A dependable camera is not only essential to my work, it adds a visual diary of memories with special people, places and predicaments.

Ten or 15 years ago, 35mm cameras were the standard format with a wide range of prices and models available to satisfy novice shutterbugs, professional photographers and everyone in between. Even inexpensive, one-use, throwaway 35mm cameras and submersible cameras could be purchased at most pharmacies, department and grocery stores. Then slowly but surely a shift began to take place toward a newly developing format called digital cameras.

Digital photos are taken and stored on a microchip or memory card, then easily transferred to a home computer or laptop where a special program allows adjustments to color, contrast, cropping and many other facets to yield quality photos. Poor pictures can be just deleted and the better ones printed or stored on a CD or memory stick.

In recent years I’ve used a Nikon Coolpix 8800 digital with top-quality results, but for any special outdoor adventure, especially if it’s more than a day trip, I also carry my old faithful 35mm SLR Canon EOS with two lenses. Despite the film, extra weight and more packing, it’s better to be safe than sorry when photos are a must. A year ago January that extra film camera saved my bacon on a three-day sailfish and marlin fishing trip.

I really needed a picture of a leaping sailfish for a story promised to a national magazine, but upon checking my photos at the end of my first day, all the jumping fish photos were blurry. As good as my digital camera was, it just wasn’t fast enough to freeze an airborne sailfish. Over the next two days I used my 35mm, and while the manual adjustments were a pain compared to the digital’s auto mode, I got a few good shots. Then and there I decided a new, multipurpose, all-in-one digital camera was in order. Little did I realize how difficult that simple desire would be to fulfill!

Certain features are crucial to an all-around outdoor camera. Of utmost importance are the general conditions encountered while boating, hunting, angling, hiking and camping. On first consideration, a small, lightweight compact camera might seem perfect since it’s easy to carry. My very first digital was roughly the size of an eyeglass case, perhaps a bit smaller. Although it would easily fit in a fly vest or hunting vest pocket, or even a shirt breast pocket, the diminutive unit had several drawbacks that finally caused its untimely demise.

Small cameras have undersized control knobs, not easy to operate with large hands and big fingers, especially when those digits are wet or partially numb from rain, sleet, snow or subfreezing temperatures. Since most of Maine’s outdoor pastimes encompass water in some form, and often cold conditions, too, small cameras suddenly become more of a hindrance than a help. Switches and dials are a challenge for frosty fingers and cameras are often dropped.

Even on a warm summer day of wading for trout, the camera stored in a shirt pocket, fly vest or creel had better be in a waterproof bag or, better yet, a hard protective case. During a fall duck hunt my micro camera in its Ziplock bag survived the sudden submersion when I took a dip in the marsh. However, it did not endure being between me and the large tree stump I fell against. Other shortcomings of small digitals are the lack of magnification available and slow lens speed. For most photos of wild animals and birds, a powerful zoom lens and fast shutter speed are musts.

One beneficial option for a sportsman’s camera would be some sort of anti-shake technology for rock-steady images when using long-range lenses. High-speed shooting allows several photos in quick succession with only one click of the shutter button, and an auto- bracketing setting takes three pictures in a row, one higher and one lower exposure on each side of the main image to assure at least one well-balanced photo.

Megapixels determine a photo’s clarity after it’s printed and a 5-megapixel (MP) camera will produce excellent reproductions up to 8×10 inches. I believe in overkill so while an 8-megapixel camera will certainly satisfy most outdoor snapshot artists, a 10- to 12-MP will provide crystal clarity even if you want to enlarge a photo to garage-door size.

Controls that are easy to locate even in dim light, and simple to operate with cold fingers or light gloves, are an asset previously mentioned but worth a second reference. Multi-shooting modes allow operation in any of the varied light and weather conditions sportsmen endure, but a dependable auto mode to handle those spur-of-the moment shots that require light, motion and speed compensation is the amateur cameraman’s bread and butter.

At least a 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder and photo review screen is minimum size for close inspection of images and 3 inches is better, especially if photo alterations can be performed by an internal camera program while in the field. Make sure the camera selected can switch quickly from the LCD screen to the viewfinder in case one isn’t suitable for viewing a subject in current light conditions or while in motion. Batteries that will hold a charge well, along with being quickly rechargeable and a type and size readily available, are excellent choices for any camera.

