dclifton

I'm looking to buy a digital camera that would be suitable for taking on a bike tour to Florida next week. Something that would take all kinds of photos like close ups and also panaramic shots and such.Could some of you suggest a couple models to look at ? I would like to spend less then $200 if possible.Thanks in advance.

reed523

I'll offer some feedback on a camera i have. It is an Olympus Stylus Tough. I chose it because my last camera had duct tape and tire tracks on it and this one is supposed to be tough (including waterproof). For the most part, i've been pleased with it. Good photo quality and relatively easy menu system. Two little niggles i could do without. The shutter is in the uppermost left hand corner of the camera body. I like to take pics while on the move and i can't quite pull it off left-handed without including my fingers in the pic. Also, it has a "tap to activate" feature of some sort. The idea is you can just touch the camera anywhere instead of on the bottom to snap a pic. The feature can be turned off but when you are rolling down a rough road, it tends to think you should want it on and you have to tell it no. Price is in your range. Battery life is very good. Video quality is acceptable. I haven't run over it yet but it has been dropped a time or two and been wet with no issues.
Good luck.
keith

BengeBoy 

After dropping a couple of digital cameras and ruining them while cycling, I got a Panasonic TS2. Like the Olympus mentioned above, it's supposed to be "toughened" and hardened against drops and shocks, in addition to being waterproof. I'm very happy w/the photo quality as well.

azesty

I dropped my Canon IXUS 120 IS when it was only a couple of weeks old. I was riding at about 205 kmph when it came out of my pocket and skipped a couple of times on the road and came to a stop near a drainage ditch full of water.

It still works well Tough little thing.

z

megalowmatt

I carry a digital camera (a canon elph) on my commute and I'll say the biggest frustration is the proprietary batteries dying at the most inopportune moments.

It really is my fault for not adequately keeping up on the charging but the next point & shoot I buy will take AA batteries.

So that's my suggestion - get one that takes standard batteries.

knobster

I second this suggestion. I've used mine for all sorts of activities such as biking, hiking, camping and backpacking. Taken HD video of my wife swimming while I was underwater, dropped it in a snow bank where it took over an hour to find and also dropped it biking at 20 mph. All coming out fine with just a few scratches. One tough camera. Good quality photos also.

Got mine off EBay for around $200 new.

Doug64

How is the shutter lag (time between pressing the button and when the actual picture is taken)on the cameras mentioned?

cachehiker

Canon SX130.

I have a Canon Digital Elph. It's my 3rd. My first survived falling out of my pocket at 20 mph and numerous other mishaps. The second fell out of its holster at the top of a waterfall. I don't think you'll find one that will survive a 40 footer. My 3rd is still going strong. It has its weaknesses though, few manual overrides, tiny lens doesn't allow enough light in overcast conditions, etc. It's OK for backpacking and cycling and such where I either want to go really light or really small.

If I could've purchased an SX130 at that time, I would have.

BengeBoy 

If you're looking for technical specs, this is the mother lode: www.dpreview.com.

irpheus

www.dpreview.com also have lots of - in my opinion - in-depth reviews and pictures taken with the individual cameras.

Greetings Jesper

Gotte

I take a Canon 400D. It's small and light for a DSLR, has an okay kit lens with a good(ish) range - 18 - 55. File size is good and adjustable and more to the point very usable ISO (alows you to take pictures in darker places. It's discontinued now, but you can get them new on ebay for about £250, which is kind of close. I highly recommend it, never let me down, even in the rain and with about a quarter of an inch of water in the bottom of my handlebar bag.

psmiffy

I used a Ricoh G600 on my tour last year - tough - waterproof - takes a reasonable picture - does what it says on the tin - it is a bit bigger than some of the other compact cameras - but I found I liked that - something to hang on to - uses a Lion battery which lasted for about a week at a time at 35photos per day - takes two AAAs as an alternative which give about a days photos

I suspect that it is costs less in the US than it did in the UK but is still probably out of the OPs price range

Grillparzer

Home Depot sells a brand of toughened waterproof cameras designed for use at construction sites. Compared to other cameras of course they're big and heavy but for touring it might be worth taken a gander. Can't for the life of me remember the name of the brand or I'd provide a link.

Tourist in MSN

I assume you want better photos than you would get with a phone.

