Digital Cameras

[NousDefionsDoc]

What does a QP need in the way of a digital camera?

[Kyobanim]

Not a QP but in working with photos, TRs does a very good job and from what I understand it's very affordable.

I would look for a camera that's easy to use, allows you to turn off the annoying little sounds it makes, has plenty of storage capability, good optical zoom, the ability to take short 5 to 10 second videos would be a good feature. Waterproof or semi-waterproof is probably a factor. Some companies are starting to put out cams with low/no light capabilities.

One thing people tend to overlook is how do you get the pics off the camera and into the PC. Some companies use proprietary cables. If you can't find the cable hanging on the wall in compusa or walmart then pick another one. The cable always goes bad.

At the Guard unit I was with we had a large flight case with a Nikon in it. It had every conceivable attachment known to mankind. Looking back, everything in that case is now contained in a canera that you can carry like a pack of smokes.

Of course that's just my 2 cents.

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
What does a QP need in the way of a digital camera?

I agree with K on most of that.

A camera is like a gun in that the small, cheap one you have with you is better than the best, most expensive one you left at home.

I like having the max possible optical zoom within the class, the most MP I can afford, common rechargeable batteries, which can be replaced by dry cells like AAs if necessary, and a common media like a SmartCard or XD which will allow at least 50 pics to be stored, more if possible.

It would be nice if a water/weather proof model were available, but there are few good choices with that capability. I just use a Ziplock bag

There are a lot of Digicam review sites which allow you to see what is available within the class and price range you select.

I am currently using a Fuji FinePix 2600, which is a small point and shoot 2MP camera, easily carried and used, cost about $200 new.

I am looking to upgrade to a larger, more advanced camera for home/pre-planned use. Currently, it is looking like the Fuji FinePix S5000, which is a 3 MP camera with a 10x optical zoom, costing about $300.

HTH.

TR

[NousDefionsDoc]

Canon PowerShot S500 5MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom
for under $500?

5-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13-by-17-inch enlargements
Canon 3x optical zoom lens combines with 4x digital zoom for 12x total zoom
9-point autofocus; movie mode; PictBridge compatible
Store images on Compact Flash Type I memory cards (32 MB card included)
Powered by rechargeable battery pack NB-1LH (included with charger)

[Team Sergeant]

Memory Card.
Figure each shot is 1.5 meg each. A 32 meg card is food for say 16-25 shots max. I'd get a mininum of a 128 MB card, that way you can shoot all day, or a couple of days. (about 100 pic's)

[The Reaper]

What TS said, plus I think the zoom is a little short, especially in that price range.

Also consider that it appears to use a proprietary power pack, only available at great expense from Canon.

No way to just drop in a couple of Duracells when it runs out. I like using rechargable AAs myself.

TR

[Guy]

Get one that's slim so that you can carry it easily. Preferrably with a memory stick.

One that's easy to use also!:confused: I have the Sony DSC-V1, 5MP with interchangleable lenses...more "bells and whistles" than I know what to do with!

TS,
Is correct on the memory stick...I have a 256MB stick which I have yet to fill up. The battery went dead first.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Good G2. Now let's talk specific makes/models please.

[QRQ 30]

Presuming you are talking operational use rather than recreational or professional use durability and size are important. In my day we had two very diverse cameras -- the Leica M-2, and the Pen-EE half-frame 35mm. The PEN-EE was the standard camera in SOG. It was small, durable and basically point and shoot. I asked an intel specialist about taking pictures and he said all we had to do was get a focused image on film. The lab would take care of the rest. I'm sure that this is even more true with digital cameras.

BTW: The wuestion came up with the Leica which seemed like a formidable, complicated camera. It was complicated but the main object was to have the picture in focus.

[The Reaper]

NDD:

This is a little like someone asking what kind of gun you recommend without knowing who they are or what they want to do with it.

What do you want to do with it? That will drive a recommendation. Drop in a pocket to take quick snapshots, take surveillance photos, clandsestine photography, publish pics, what? The 5MB Canon S500 is very sexy and compact, like Sofia, but probably overkill for a pocket camera, and makes the camera much more expensive than the older lower res Canon S400. High maintenance, anyone?

I would go with a less expensive $200-$300 model till you see what you really like/dislike.

If you get the S500, get a 256 MB card, and at least one spare battery at $45 each.

Some reviews to read. Look for the comparisons, or just decide what you need the camera for and look for recommendations on the sites.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s410_s500-review/index.shtml

http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerShot_S500/4505-6501_7-30732126-2.html?tag=top

http://www.photoxels.com/canon_s500_execSummary.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/s500.html

http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_loader.pl?p=http%3A//www.megapixel.net/reviews/canon-s500/s500-review.html

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0402/04020906canon3ucs.asp

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1581455,00.asp


Bottom line on the S500 from some of the reviews:

What I liked:

Very good photo quality
Small, beautiful metal body
Very fast performance
Good burst modes (esp. the S500)
AF-assist lamp
VGA movie mode (S500 only), although limited compared to competition
Excellent bundle
Optional underwater case
What I didn't care for:

Redeye
Flimsy plastic doors over battery/memory card compartments
Sluggish frame rates, recording time limits in movie mode
Scene modes would be nice


Pros:
Compact size; sharp images; excellent battery life

Cons:
Heavy; some flash shots overexposed; menus can be confusing

Bottom line:
The Canon PowerShot S500 Digital Elph is easy to slip in a pocket, like an ultracompact, but this 5-megapixel 3X optical zoom camera brings a lot more shooting power with it. Sharp pictures and excellent battery life make this camera a solid choice.


Editors' rating: 7.4 Good

User rating: 83% 17% from 42 users

The good: Attractive and functional design; pleasing photos.

The bad: Small LCD; blur on the frame's left side.

What's it for: Taking 5-megapixel photos and capturing VGA (640x480) video clips.

Who's it for: Snapshot photographers who want an ultracompact camera.

Essential Extras: A CompactFlash Type I card with a capacity of at least 128MB.

The bottom line: Though the S500 is a respectable pocket snapshot camera, its performance and its feature set make it seem creaky next to the competition.


HTH.

TR

[Bill Harsey]

Are there any digital cameras with manual focus? Sometimes I think auto focus is defeated when trying to shoot thru a window.

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Bill Harsey
Are there any digital cameras with manual focus? Sometimes I think auto focus is defeated when trying to shoot thru a window.