Auto zoom, auto focus, self-timer, built-in flash with adjunct hot shoe, low-light and shoot-in-the-dark modes, macro, selective flash options, shot preview and face detection technology are now common features on most mid- to top-end cameras. Have a check list of what’s most important to your style of photography when comparison shopping. Let me be right up front and tell you no one simple camera is going to offer all the features and meet each and every need of a hard core outdoor enthusiast.

Picture perfect

After all was said and done the Nikon D60 kit, which includes a camera body and 18-55mm, 3.5-5.6 UR image-stabilizing lens, got the most bang for my buck. This 10.2-megapixel camera has instant shutter response, a 1/4000-second speed that will stop any animal in midmotion, and snaps off three frames per second if desired. A 2.5-inch vivid color LCD screen offers wide-angle viewing or you can quickly switch to the viewfinder to take photos. This is Nikon’s smallest ever SLR digital, yet controls are simple to understand and to manipulate and not crowded together.

One battery charge yields roughly 500 pictures and there are eight auto-exposure modes programmed so that even I can get great results. For the experts there is any array of program options and scene modes for most any outdoor scenario. Although not small by pocket- size standards, the D60 and lens weigh only about 11/2 pounds and will store in the side pocket of a field jacket or fishing vest. The suggested retail for the D60 camera, lens and accessories is $750.

Since I really need telephoto power to reach out to bashful wildlife, I shelled out another 700 bucks for a 70-300mm zoom lens. Nikkor glass offers long-range clarity yet allows me to snap a photo as close as five feet. More importantly, this long-range lens has its own vibration reduction system to eliminate shake, as well as a fast, precise auto focus mechanism. At only 5.6 inches in length and weighing 26 ounces, this zoom lens on the D60 is a phenomenal all-around outfit when afield or afloat. Call 1-800-NIKONUS or go online to www.nikonusa.com for more options and information.

Although not an SLR with interchangeable lenses, the SP 570-UZ by Olympus offers almost as many features at only a $500 price tag. With dual-image stabilization and sequential shooting of 13.5 frames per second, no photo is missed and all action is frozen in time. Best of all this hand-fitting unit offers a 20X optical zoom lens – that’s equivalent to a 500 mm lens on an SLR outfit! There’s 10 megapixels of clarity, a 2.7-inch Hypercrystal LCD, 33 shooting modes, built-in face detection and shadows adjustment technology, and ultra quick manual zoom.

Contours of the SP 570 fit the hand perfectly for comfort and stability, and all function dials and push buttons are well labeled and evenly spaced for fingertip control. When not extended, the telescoping lens withdraws into the camera yielding a 41/2×21/2 body that is only 31/2 inches deep from lens cap to LCD viewing screen. This medium-size, option-packed camera is lightweight, durable and will easily fit in a jacket pocket.

I also found an exception to the rule among compact digital cameras, and its fantastic features far outweigh its diminutive size. I purchased one sight unseen as soon as I read about it online.

About the size of a hand-held calculator, this tiny digital is a sportsman’s dream. The Olympus Stylus 1030sw is totally shockproof when dropped from as high as 61/2 feet, it’s crushproof up to 220 pounds of pressure and freeze-proof to minus-10 degrees Celsius.

The clincher for me was its ability to take photos underwater to depths of 33 feet. Obviously its O-ring system also makes it impervious to dust. With a 2.7-inch LCD, 10.1 megapixels of picture reproduction quality, digital image stabilization and Perfect Fix in-camera editing, it’s almost impossible to take a poor photo. Add on Perfect Shot preview, in-camera panorama, face detection and shadow adjustment and I’m not sure how they packed so many features in a wallet-size camera. This rough and tough digital may just be the all-in-one choice for the average outdoorsman who can overlook its inability to stop action on fast-moving wildlife. The Stylus 1030 comes in three colors, costs $400 and can be viewed at www.olympusamerica.com.

Every outdoorsman needs a dependable camera to record that once-in-a-lifetime event. That camera must have the right features and be of a size that makes it an integral piece of equipment on every outing. Each one of the three outfits I’ve mentioned meets my stringent guidelines and I’ll bet one of them will fit your sporting needs as well.

bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com