16 replies to this topic

[jase]

The missus and I are going overseas next year and we need something to take snaps with.

While I love using a good SLR (the family has some sweet fuggin cameras), they are really too bulky for us to carry around all through Asia/Europe/Canada.

Do the smaller "point and shoot" cameras compete? Does anyone have any suggestions for a good quality, yet small/light camera?

[Missile]

Olympus Tough series. Waterproof, shock proof etc. e.g. very durable and takes a decent enough picture. Only issue (which is an issue with most travel sized camera's) is that the zoom is very limited. They only have around 3.6 times optical zoom.

[GSRSOL]

Get a Canon G10 Jase...

I have a G9 (the previous model) and it takes better photos than my SLR half the time.

[Jonson]

We are happy with our shitty Kodak easy share something something. Its the higher model, good zoom, good photos, good movies, can alter shit and change the mode for whatever/when your taking a photo. Was only like $600 but happy with it.

[jase]

Cheers peeps. The tough series sounds good but I need to make sure it can still take a quality photo.

Needs to be able to withstand being in a backpack while downhilling, maybe get wet while kayaking, and possible have me land on it while snowboarding lol.

[Missile]

I have no photography skills, so wouldn't know what exactly one would expect in terms of quality, but I am more than pleased with it. I have only ever owned a point and click camera - the first one died on the 2nd day of a Thailand Holiday a few years back. Bought the tough 800sw (or similar to that, it was the base model - they have/had a better model with greater waterproof distance and better quality image) just before a Bali holiday a year or so back and it hasn't failed me. As you've mentioned, I took it white water rafting, its been snorkeling in Rotto with me, and it is still a daily use camera...

[jase]

Sweet. Time for me to head down to JB and check a few out I reckon.

[bennygsr]

I don't think I would go anywhere without my SLR and at least 2 lenses. I know bulk is inconvenient, but to me the glass is everything. I don't want to take that awesome shot and say.... well if only i had..... But each to their own of course.

The Panasonic Lumix 12x optical (tz6 i think) look good, and some of the photos I've seen of it are good. It really depends what you want to do with it.

[lefty]

I dont like those Olympus weather proof cameras, but their not too bad. You hear the stories about them leaking, but nothing ever 100% perfect.

If your after top end cameras.
Canon G10 - 28mm-140mm
Ricoh GX200 - 24mm-72mm
GR Digital II? - 28mm fixed lens though (no zoom)

Middle Range
Panasonic TZ7 - 25mm-300mm (Nice spec's, nice image too!)
Ricoh R8/R10/CX1 - 28mm-200mm (CX1 has a mint lcd screen, v.good menu/button layout than any other p&s)
Canon IXUS Range - Always trustworthy, but usually 3x zoom and not wide angle.

Depends what your after. If you want weather proof/dust proof, then your only real option is Olympus.

I personally want a wide angle lens (to fit shite into the photo without having to walk back). I dont really need a big zoom.

The higher end models tend to all have manual controls if thats any help to you and are always better built (not plastic covers). Also have Image Stability.

The G10 is a big brick compared to a GX200 Dan, although I think the G10 images are better from 400 ISO onwards...always trade offs.

I guess if your travelling, best advice, dont go near sand. Make sure you get a good case and make sure its kept clean. Sand is a prick of a thing.

Thats probably all I can really think of from the top of my head.

Edited by lefty, 13 May 2009 - 10:53 PM.

[milkandoj]

my mates been through 3 of those olympus water proof cameras!
one or two may be been dropped at clubs now and then, but two of them we've had at the beach and the screen had just gone black after trying to take underwater shots.
Cant remember what happened to the other one. he just kept buying them on ebay coz they were so handy.

I dont know what model it was maybe they have a new and better on out.

[Missile]

There is another option out similar to the Olympus...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 - no idea of the feedback which it has received, I just saw the add on TV.

[lefty]

There is another option out similar to the Olympus...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 - no idea of the feedback which it has received, I just saw the add on TV.

I took a look at the spec's, seems alright.

Its got a wide angle lens (28mm) and a decent zoom for a camera that doesnt have a protuding lens (28-128mm).

So its zoom range is better than the Olympus u8000 (28-102mm), its aperature is slightly larger at wide angle also (F3.5 vs F3.3), not that its going to make any difference really.

The Olly can go to 10m depth vs Pana's 3m underwater so you'd keep that in mind.

Note the Olly has a sensor to measure depth and force, so Im sure they'd use that info for warranty claims, unsure about the Pana.

They seem to copy/paste alot of one another, they look nearly identical.

I'd just get the Panasonic, they are releasing some v.nice camera's these days. I think it may cost slightly more though.

(Also maybe check DPReview)

[GSRSOL]

G10 FTW!

[emz]

yer G10 take awsome shots!!!!!!! i got one and its the best thing closest to a dslr i could think of w/o being too bulky it has a pretty strong body, but not water proor or anything. u can change iso and other shit. b 4 the g10 i had an olympus 790sw which is waterproof 3 mtrs, shock proof 1.5 mtrs. i have dropped my camera NUMEROUS amount of times and it has not affected the quality on picture. a few dints n scratches but thats it. I have taken a few underwater piccies aswell just in a pool and they turned out fantastic. chek em out they not too expensive.
http://www.olympus.c...ived/Itemid,69/

[Missile]

Sony DSC-TX5 Cybershot is another water/shock proof camera.

[jase]

So her dad bought us a Casio Exilim in China before we left, and to be honest it's served us well. It's not so good in low light situations, but just about every photo on http://www.onthewaytosomewhere.com was taken with that camera.

It's been dropped, stuffed into bags, bounced around in my backpack while downhilling and nothing has gone wrong with it at all.

[SIVART]

my mates been through 3 of those olympus water proof cameras!
one or two may be been dropped at clubs now and then, but two of them we've had at the beach and the screen had just gone black after trying to take underwater shots.
Cant remember what happened to the other one. he just kept buying them on ebay coz they were so handy.

I dont know what model it was maybe they have a new and better on out.

the battery section rusts out also , and the price to repair costs more the buying a new one