Normal camera advice sought....

[Diesel]

I thought I'd ask the masses if you know of a good little camera to take touring, to capture my ride report pics.


It has to:


- be ready to shoot from OFF in around 2 seconds;
- be rugged as it gets banged around a fair bit;
- prefer 2 AA batteries rather than 4;
- have video capability;
- be compact as I operate it with my left hand (and the button is always located on the RHS);
- have a rear LCD screen;
- have a built in lens cover - not an external one you have to remove and replace and that flaps around in the 140km/h 100km/h breeze;
- have 5x optical zoom, and maybe a digital zoom to back that up;
- be at least 3 MP resolution.


Sounds fussy, but my old heap of crap that has taken all my ride report pics is of similar spec to the above, with the diff being 2MP and 4x Optical zoom.


I'm not after an $800 Digital SLR - just a cheap cam with a good lens.


Any ideas?


Cheers, Diesel

[Diesel]

This one looks like the go for now....


http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_a4000_is_review/




Canon PowerShot A4000

[Biggles]

I am a huge fan of Canon Powershot cameras for quality and performance.
My G15 is literally my fourth one, having had an A40, A75 and SX100 as they developed.
They can be a bit bulky.  A Canon IXUS would be slimmer.

[Skip]

Nothing wrong with the quality of the photo's you post here Diesel. I reckon they are always spectacular. Save your dosh mate.

[STeveo]

I have a Canon IXUS 115 HS that nearly fulfils all your requirements, but shoot button on right and on/off switch a bit fiddly with gloves. Cost $98 from Big W.

 

[Abe]

I use a Canon Ixus 220 HS, 12.1 mega pixels.  Very happy with it and it's 2-3 years old.

[Diesel]

Thanks for the ideas fellas.

Nothing wrong with the quality of the photo's you post here Diesel. I reckon they are always spectacular. Save your dosh mate.

Yeah Skip I wouldn't mind - but she's getting long in the tooth now and the power button is getting a little 'dickie' and the LCD screen is all scratched up.

If I get 3-5 years from a $100 camera, and get to take as many pics as I do - I reckon it's $$$ well spent. (But certainly don't want to go backwards in quality or practicality.

Cheers, Diesel

[IanB]

Did you ever buy a new camera?
The bad news is they don't make cameras with buttons on the left anymore.
Easiest and best thing for you to do (altho you might feel a bit funny) is to go to a camera shop with your gloves and try the cameras in your price bracket.
Most click and shoots these days are of a similiar quality. Might have different names on them but a lot come out of the same factories.
And for the lens cover make sure the camera can have a UV filter screwed on and then you get protection and are able to clean it without scratching a lens.
and get the biggest CPU (or whatever the chip is called) that you can afford. Means better reaction times and bigger images.
I'd be buying that $99 camera with housing at Jaycar and using it just as a camera since you have the contour.. Takes up to 5mb - open that in photoshop and it'll be megabig.

[alans1100]

We've had this one sitting around for a couple years and hardly used. http://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/compacts/panasonic_dmcfx2

No longer available but after reading this post I've recharged the battery and it still works ok. Should be good on the bike as I can keep it my pocket and get it as needed. It has HD TV (1920x1080 ) picture setting. Will see how it goes on our next ride to dad's.

Something like this at about $250.00 http://www.panasonic.com.au/Products/Lumix+digital+cameras/Compact+and+stylish/DMC-SZ5/Overview