://us.sanyo.com/entertainment/cameracorder/index.cfm?productID=1625
Small convenient, durable, takes high res photos and home video camcorder quality video.
Likes - Waterproof, durable, 5x optical lens allows you to shoot things farther away than other waterproof cameras. It fits in a PFD/BA/life preserver pocket.
Dislikes - No optical viewfinder, only the LCD screen which can't be viewed in bright light. I found that you can use the top of the camera as a guide for centering the image properly if the LCD is not an option.
The photo shutter button is an a position that makes the camera jump when being pressed causing blurred images. There is a 2 second delay option that helps overcome this.
SrickyPod Camera Mount
http://www.stickypod.com/
I started with the four suction cup version as I though tI'd need the extra security. It ended up being too big for the narrow bow of a kayak so I ended up just using one suction cup, extension and knuckle. It works great and stays put all day long. The safety strap assures that if I do get wrecked in the surf I will still ba able to retrieve my camera.
Stohlquist bPod Drysuit
http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?k=&p=STO56501
I got mine for approx. $100 US less than list price. No other drysuit has the features this has for the price.
Likes - Neck gasket is the most comfortable made. Many people believe that it isn't as waterproof as the standard latex neck gasket. I found it to be just as waterproof. I tested extensively. I did a lot rolling and balance braces and stayed dry inside.
The tunnel helps keep water from leaking past the top of your sprayskirt. This is a really great feature. My previous drysuit didn't have this and I had to pump water a lot in surf and rolling sessions.
The relief zipper is nice.
No dislikes yet.
Below is a video of me doing some tests of the drysuit. I was using the Xacti
camera with the Stickypod mount.
Note, the water wasn't really so cold that I had to wear the scuba hood, but it allows me to do a lot more rolling before vertigo sets in. I tend to get vertigo if I do a lot of rolling in cool water. I rolled without it the first day and only lasted about 20 minutes before I started spinning.
The nose plugs aren't necessary either and I usually try to roll a few times each day without, but if I roll a lot in fresh water, it really starts to irritate the sinuses.
I did about 8 rolling sessions of approx 30 minutes each over two weekends. Enough to show that the neck gasket works well.
2 comments:
thanks for the review. i'm latex-sensitive and don't want to be scratching at my neck all the time. i think i'll be getting the women's bpod soon!
It has been several months now, with lot's of cold water rolling and I stay dry inside. It really is water tight.
I have a friend who has a mild latex allergy and he always ends up with a red ring on his neck for days after a paddle in his latex neck drysuit
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