For years I have been using a point and shoot with a scuba diving waterproof housing. Many years ago it was high end with 3 megapixels but not any longer. I do not want to carry one of my DSLR cameras with expensive lenses due to possible damage on a camping trip. I looked for a higher end point and shoot camera this year and could not find a waterproof one that I liked so I decided to get a non-waterproof superzoom and I will also carry the old waterproof camera for wet and dusty conditions.

Some of the superzooms use AA batteries and have an electronic viewfinder. Good review of superzooms here:
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q110superzoomgroup/

This was taken with a DSLR, but I don't want to subject that equipment to a bike and camping trip. But I think that my new superzoom could do almost as good as the DSLR for this subject.



If you use AA batteries, I suggest you get Eneloop rechargeables, my DSLR works much better with those than any other rechargeable batteries. At my niece's wedding last year I loaned some half drained Eneloops to the professional photographer that ran out of AA batteries for her flash.

reed523

This pic just about sums it up on the Olympus It does have a "sport" setting if i could just remember to use it.

psmiffy

Apart from cycle touring I work in the construction industry and often use a small digital camera as part of my work - getting the camera wettish and dropping them is not the main cause of cameras failing - dust especialy for cameras with zooms is the main enemy - often cameras will last less than a few months - cause of my panasonics failing on tour on a couple of occasions

Cyclebum

I've found that the Nikon Coolpix series are reasonably priced, convenient, tough, and take decent pictures. Don't be misled by megapixal ratings. Just advertising fluff. Do consider if you want a view finder. Very useful in bright sunlight.

I take a standard digital along for the few shots that I think may be worth enlarging beyond 5x7. 90% of pics I take on tour are with my cam phone. At 4x6, can't tell the difference, and the cam phone pics quickly turn into nearly live post cards for the folks back home, and are fast to download to a computer, upload to a journal.

10 Wheels

CannonA710

zeppinger

I would, at this point, complain about how often this subject comes up but I LOVE camera threads and all the great pictures that end up getting posted! Keep them coming!

I switch back and forth between thinking of getting a "tough" camera or a high end super zoom. In the end I went with a Fuji Finpix 5600 I got of CL for $50. Its a couple years old but 8 Megs, 10x optical zoom, a great lens, and runs on AA. If I break/lose it I am not out a lot of money. Sometimes the newest models are not the best options you know what I am saying?

Erick L

I have the earlier model, the TS1, and I like it. I did (or tried) to do videos with the camera a few inches from the ground and got banged up on the pavement at every bump. I've done a few shots underwater and it still works. I like the 28mm wide-angle. It came at the top of its class (with Canon) in Dpreview's test.

mobilemail

Is I write this post, Woot.com is selling a Panasonic camera that is exactly like the one I have had for about a year. I love this camera!!!! It feels solid, takes great pictures, point-and-shoot size, with superior optical zoom, and the "I'm stupid, please set everything for me" setting works great!!! I should say that when I take a picture, I really don't want to screw around with the camera, I just want to take a good picture like it's magic. If you want examples, click the link to see some pictures I took of a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Springfield IL using this camera. https://cid-c52959b56673790e.photos.l...Wright%20House

Al Downie

I use a Canon A650is because:
1) It takes ordinary AA batteries which are available everywhere
2) It has a 'twistable' LCD screen which is great for shooting at ground level or over people's heads
3) Compared to many other cameras, it favours the telephoto end of the zoom range, which is my preference.

I had the camera set to 'P' for every single shot on the Ladakh tour - no creative fussing, no faffing about with settings - just half-press to focus, then compose and click, job done! Examples are in the Ladakh link in my signature.

I use a Lowe-pro padded pouch which is quite compact but offers very good protection. Well worth the money.

MichaelW

I also have and like a Canon A series 620 BUT it is not currently on the market so any review is useless to a buyer.
Can we advise currently available models only please.

Im not a Canon fanboy and generally dont enjoy using their cameras BUT they do take the best pictures.
Nikon (and Olympus) seem to dissapoint in their compact range.
Panasonic and Fuji are good. Sony are sometimes bit gadgety to use but nice pics.

If you select AA or AAA batteries then the permanent rechargeable hybrid style is best (Enloop etc , several brands). Normal rechargeables fade after a week or 2. A spare Lithium battery can keep you going with most compacts for quite a while.

Al Downie

For the sub-$200 budget in question, I'd say a used camera in good condition would be worth considering.

SBRDude

If there is a newer model of a well-loved but no longer available model, I would find that a review of that older model meaningful.