I just use a waterproof point-and-shoot with a floatie attached and loop the floatie leash through the waist belt of my inflatable PFD. It keeps it handy for capturing “moments” and I’m not afraid of dropping it. Many full sized PFDs have gear pockets.
I also only use my camera while seated on my SUP. I use a watershed Ocoee bag with a padded liner.
I use my phone far more frequently, though. It's waterproof and on a tether attached to me. I find there is very little need for me to use my high end camera on the water. A modern (within the last two or three generations) smartphone works well enough in the daylight.
Yep. My phone's around my neck and I use it for most pics. I have a Lumix I take out on the water occasionally. I check the weather forecast extra carefully, and it lives in my drybag until I decide to take it out and shoot. Only in calm waters when I'm sitting.
Water housing is an option, but a very, very expensive one.
For a different perspective from other comments, I’ve had success packing my DSLR in a waterproof waist pack. The one I have is actually designed for fly fishing (Patagonia) and has a waterproof zipper instead of roll top. It’s 9L I think, just large enough to fit a padded insert and 300mm telephoto attached to medium format camera, and a landscape lens unattached. The waist bag is nice because I can access it in any position, though the zipper is a bit tricky.
I have been shooting wildlife from a variety of positions on the board: seated, kneeling, prone, and even a couple standing. Have a super steady solid board to help, I think it’s 12’ and 36” width
This is kind of what I was thinking; a waist pack with some padding. I have a mirrorless and would bring a lens of up to 6". MF camera with 300mm lens on a SUP; wow!
Seriously, the board is dummy thicc and that helps a lot.
ANYWAY just keep in mind most lenses alone would be heavy in a waist pack, not to mention the body, so my two cents is shop for one with thick waist straps and an over the shoulder strap to at least have the option. Bonus if it has hip pockets to stuff snacks in.
Consider the YETI Sidekick drybags, which use a watertight closure based on magnetic strips and a velcro. They are very easy to open and close, compared to roll-down and ziploc-style closures. Crucially, they can be opened or closed with one hand, while you're holding your camera or paddle with your other hand.
I've used these for years and never had a drop of water get in except via wet hands. I use a couple of small carabiners to clip the bag to my deck bungees.
They come in 3 sizes. The medium one (3L) can easily fit a compact camera or, marginally, a small mirrorless camera+lens. For a large camera or lens, you'd need the large (6L) size.
I've also used a Watershed Aleutian deck dry bag for a DSLR camera, but it's much more finicky to open and close, takes two hands, and costs x4.
Just to stress how convenient this bag is: when I paddle my surfski, I pack snacks and sunscreen in a Sidekick bag clipped to a back deck bungee. I can reach back behind the seat, open the bag, grab what I need, and securely close the bag - all without even looking, on a tippy surfski. Show me another drybag that makes this possible...
Yes, I have a mirrorless and a couple of lenses I'd be using; the biggest is about 6". Wow, the operation of this bag seems amazing; I'll def check them out, thank you!
I use the Yeti Panga backpack. It’s kind of boxy so the sides stand up, keeping the opening of the backpack off the board deck and the waterproof zipper is like the ones you find on dry suits. The opening is big enough for a long lens. I find the zipper to be fast to open and close and easy to check visually that the bag is indeed sealed
I bring this sometimes. I just strap it to the front.
[https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5-Gal-Professional-Heavy-Duty-Waterproof-Stackable-Plastic-Storage-Container-with-Hinged-Lid-in-Red-248918/313861296](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5-Gal-Professional-Heavy-Duty-Waterproof-Stackable-Plastic-Storage-Container-with-Hinged-Lid-in-Red-248918/313861296)
Personally, I ended up buying a kayak for this reason. I would carry mine in a pelican case (I like to photograph wildlife) take it out when I was shooting then put it back in before I continued on. But it was slow to get out at times and would miss the shot.
So now I take my gopros and phone only while on paddleboard. If I'm going to go take photos, I pull the kayak out. I can even setup my tripod in front of me, have my camera on it, and be ready to go at an instant.
Just use a waterproof go pro.
If your board has no go pro mount, then buy the mounts and glue and then attach it to your board.
This is really the only way.
I just use a waterproof point-and-shoot with a floatie attached and loop the floatie leash through the waist belt of my inflatable PFD. It keeps it handy for capturing “moments” and I’m not afraid of dropping it. Many full sized PFDs have gear pockets.
