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Posted By Tim Wieneke on 25 Sep 2011 06:34 PM
I ended up taking the plunge and investing in about $1,500 of digital SLR camera equipment- a Nikon D5100 with a couple lenses . Having used it for a solid month now on storm I can say it's the best decision I ever made with regards to cameras. It works well in the heat and humidity. Twice I've needed to blow across the lense to clear up fog. I'll find out soon how it does in the cold but I imagine it will do quite well there as well. The only tricky thing with this particular DSLR is aftermarket battery chargers are near impossible to find. Definite downside when you realize your charger is in the hotel room of that last hail storm.

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Tim, that's an awesome set up. You state $1,500.00 for camera "equipment", what other equipment? When I first started adjusting I bought a Panasonic Lumix and paid $699.00.

The older guys who took me under their wing told me I might as well have thrown the $700.00  down the toilet and laughed their hind ends off (it should be noted that these fellows favorite pasttime was to remind me that my adjusting skills were akin to a monkey trying to F@#$ a football) Anyway, I really tried to take care of it, but somehow a little ding here a little ding there and now my beauty is all scuffed up. Of course, less than 2 months later they were proven right as my PL took a dive off of the roof.I also learned an expensive lesson to always utilize my wrist leash before picture one. I have run with a lower end Panasonic Lumix since that time(199.00) and a Kodak digital camera ($129.00 as backup)

To make a long story short (too late) treat that equipment with kid gloves. I am a tech buff, I gotta have the latest gadgets. Ridiculously, I must say I am excited to see a pic of your setup soon if you would oblige my request. Aftermarket chargers or aftermarket anything tend to be trouble, alas' I think I have an answer for your dilemma !!

All you need to do to ensure running down the camera batteries will NEVER happen again is a power inverter (don't go cheap because with inverters you get whatcha pay for). Now just always keep the charger in your p/u with the camera on the risk or in the hotel. That was the best money I ever spent EVER !!

 

 Hi Robby,

Here's a pic.  I've run this system on 50 claims thus far and love it.  The the bag helps too as I can carry all my roofing gauges, pencils, notebook, tape measure, roof chalk, batter charger with wall and car adapters and even my old point and shoot digital as a backup all in the same bag.  I can sling it over my shoulder while climbing and then have everything there when I get to the perch I want.  I'm big into the "go bag" concept where I can just grab one bag and have everything in it I need.  I neglected to mention too that the $1500 included 3 years of extended protection that included a replacement in case I ever broke it by dropping it or getting it wet.  I was spending about that much across 3 years for the small digital point and shoots I've been wearing out so it only made sense to upgrade.

Thank you for the tip on inverters.  I had a manager back when I was with Farmers who turned me on to those.  I do keep one in the trunk.  Some years ago I got one from Bass Pro Shops that was the same dimension as a pop can so you could set it inside beverage container of your car.   I don't know where it disappeared to but I always keep my eye out for a replacement every time I visit BP.

Tim

Check out the Panasonic TS-3.

Posted By Tim Wieneke on 26 Sep 2011 05:35 PM

 Hi Robby,

Here's a pic.  I've run this system on 50 claims thus far and love it.  The the bag helps too as I can carry all my roofing gauges, pencils, notebook, tape measure, roof chalk, batter charger with wall and car adapters and even my old point and shoot digital as a backup all in the same bag.  I can sling it over my shoulder while climbing and then have everything there when I get to the perch I want.  I'm big into the "go bag" concept where I can just grab one bag and have everything in it I need.  I neglected to mention too that the $1500 included 3 years of extended protection that included a replacement in case I ever broke it by dropping it or getting it wet.  I was spending about that much across 3 years for the small digital point and shoots I've been wearing out so it only made sense to upgrade.

Thank you for the tip on inverters.  I had a manager back when I was with Farmers who turned me on to those.  I do keep one in the trunk.  Some years ago I got one from Bass Pro Shops that was the same dimension as a pop can so you could set it inside beverage container of your car.   I don't know where it disappeared to but I always keep my eye out for a replacement every time I visit BP.

Tim

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Tim, I got mine at Radio Shack and has two outlets, the coolest thing. I payed somewhere around $74.99. It is shaped like a brick Approx. 12 in x 4 in and is somewhat heavy but built solidly. Be careful with the little y shaped ones because they cannot regulate the power from the cig. lighter , whereas mine has a surge protecter built into the unit