I thought you used a brick for that trick?

TR

[Bill Harsey]

Once more, I didn't think of the easy answer. Sometimes one may not wish to draw that much attention to their artistic endeavors.

[Guy]

Originally posted by The Reaper
I thought you used a brick for that trick?

TR

That reminds of this older gentlemen, when we had to take a test by computer...

"Put the test on paper and I'll take it...if not, then fire me. At my age there are somethings I refuse to do and messing with a computer is one of them".

[The Reaper]

Sparkplug insulator?

If you really want a manual focus, many cameras have them.

This statue from the SF Museum was shot through the glass case on autofocus.

TR

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Bill Harsey
Once more, I didn't think of the easy answer. Sometimes one may not wish to draw that much attention to their artistic endeavors.

Sorry, Sir.

I keep forgetting that you are a college educated artistic logger.

TR

[Bill Harsey]

Point taken. Well done. I like the old guy who wanted to take the test on paper.

[Bill Harsey]

Originally posted by The Reaper
Sorry, Sir.

I keep forgetting that you are a college educated artistic logger.

TR It took a lot of logging to pay for college, including working winter and spring breaks in the woods. I'd get done with finals one day and be in the woods 200 miles away the following morning.

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Bill Harsey
It took a lot of logging to pay for college, including working winter and spring breaks in the woods. I'd get done with finals one day and be in the woods 200 miles away the following morning.


Good on ya', brother!

We appreciate things we earn much more than things that are given to us.

Which was harder, the finals, or the logging?

TR

[Kyobanim]

If you're looking for zoom quality then go for a larger optical zoom. Once you go into digital zoom your pic quality goes down. You can take a pic that was taken with 3x optical and blow it up with something like photoshop and it will look 100% better than a 10X digital zoom.

What TR said, What do you want to do with it? He pretty much nailed everything that would be important. I forgot about the battery power issue.

[DDD]

I'm using a Canon S400 with a 1 gig card (extreme overkill) and love it. The digital zoom does affect picture quality, but only for large prints. The canon is very easy to operate you can teach a pig to use it in a couple minutes.

[Bill Harsey]

Originally posted by The Reaper
Good on ya', brother!

We appreciate things we earn much more than things that are given to us.

Which was harder, the finals, or the logging?

TR Logging, finals couldn't kill ya.

[Bill Harsey]

Originally posted by DDD
I'm using a Canon S400 with a 1 gig card (extreme overkill) and love it. The digital zoom does affect picture quality, but only for large prints. The canon is very easy to operate you can teach a pig to use it in a couple minutes. That's the one I'm going to look at.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Want to do I want to do with it:

1. Needs to be small enough where I won't mind carrying it daily in a jacket or vest. Also not attract a lot of attention.
2. Shots - Training ops, security surveys, gear shots, kid shots, PP presentations
3. The photos need to be of relatively high quality for the presentations and surveys.

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
Want to do I want to do with it:

1. Needs to be small enough where I won't mind carrying it daily in a jacket or vest. Also not attract a lot of attention.
2. Shots - Training ops, security surveys, gear shots, kid shots, PP presentations
3. The photos need to be of relatively high quality for the presentations and surveys.

1. Point and shoot only then.

2. Would prefer something with at least 5x optical zoom and standard batteries.

3. 3-4MP, adequate, IMHO.

Will do some research.

TR

[DDD]

Using regular batteries is a plus, but all the cameras that I have seen that use them (I haven't seen that many) go thru about 1 set a day. These were older cameras, so the problem may be corrected by now. I have access to power everyday to recharge my batteries (always have a spare) so rechargables work fine for me. BTW if you go with rechargable batteries stick with OEM for your camera, all my aftermarket batteries failed.

[whizit]

For what it's worth, I have owned both the Olympus Stylus 300 and 410. These models are resistant to water. I have used in the rain with no faults. The rechargeable batteries seemed fine for me. I shot 124 photos over 5 days before battery died on a vacation trip last year. I haven't checked if it can use regular batteries. It uses the xD card for expansion.

These cameras are point and shoot. It takes about 1-2 seconds to be able to shoot photo. Also camera size is nice, I carried it around in a vest pocket.

3x optical zoom.

[The Reaper]

NDD:

Thanks for starting this thread.

I thought I wanted the Fuji S5000, but reading reviews for a few hours has changed my mind.

If you can get by with a 3MP camera, this is the absolute best one I have found. Even allows real VGA video captures at 30fps. 10x optical zoom and a stabilized lens, AA batteries, Compact Flash media or MicroDrives up to 4GB, tons of features, very compact package, about $400.

Not much bigger then the compact Fuji 2600 I am using now, even fits in the same case. Will fit well in a 5.11 pocket.

Canon PowerShot S1 IS, 4.4 x 3.1 x 2.6 in. 35.5 cu. in. 370g

Helllloooo, birthday gift!!!

TR

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by The Reaper
NDD:

This is a little like someone asking what kind of gun you recommend without knowing who they are or what they want to do with it.

What do you want to do with it? That will drive a recommendation. Drop in a pocket to take quick snapshots, take surveillance photos, clandsestine photography, publish pics, what? The 5MB Canon S500 is very sexy and compact, like Sofia, but probably overkill for a pocket camera, and makes the camera much more expensive than the older lower res Canon S400. High maintenance, anyone?

I would go with a less expensive $200-$300 model till you see what you really like/dislike.

If you get the S500, get a 256 MB card, and at least one spare battery at $45 each.

Some reviews to read. Look for the comparisons, or just decide what you need the camera for and look for recommendations on the sites.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s410_s500-review/index.shtml

http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerShot_S500/4505-6501_7-30732126-2.html?tag=top

http://www.photoxels.com/canon_s500_execSummary.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/s500.html

http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_loader.pl?p=http%3A//www.megapixel.net/reviews/canon-s500/s500-review.html

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0402/04020906canon3ucs.asp

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1581455,00.asp


Bottom line on the S500 from some of the reviews:

What I liked:

Very good photo quality
Small, beautiful metal body
Very fast performance
Good burst modes (esp. the S500)
AF-assist lamp
VGA movie mode (S500 only), although limited compared to competition
Excellent bundle
Optional underwater case
What I didn't care for:

Redeye
Flimsy plastic doors over battery/memory card compartments
Sluggish frame rates, recording time limits in movie mode
Scene modes would be nice


Pros:
Compact size; sharp images; excellent battery life

Cons:
Heavy; some flash shots overexposed; menus can be confusing

Bottom line:
The Canon PowerShot S500 Digital Elph is easy to slip in a pocket, like an ultracompact, but this 5-megapixel 3X optical zoom camera brings a lot more shooting power with it. Sharp pictures and excellent battery life make this camera a solid choice.