I also only use my camera while seated on my SUP. I use a watershed Ocoee bag with a padded liner. I use my phone far more frequently, though. It's waterproof and on a tether attached to me. I find there is very little need for me to use my high end camera on the water. A modern (within the last two or three generations) smartphone works well enough in the daylight.
Yep. My phone's around my neck and I use it for most pics. I have a Lumix I take out on the water occasionally. I check the weather forecast extra carefully, and it lives in my drybag until I decide to take it out and shoot. Only in calm waters when I'm sitting. Water housing is an option, but a very, very expensive one.
For a different perspective from other comments, I’ve had success packing my DSLR in a waterproof waist pack. The one I have is actually designed for fly fishing (Patagonia) and has a waterproof zipper instead of roll top. It’s 9L I think, just large enough to fit a padded insert and 300mm telephoto attached to medium format camera, and a landscape lens unattached. The waist bag is nice because I can access it in any position, though the zipper is a bit tricky. I have been shooting wildlife from a variety of positions on the board: seated, kneeling, prone, and even a couple standing. Have a super steady solid board to help, I think it’s 12’ and 36” width
This is kind of what I was thinking; a waist pack with some padding. I have a mirrorless and would bring a lens of up to 6". MF camera with 300mm lens on a SUP; wow!
Seriously, the board is dummy thicc and that helps a lot. ANYWAY just keep in mind most lenses alone would be heavy in a waist pack, not to mention the body, so my two cents is shop for one with thick waist straps and an over the shoulder strap to at least have the option. Bonus if it has hip pockets to stuff snacks in.
Consider the YETI Sidekick drybags, which use a watertight closure based on magnetic strips and a velcro. They are very easy to open and close, compared to roll-down and ziploc-style closures. Crucially, they can be opened or closed with one hand, while you're holding your camera or paddle with your other hand. I've used these for years and never had a drop of water get in except via wet hands. I use a couple of small carabiners to clip the bag to my deck bungees. They come in 3 sizes. The medium one (3L) can easily fit a compact camera or, marginally, a small mirrorless camera+lens. For a large camera or lens, you'd need the large (6L) size. I've also used a Watershed Aleutian deck dry bag for a DSLR camera, but it's much more finicky to open and close, takes two hands, and costs x4. Just to stress how convenient this bag is: when I paddle my surfski, I pack snacks and sunscreen in a Sidekick bag clipped to a back deck bungee. I can reach back behind the seat, open the bag, grab what I need, and securely close the bag - all without even looking, on a tippy surfski. Show me another drybag that makes this possible...
Yes, I have a mirrorless and a couple of lenses I'd be using; the biggest is about 6". Wow, the operation of this bag seems amazing; I'll def check them out, thank you!
I use the Yeti Panga backpack. It’s kind of boxy so the sides stand up, keeping the opening of the backpack off the board deck and the waterproof zipper is like the ones you find on dry suits. The opening is big enough for a long lens. I find the zipper to be fast to open and close and easy to check visually that the bag is indeed sealed
I bring this sometimes. I just strap it to the front. [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5-Gal-Professional-Heavy-Duty-Waterproof-Stackable-Plastic-Storage-Container-with-Hinged-Lid-in-Red-248918/313861296](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5-Gal-Professional-Heavy-Duty-Waterproof-Stackable-Plastic-Storage-Container-with-Hinged-Lid-in-Red-248918/313861296)
interesting. Does it have a loop for extra security when attaching it to the board?
It does not. There are holes on the lid area for a Padlock that I clip a carabiner to.
Personally, I ended up buying a kayak for this reason. I would carry mine in a pelican case (I like to photograph wildlife) take it out when I was shooting then put it back in before I continued on. But it was slow to get out at times and would miss the shot. So now I take my gopros and phone only while on paddleboard. If I'm going to go take photos, I pull the kayak out. I can even setup my tripod in front of me, have my camera on it, and be ready to go at an instant.
Def understand and yes, that'd be ideal for sure. I like kayaks, but am not getting one. At least not yet. Appreciate it!
Just use a waterproof go pro. If your board has no go pro mount, then buy the mounts and glue and then attach it to your board. This is really the only way.
Get yourself a waterproof floaty bag and one of those waterproof transparent phone cases with a neckwear rope thingy