Editors' rating: 7.4 Good

User rating: 83% 17% from 42 users

The good: Attractive and functional design; pleasing photos.

The bad: Small LCD; blur on the frame's left side.

What's it for: Taking 5-megapixel photos and capturing VGA (640x480) video clips.

Who's it for: Snapshot photographers who want an ultracompact camera.

Essential Extras: A CompactFlash Type I card with a capacity of at least 128MB.

The bottom line: Though the S500 is a respectable pocket snapshot camera, its performance and its feature set make it seem creaky next to the competition.


HTH.

TR

I have this one. Haven't had it long enough to give much feedback, but I liked it enough to get it. The movie feature is really cool for sending movies of kids over the Internet. The size is really ideal.

[Smokin Joe]

NDD,

Everyone has said get a big memory stick, but something I haven't seen anyone mention yet is that once your memory stick is out of the camera it very fragile and can be erased just like a floppy disk. So swaping memory sticks is not recommended for field use. Get a big stick and leave it in the camera.

Just my .02 cents

[BadMuther]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer
I have this one. Haven't had it long enough to give much feedback, but I liked it enough to get it. The movie feature is really cool for sending movies of kids over the Internet. The size is really ideal.

Man, in this day and age, you might want to clarify that! ;)

[ghuinness]

Originally posted by whizit
For what it's worth, I have owned both the Olympus Stylus 300 and 410. These models are resistant to water. I have used in the rain with no faults. The rechargeable batteries seemed fine for me. I shot 124 photos over 5 days before battery died on a vacation trip last year. I haven't checked if it can use regular batteries. It uses the xD card for expansion.

These cameras are point and shoot. It takes about 1-2 seconds to be able to shoot photo. Also camera size is nice, I carried it around in a vest pocket.

3x optical zoom.

I know a few people that have Olympus cameras. They all tell me they are great and no comkplaints. I am looking at the Stylus 410 which runs about $320.

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by BadMuther
Man, in this day and age, you might want to clarify that! ;)

You are a sick man! LOL

[BadMuther]

I try...just looking out for you bro! ;)

[Sacamuelas]

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=1156&pq-locale=en_US


I have a Kodak DX4530 , 5.0 megapixel, 3x optical, it has a built in 32 mb memory inside the camera itself with a slot for a SD memory card. I bought a 256 mb SD card which is plenty big. The built in memory would pay off if your card was damaged in the field... as you could still take quite a few pics on the camera's memory.

You can choose the detail level/resolution you want simply by changing the setting in the menu on the camera. It also shoots video w/sound( I think you get 30 secs of video per 16 mb memory??) , uses either 2 AA or one of the crv3 lithium batteries.

I got it for under $300. I bought the docking station(@ $90), so I just have to sit it on the station and hit a button to input the pics/video onto my computer. It also charges the rechargeabvle batteries (included with the docking station) while it sits on the docking station.

I love it. :cool:

[gk404]

Ahh, a topic I can finnaly contribute to...

Some excellent info provided already. I will echo some of the comments and say that you should look for a camera with minimum 3X Optical Zoom and a minimum resolution of 3 megapixels. I work for a photo specialty retailer and from our data I can tell you that the Canon brand outsells everything else we carry. It also gets returned alot less often than any others.

I own the exact same camera as TR and it does the job for my needs (although the resolution is on the low side). As whizit already mentioned, in your locale it may be advantageous to go with an Olympus as it will offer a bit more protection from the elements and it also has good quality optics. I would not recomend Pentax and Kodak (sorry Saca) as in my experience, they seem to have issues with reliability.

Let me know if you need any more info and I'll do some digging for you with our Buyers.

HTH
George

[Smokin Joe]

Originally posted by gk404
Ahh, a topic I can finnaly contribute to...

Some excellent info provided already. I will echo some of the comments and say that you should look for a camera with minimum 3X Optical Zoom and a minimum resolution of 3 megapixels. I work for a photo specialty retailer and from our data I can tell you that the Canon brand outsells everything else we carry. It also gets returned alot less often than any others.

I own the exact same camera as TR and it does the job for my needs (although the resolution is on the low side). As whizit already mentioned, in your locale it may be advantageous to go with an Olympus as it will offer a bit more protection from the elements and it also has good quality optics. I would not recomend Pentax and Kodak (sorry Saca) as in my experience, they seem to have issues with reliability.

Let me know if you need any more info and I'll do some digging for you with our Buyers.

HTH
George

Do I smell another group buy.:D

[gk404]

Originally posted by Smokin Joe
Do I smell another group buy.:D

Lol, I'm not sure there would be much to gain as the markup on cameras (in our case) is only about 20% but I'll do whatever I can to help.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Well, I bought a Veo Photo Traveler for my Palm to hold me over. I'll try it out tomorrow.

[Kyobanim]

I've recently had the opportunity to work with a lot of old career photos and want to make a suggestion:

To all you young guys just starting your career, something that a lot of people don't think about is a camera. Trust me on this, you'll want a camera in your personal kit to document your career whether it's 3 years or 3 decades. I wish I'd done that. Memories are a lot clearer when you have a point of reference.

There's a lot of good suggestions for types in this thread and I'm sure there's higher quality and lower prices now. Do yourself a favor and get one.

[The Reaper]

I'll second Kyo's comments.

I was recently trying to pull a bunch of old photos together and was surprised at the gaps over the years and lack of pics with me in them, since I was usually taking them.

I am currently running a Canon PowerShot S1 IS with a 10x zoom, image stabilization, and video recording. On the down side, it is only a 3MP camera and sometimes has a lag when taking pics, but overall, I would have to say that it is the best of the large point and shoot digis.

Everyone needs a digicam, pick one with the feature set that works best for you.

TR

[Kyobanim]

Don't forget to hand the camera to your team mates and get a few of yourself. :D

[Achilles]

I'm going to buy the Canon S1 IS also. Olympus has a similar camera (10x zoom, VGA video) with 4 megapixels. but it has a lithium battery. Thanks for all the input, yall.

[The Reaper]

I'm going to buy the Canon S1 IS also. Olympus has a similar camera (10x zoom, VGA video) with 4 megapixels. but it has a lithium battery. Thanks for all the input, yall.

Great cameras.

Get the MAHA MH-204F charger and 8 of the AA Powerex 2300 mAh batteries, you should be in business.

TR

[Razor]

Pssst! NDD, you reading this? :D

[Achilles]

Great cameras.

Get the MAHA MH-204F charger and 8 of the AA Powerex 2300 mAh batteries, you should be in business.

TR

Ordered them yesterday, sir, but with the 204F packaged with only 4. More will be ordered later, I'm sure. I'll definately follow the examples of those who posted in the "Interesting SF pictures" thread and take as many pictures as possible during my career.

Thanks again, everyone.

[Achilles]

I've been playing with my new camera (the Canon) for a few weeks now. GREAT CAMERA! It's movie mode captures high quality 640x480 .AVI's that have near digital camcorder quality. The Powerex 2300 mah batteries are fantastic also. I have a 1 GB 80x speed CF card coming in on Tuesday (~85$ on newegg.com) so I'll have good capacity.

Thanks for the help picking it out TR.

If you are looking for a good, versatile digicam but not absolutely needing to take pictures that will require large prints, the S1 IS is a fantastic camera.

[The Reaper]

No worries.

The video clip here was shot with my Canon S1 IS:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4528&page=2&pp=15

TR

[casey]

I've been using a Minolta Dimage X with a 3X zoom for all my travel. Its very small, yet the shots come out crystal clear. Its billed as the lightest, thinnest, smallest (at least when I bought it) camera on the market. If I could figure out how to attach photos - I'll put some up.

[DDD]

I just changed cameras, from Canon Powershot S400 to Canon SD300.....The SD300 does absolutely everything the S400 did in a smaller package. The SD300 uses different memory (SD card vs compact flash) and battery than the S400, but the cost per MB of memory is about the same and the battery is also roughly the same.
The SD 300 has a larger LCD screen than even the S500, if you want a 4 MP compact camera take a look at the SD300.

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

Hi NDD, I use this model for all my travel and knife pics. The Canon Digital Elphs are my fave on the market for form-factor (SMALL!), resolution (5 megapixel) and picture quality.

When traveling I keep it in my jacket pocket, and it's been hit by enough things and still kept working that I'd say it's also somewhat rugged. All the video on my website was taken with this camera. This version offers 3 resolution modes for video. Didn't realize how handy that would be when you want to keep bandwidth lower.

PLUS, they just had a price drop and are now $399. Definitely a sweet spot for $ / megapixel.

Above 5 megapixels and you start to get lots more expensive, last time I checked.

When Canon comes out with a new Digital Elph model, I sell my old one and immediately get the new one. So I've used about 4 of them so far and have been happy with them all.

http://www.powershot.com

FrontSight

I have the Canon Digital Elph S-400 for awhile now and I'm very happy with it. I also have the Canon UW case that they make of that camera. It seems to work great UW too! I see no need to rush out and buy the S-500 at this time. :munchin

[BadMuther]

I've been looking to get a new digital camera for awhile now and have been following this thread with interest.

My question is, does the Canon S 1 have a delay when you hit the button? I HATE that, makes you lose shots and it's very annoying. Is it possible to adjust the cameras so there is no delay?

I was using some Canon powershot a-75's and a-80's this week and they had a serious delay.

[Sacamuelas]

BadMuther-

Are you talking about the delay for the auto focus before it takes the pic or the delay after the pic before you can take another one?

[BadMuther]

BadMother-

Are you talking about the delay for the auto focus before it takes the pic or the delay after the pic before you can take another one?

Delay for the auto focus bro, before the picture is taken, sorry for not specifying.

[Sacamuelas]

I don't think you will find many digital or standard cameras that don't have a delay for the auto focus part. Only way I can think it to set the camera on manual focus- and not all digital camera have that capability. I don't know about the Canon S1..maybe someone can help you out on that info.

You can always prefocus the camera and continue to hold the button halfway down...until whatever you want to take a photo of gets moving or whatever. That is what I have to do to catch my kids in a photo when they are smiling or whatever. Otherwise, I get frustrated like you and end up cussing the camera because my pic was actually taken 1 second AFTER they stopped smiling,etc. :D

[BadMuther]

I don't think you will find many digital or standard cameras that don't have a delay for the auto focus part. Only way I can think it to set the camera on manual focus- and not all digital camera have that capability. I don't know about the Canon S1..maybe someone can help you out on that info.

You can always prefocus the camera and continue to hold the button halfway down...until whatever you want to take a photo of gets moving or whatever. That is what I have to do to catch my kids in a photo when they are smiling or whatever. Otherwise, I get frustrated like you and end up cussing the camera because my pic was actually taken 1 second AFTER they stopped smiling,etc. :D


Yep, that's the prob that I have.

My Sony Mavica is pretty quick, but it's also a fairly large camera and not all of the shots are always in focus.

[gk404]

Turning the red-eye reduction off will help speed things up a bit as well. If you're in the market for a new camera, the best thing to do is go to a store, and try them out. Make sure the camera is set to it's highest resolution and has the red eye turned on.

The speed of the camera has mostly to do with it's processor, and to some extent the media being used. If you want quick try the Nikon D70, that's one nice camera. Also, I don't recall if its been mentioned but a good resource for camera reviews(with timings) is dpreview.com (http://www.dpreview.com/)

Cheers,
George

[Team Sergeant]

Before you make that next online camera purchase (or any online electronic purchase) read here first:

http://www.sheddingsomelight.com/


Then do a websearch on the following words:

Grey Market Items

I've always wondered how some online "stores" could boast the lowest prices on the internet, now I know.;)

TS

[jfhiller]

Digital Photography Review is the best website I've found for digital camera reviews. I recommend it if you're wanting to spend some $$ on a dig cam. Of course, the gray market information above is helpful for different reasons.

http://www.dpreview.com

[chittnp]

Love my Sony W50....you cant go wrong...great camera. The only down side to it is that it only uses Sony's Memory Stick Pro Duo, not mini SD or CF. It's 6.0 Megapixels and tiny, also has the Carl Ziess Lens. Almost identical to the new 6 megapixel Canon Digital Elphs for about $150 less

[Roycroft201]

Thanks so much for posting the info on the grey market items, TS.

I'm shopping for a new digital camera and that info helps alot.

RC201

[The Reaper]

Just bought a new Canon Powershot S3 IS to replace my old S1 IS, which was on its last legs.

Used newegg.com, so far, so good.

Avoid the Brooklyn dealers like the plague. You will not be happy if you do not.

TR

[BrianH]

I share your enthusiam for the Canon Digital Elph cameras! +1 on this list for me.

I've had Sony, Canon, and Pentax, and the Canons have always outperformed my other cameras by a large margin. I had some complaints with the early Digital Elph models due to extremely poor low-light autofocus performance, but all of those issues have been solved.

I recently purchased Canon's Powerhot S80 and couldn't be happier. 8.0 MP, extremely ergonomic feel, fully manual control, large screen, and tons of options. It's most of the power of a DSLR, but it will fit in my pocket; and that's exactly what I was looking for.

[geronimo]

NDD,

There are some great suggestions but I have a couple of more things I see as important that many here are glossing over. The big factors for me are:

-My PDA uses SD cards, my phone uses SD cards so therefore my camera uses them as well. I like to have some commonality and now I have the ability to take a picture and email it right away if needed. (This is great for site surveys) I can also slip the SD card out and break it quickly if I don't want to share the pictures with an unrelated but interested party...

-AA batteries! I hate rechargables since it seems that they are always used up when I need them. Murphy might turn on my camera in a pocket but a battery change is quick and easy with AA's. I always have plenty of them on me for NVG's and EO-Tech's anyways...

-The ability to easily and completely turn off the flash. I have played with a couple of cameras that make it seem like you are programming an ICBM when trying to kill the flash.

-The MP count is pretty important for me since I often take very high resolution extreme close up photos. I try to keep the MP count as high as I can afford without compromising the other factors listed above.

-Size, because as TR said up higher, the camera you have on you is the best one to have. (paraphrased)

Good luck and let us know if you decide to come into the 21st century! :munchin

[x SF med]

You people are corruptive, evil, and persuasive. Thanks a lot, I just added to my camera collection last night - Cannon EOS+ digital 8Mp SLR, 15-65mm lens, 3Gb card, 65-300mm lens, and a new flash. Dell had a sale, got a good price (don't even ask, I could have bought a couple of nice used pistols), not a stealth setup though.... should be here by Fri.

This is in addition to my 3 other cameras, 2x 35mm, 1 digital.

[jfhiller]

Sounds like a sweet setup. I hope you'll post a review of how you like it once you've used it for a little bit.

[Pete]

Ok, I move slow. Used a DC-50 for years. That was a big ugly box but it worked well.

Pulling open the lens cover turned the camera on. The on/off switch was starting to wear out and the camera was failing to turn on now and again. Slight problem when you are trying for a fast shot on some of the back roads around here.

Picked up a Kodak E/S Z700 a month or two back and so far its working fine. I like the view screen for those arms length, out the passenger window shots. I do take some telephoto shots now and again. I up the pixel count to the max, get the shot and turn the count back down.

The first digital camera I saw was in 1988. It looked like a standard SLR 35mm Camera. The Special Subjects Team , mine, at O&I ran the photo lab so we got to play with it for a while. Jumped it a few times, it still worked, and used it with the DMDG.

Pete

Use a digital camera for work every day.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Ok, now I have to buy one (kg said so). I'm looking at this one, based on the recommendations from this thread.

Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

or this one:

Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS 6MP with 12x Image Stabilized Zoom

price difference is about $100 for the extra MP.

I need it to take pics and video clips of training and for family stuff.

Any advice appreciated.

[The Reaper]

Ok, now I have to buy one (kg said so). I'm looking at this one, based on the recommendations from this thread.

Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

or this one:

Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS 6MP with 12x Image Stabilized Zoom

price difference is about $100 for the extra MP.

I need it to take pics and video clips of training and for family stuff.

Any advice appreciated.

I went from the Canon S1 to the S3. I looked at the S2 as it was on sale after the S3s came out, but the specs for the S3 won me over.

A lot more difference there than just the 1MB, IIRC. The reviews mentioned that they changed other stuff, IIRC.

Great camera, regardless. That is what I use for most of my pics here for the last couple of years.

Good luck, hermano!

TR

[NousDefionsDoc]

Boss, how's the video part - GTG? I'm pretty sure it's the one I'm going to get.

[x SF med]

Ok, time for the review of the Canon, digital EOS+ SLR. This thing is amazing - the image stabilization and the auto focus (hey, I was using it on a boat, in the fog) are nice features - the software is really good, it'll let you edit the photos in RAW format - caveat, the 8 Mp files are huge, but the quality is spectactular -interface between camera and computer is easy to use and pretty fast on the USB port.

Not a 'hider' though - same dimensions as a regular SLR, the 300mm lens has primo optics - the portrait lens is pretty good, but I used the tele lens on the watrer more. It will take video with sound (I didn't get the mic).

TS and Dan would shoot me if I put up any of the current images - they're a minimum of 2meg. I need to cut them down before I post.

[The Reaper]

Boss, how's the video part - GTG? I'm pretty sure it's the one I'm going to get.

The video is much better with the S3 than the S1. Neither is really any substitute for a camcorder. You can shoot up to 1 GB at 640x480 at 30 fps, max. That is tolerable for small MPEG-type internet videos, but nothing like a camcorder gets. It is a one touch video button, no need to turn dials or drill down through a menu. You can literally start a video without taking your eyes off the viewfinder.

Unfortunately, technology has, IMHO, not yet created a digital camera that will shoot movie quality videos, or a camcorder that will shoot portrait quality photos.

I have seen no one complain about the S3. It is feature packed, shoots images almost as good as an SLR type digicam, and is small enough enough to have it with you when you need it.

I do not think that you will be disappointed.

TR

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022111canons3is.asp

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/s3is.html

[NousDefionsDoc]

Many thanks - that's the one then.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Well,
I found a Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS here and went ahead and got it. I have a trip coming up and couldn't wait for one to come from the US. I was going to just get a cheap one and order the S3, but since they had it and it wasn't that much more....I made up some of the difference in free crap. I got a case, a 256 card, rechargeable batteries and charger.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to work the thing.

Many thanks for all the advice. I'm really happy with the purchase.

[The Reaper]

Well,
I found a Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS here and went ahead and got it. I have a trip coming up and couldn't wait for one to come from the US. I was going to just get a cheap one and order the S3, but since they had it and it wasn't that much more....I made up some of the difference in free crap. I got a case, a 256 card, rechargeable batteries and charger.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to work the thing.

Many thanks for all the advice. I'm really happy with the purchase.

Hermano:

Get a 1GB card and eight to 12 good rechargables (like the PowerEx batteries) and the Maha charger.

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/index.htm

Trust me, I have learned this the hard way. And with the S3, in an emergency, you can just use regular alkaline AAs.

Good shooting!

[NousDefionsDoc]

My first pic all on my own:


My Spartan Bag with pouches

(I will get better at this, right?)

[vsvo]

Nice camera and nice pic! Good shot for a first pic, I can't see how you can do much better than that!

Spartan Bag - is that modeled after Val Kilmer's go bag in the movie?

I'll second TR's recommendation for the Maha charger and Thomas Distributing. I just wish I knew about his tip in the Be Prepared thread (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=140023&postcount=305) before buying the expensive 2700mAh rechargeable batteries. The 2000mAh batteries I just got work fine for my civilian needs.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Yeah, the bag was designed from the one in the movie. Don't tell the TS, but I think they showed it to Haney before they started building them. Anyway, it's a great bag. Doesn't look tactical at all and holds a buttload of stuff.

[Cincinnatus]

Is that a multicam pouch I see? Are you into airsoft, Sneaky?

[Cincinnatus]

Kidding.

[vsvo]

I remember reading about it earlier this year. At the time, there were pics of the rough prototypes floating around. Based on your pic and comments, it looks like the final product turned out really nice. Thanks for the mini review and pic.

[NousDefionsDoc]

I like MC for down here - alot. I think it's a great pattern. And I've been known to shoot a smart ass with a BB gun a time or two in my life - not much of a crime there...;)

We use paint now - stings more, costs a lot more and we can call it fancy names like Less Than Lethal Reality Based Force On Force Warrior Mindset Training With Physical Components.

Sounds better than just 4 dudes shooting 2 dudes with BB guns to learn how to clear a room.

[Cincinnatus]

Actually, I'm a big fan of airsoft. Both for inexpensive indoor practice and improvised FoF.

I'm also a fan of MC. Caleb Crye was at Roger's when I took the class. He had a bunch of MC gear w/ him including the trousers that you don't have to take down to take a dump and his plate holder. It seemed like really well thought out gear and he seemed like a nice guy, definitely very sharp. Shot well, too.

The MC stuff practically disappeared in the GA woods. Don't know how it would work up here. TT doesn't charge extra for MC so I may get some MC pouches for my Marauder... 'cuz I hear chicks dig MC. ;)

[kgoerz]

Mine came with the Li-ion Battery. The one that came with the camera was small so I bought a higher capacity one. One charge last me an entire course. Also turn off the automatic review of your shots its eats up the battery life. Definitely get a 1GB card. You can put an hour of video on it plus 300 pictures. Worry about deleting the bad ones later. Good you cheap mofo, now you can do some of the picture taking.........LOL. Let me know if there are any accessories you need sent down. I still have a couple of Blood Hound Puppies for sale if you change your mind.

[mugwump]

1Gb SD card for $5.25 w/ free shiping. It's $30.25 - $15 rebate - $10 (click on the "save $10 off $30 with Google" payment option).

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10374095&adid=17662

Edited: crap, it just went on backorder

[NousDefionsDoc]

What's the program of choice for converting .avi files to .mpeg?

[Bill Harsey]

Looking forward to seeing the program of choice answer.

NDD, We got a Canon Powershot A-80 here. When I have to use it I make sure one of the kids is nearby to make it work for me. I HATE buttons that have 457 different functions depending on how you touch them.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Definitely need the 1GB card.

Any of you guys ever use a Carson Lens Pen on your stuff?

[tk27]

What's the program of choice for converting .avi files to .mpeg?
WinAVI Video Converter

http://www.winavi.com/en/video-converter/video-converter.htm (http://www.winavi.com/en/video-converter/video-converter.htm)

[jfhiller]

Any of you guys ever use a Carson Lens Pen on your stuff?

I used to use one. It's handy for a quick field clean of light dust if needed. Be careful not to get anything abrasive (e.g. sand) caught in the bristles.

For situations when there's more than just a little dust to clean off, this is the prefered method that i was taught by an old camera tech:

Take one sheet (~2 x 3 inches) of disposable lens cleaning paper.
Roll it length-wise and tear it in half.
Drop a small drop of lens cleaning fluid in the center of the lens glass (facing up).
Put the two torn paper ends together perpendicular to the lens and, pressing gently, clean in a long spiral from the drop in the center of the lens outward toward the edge.
Repeat with a new piece of lens paper as needed.

[vsvo]

Lens pens are great. I don't have the Carson one, but I use a couple of different brands, pretty much the same thing. As noted, just check the cleaning tip and brush frequently. Once you get any kind of grit in there, chuck it and get a new one. For simple dust removal, I use the Giottos Rocket Blower (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower_.html).

Neat tip with the lens paper, jfhiller!

[Remington Raidr]

I get that the higher MP the better. What I am looking for is a digital camera that I can use to photograph documents that are right in front of me. Just trying to save copying costs at the clerk of courts. I am thinking image stabilization would be good to have, along with AA rechargeable, flash, large review screeen to make sure I get it right, and enough resolution to get the 6 pt font fine print, and downloadable to my Windows XP professional computer. Recommendations?

[lindy]

... I am looking for is a digital camera that I can use to photograph documents that are right in front of me.... Recommendations?

Minox (http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=fotografie&L=1)! :p

Although (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minox) primarily marketed as a luxury item, the Minox was also used as an espionage camera. Its close-focusing lens and small size made it perfect for covert uses such as surveillance or document copying. The Minox was used by both Axis and Allied intelligence agents during World War II. Later versions were used well into the 1980s. The Soviet spy John A. Walker Jr., whose actions against the US Navy cryptography programs represent some of the most compromising intelligence actions against the United States during the Cold War era, used a Minox C to photograph documents and ciphers. An 18 inch measuring chain was provided with most Minox cameras, which enabled easy 8x10 or 8.5x11 inch document copying. The espionage use of the Minox has been portrayed in Hollywood movies, and some Minox marketing efforts have played up the "spy camera" story.

[dr. mabuse]

The small Canons work very well. My wife is too impatient to scan things so I lay the documents on the floor, stabilize the camera on the edge of the desk and shoot. If needed, I clean them up in Photoshop.

BTW, more pixels is not always better. The more they crowd onto a small sensor, the more leakage between pixels. Not too much of an issue if you like to keep prints small. For the same sensor size, less pixels is better, especially if you want to shoot in low light.

For example, on the large SLR cameras, there are less pixel yet the pixels themselves are large and produce a better image with little/no blooming between the pixel site on the sensor. I still keep an old Canon D30 3.2 mp for travel and the pictures are superb.

Still got my Minox too.

[The Reaper]

Minox (http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=fotografie&L=1)! :p

Although (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minox) primarily marketed as a luxury item, the Minox was also used as an espionage camera. Its close-focusing lens and small size made it perfect for covert uses such as surveillance or document copying. The Minox was used by both Axis and Allied intelligence agents during World War II. Later versions were used well into the 1980s. The Soviet spy John A. Walker Jr., whose actions against the US Navy cryptography programs represent some of the most compromising intelligence actions against the United States during the Cold War era, used a Minox C to photograph documents and ciphers. An 18 inch measuring chain was provided with most Minox cameras, which enabled easy 8x10 or 8.5x11 inch document copying. The espionage use of the Minox has been portrayed in Hollywood movies, and some Minox marketing efforts have played up the "spy camera" story.

I think he is looking for digital, not film.

TR

[cszakolczai]

The small Canons work very well. My wife is too impatient to scan things so I lay the documents on the floor, stabilize the camera on the edge of the desk and shoot. If needed, I clean them up in Photoshop.

BTW, more pixels is not always better. The more they crowd onto a small sensor, the more leakage between pixels. Not too much of an issue if you like to keep prints small. For the same sensor size, less pixels is better, especially if you want to shoot in low light.

For example, on the large SLR cameras, there are less pixel yet the pixels themselves are large and produce a better image with little/no blooming between the pixel site on the sensor. I still keep an old Canon D30 3.2 mp for travel and the pictures are superb.

Still got my Minox too.


I have a Minox as well, but I have to agree with everything you say. I'm a part time wedding photographer, it pays the bills while I am in college. Lots of people who ask me about my camera usually try and compare megapixels. For example I have a Nikon D700 which has 12 MP (DSLR), and some of the latest Canon point and shoots have 15. People automatically assume that more pixels is better, but in reality its not. I've yet to see anyone actually need more then 12 MP even when cropping. Lots of the major camera companies have started to create a MP war and it's getting out of hand.

[Ret10Echo]

Just picked up a Pentax K-x with 18 - 55 and 50 - 200mm lenses. (When I say "just" I mean last night)

What led me in that direction were some of the attributes of the camera that made it a little more than an entry-level system while still having the "beginner" prompts available. It will also fit all legacy Pentax lenses, which I have a few of.
I liked the idea of using AA batteries of whatever composition. Currently utilizing AA Lithiums, but the camera will work with rechargeables or even alkalines in a pinch.
Image stabilization is built into the camera body and seems to work well even at higher zoom levels. Since it is a 12 mps camera, the highest quality images are fairly large (5 Mb) so they will eat up some disc space, but 2Gig and 4Gig (SD and SDHC respectively) cards still have plenty of storage. I have not made a choice on or worked with editing software as of yet to see what I can do from there. Rapid fire at 4.7 fps really catches action sequences well.

I am going to continue to experiment as I knock the dust off of the old "photo-lab" notebook. :D

R10

[Remington Raidr]

Just picked up a Pentax K-x with 18 - 55 and 50 - 200mm lenses. (When I say "just" I mean last night)
R10

I'm still educating myself. Could you share how much and where you got it?

[Ret10Echo]

I'm still educating myself. Could you share how much and where you got it?

I compared several different sources and "packages" before I came to my decision: Drilled down to these three based upon my personal familiarity. I know there are other online retailers that may beat the prices, but I lean toward the manufacturer sites so I can be relatively assured of what I am getting. Of course that may be more of me having a false sense of security.....;)

COSTCO: K-x, Black with 18 - 55mm, Gadget bag, 2 ea 2GB SD cards - $579. However I am not a COSTCO member and the closest is about 1 - 2 hours away. Membership is $50 so I factored that into the overall cost.

WalMart Online (not available in-store): K-x, Navy with 18 - 55mm - $649 (plus S&H or Ship to Store option)
WalMart also had the 50 - 200mm lens seperately for $279

Pentax online: K - x, Black with 18 - 55mm - $ 649
However the online store also had K - x with 18 - 55mm and 50 - 200mm lenses $749. S&H was $14
I paid an extra $10 shipping in order to ensure UPS delivery as opposed to USPS (I have had small, somewhat expensive electronics "lost" by the USPS more than once)

So given the cost of the 50 - 200mm lens alone I decided to go with the Pentax Online package. (749 - 279 = 470 for the body and 18 - 55mm) I wanted the zoom to avoid the small speck in the middle of the frame (I hate having to explain "Yeah, that was......") and to have the autofocus capability which I would not get with my existing Pentax zoom lenses (no factor for still shots, but for action shots it could be problematic since my eyes are not getting any better over time).

Hope that helps.

Also used this site to narrow the field on which make/model: link (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp)

R10

[cszakolczai]

I compared several different sources and "packages" before I came to my decision: Drilled down to these three based upon my personal familiarity. I know there are other online retailers that may beat the prices, but I lean toward the manufacturer sites so I can be relatively assured of what I am getting. Of course that may be more of me having a false sense of security.....;)

COSTCO: K-x, Black with 18 - 55mm, Gadget bag, 2 ea 2GB SD cards - $579. However I am not a COSTCO member and the closest is about 1 - 2 hours away. Membership is $50 so I factored that into the overall cost.
WalMart Online (not available in-store): K-x, Navy with 18 - 55mm - $649 (plus S&H or Ship to Store option)
WalMart also had the 50 - 200mm lens seperately for $279

Pentax online: K - x, Black with 18 - 55mm - $ 649
However the online store also had K - x with 18 - 55mm and 50 - 200mm lenses $749. S&H was $14
I paid an extra $10 shipping in order to ensure UPS delivery as opposed to USPS (I have had small, somewhat expensive electronics "lost" by the USPS more than once)

So given the cost of the 50 - 200mm lens alone I decided to go with the Pentax Online package. (749 - 279 = 470 for the body and 18 - 55mm) I wanted the zoom to avoid the small speck in the middle of the frame (I hate having to explain "Yeah, that was......") and to have the autofocus capability which I would not get with my existing Pentax zoom lenses (no factor for still shots, but for action shots it could be problematic since my eyes are not getting any better over time).

Hope that helps.

Also used this site to narrow the field on which make/model: link (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp)

R10

Next time you want to buy something at costco, find a members card, bring cash, and just buy the product and they wont even ask to see your membership card only at the door when letting you in.

I like pentax to a certain extent, I think its definitely up to par if not better then some of the "entry level" camera's. I'd be interested to see what you think of it as time goes on.

[Ret10Echo]

I like pentax to a certain extent, I think its definitely up to par if not better then some of the "entry level" camera's. I'd be interested to see what you think of it as time goes on.

It is early on, but I will get back here once I have run through a couple of sets of batteries ;)

[cszakolczai]

It is early on, but I will get back here once I have run through a couple of sets of batteries ;)

Sounds good to me, in for updates.

[rltipton]

This is a bit lower tech than most of those, but I got a Polaroid t833 last year and I wish I had it when I was on a team. It fits in your pocket, it's light, waterproof, tough, takes awesome photos and video. I love it. It's perfect for a hike. It takes some pretty amazingly good shots in low light and stop-action, plus video/sound quality is very good. If I ever tear it up I will definitely buy another one.

The only downsides to it are that it does not use off the shelf batteries (it has a removeable battery pack with a charger it fits into). Also for me it has too many adjustments to choose from. I would personally like it better if it only had like 4 settings because I'm not on top of the pro photo stuff too much anymore.

Folks who like the manual cameras might like this one though. Instead of turning the lens dial to set aperture you do it with a digital button...they are all there.

http://products.polaroid.com/products/productdetail/part_number=PW102/1848.0.61254.61271.0.0.0

Also, if you are looking for a nice video camera for carrying easily, check ot the ipod Nano. I gave my wife on for Christmas and that little thing takes some excellent quality video...way better than I would have expected. You guys may know about it already, but I don't keep up with technology too much. haha

Be safe,
Randy

[Ret10Echo]

This is a bit lower tech than most of those, but I got a Polaroid t833 last year and I wish I had it when I was on a team. It fits in your pocket, it's light, waterproof, tough, takes awesome photos and video. I love it.

Randy,

I still have 2 other smaller cameras similar to the Polaroid you mention. The capabilities of the point-and-shoot systems have come a long way and there are times where bringing in a DSLR is impractical or overkill. The motivations for me upgrading were the variety of lenses available and an overall frustration for missing certain shots because I was trying to do something beyond the capability of my previous camera. As with all things, the right tool for the situation. ;)

R10

[cszakolczai]

This is a bit lower tech than most of those, but I got a Polaroid t833 last year and I wish I had it when I was on a team. It fits in your pocket, it's light, waterproof, tough, takes awesome photos and video. I love it. It's perfect for a hike. It takes some pretty amazingly good shots in low light and stop-action, plus video/sound quality is very good. If I ever tear it up I will definitely buy another one.

The only downsides to it are that it does not use off the shelf batteries (it has a removeable battery pack with a charger it fits into). Also for me it has too many adjustments to choose from. I would personally like it better if it only had like 4 settings because I'm not on top of the pro photo stuff too much anymore.

Folks who like the manual cameras might like this one though. Instead of turning the lens dial to set aperture you do it with a digital button...they are all there.

http://products.polaroid.com/products/productdetail/part_number=PW102/1848.0.61254.61271.0.0.0

Also, if you are looking for a nice video camera for carrying easily, check ot the ipod Nano. I gave my wife on for Christmas and that little thing takes some excellent quality video...way better than I would have expected. You guys may know about it already, but I don't keep up with technology too much. haha

Be safe,
Randy

Judging by your post and hiking. If you break the polaroid, you may be interested in this. Price tag is getting up there, but it can take a beating, and the picture quality is great. Its crush proof, waterproof, and shock proof. I am going to get one of these later on down the road when I need a nice point and shoot.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-720SW-Digital-Optical/dp/B000EA0EDO

Chris

[stickey]

Since the thread started in 2004, the past 5 years have seen major improvements in features and price.

My wife does photography (weddings, birthdays, engagements, etc...). She has some excellent equipment, however, not the type that i would want to deploy with. The idea of changing out lenses on a camera that would not stow away easily and quickly have turned me to the "point and shoot".

In the next few months in preparation for MOB (and upon returning and doing some surfing and diving with a waterhousing), after having researched everything from optical zoom, MP, weight, and size dimensions, the following is my current choice for the price for MOB:


Sony DSC-HX1 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665789079#features)

Key features:
9.1 mp
20x Optical Zoom
Wide angle w/ panorama mode
and the most convincing feature: 1080 HD Video
MSRP: $479 (online around 400 is some places)

Once i get it, i will post some pics and video samples.

.02

[69harley]

That is a nice camera, with great features at a good price.

It uses Memory Stick Pro Duo for recording media. Could be a problem downrange as most other cameras use standard SD memory.

[cszakolczai]

Since the thread started in 2004, the past 5 years have seen major improvements in features and price.

My wife does photography (weddings, birthdays, engagements, etc...). She has some excellent equipment, however, not the type that i would want to deploy with. The idea of changing out lenses on a camera that would not stow away easily and quickly have turned me to the "point and shoot".

In the next few months in preparation for MOB (and upon returning and doing some surfing and diving with a waterhousing), after having researched everything from optical zoom, MP, weight, and size dimensions, the following is my current choice for the price for MOB:


Sony DSC-HX1 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665789079#features)

Key features:
9.1 mp
20x Optical Zoom
Wide angle w/ panorama mode
and the most convincing feature: 1080 HD Video
MSRP: $479 (online around 400 is some places)

Once i get it, i will post some pics and video samples.

.02

I would look into that olympus I posted 2 posts back. It is water proof and can handle a lot of abuse. It may be another option to consider.