What kind of camera ARE you using?

[airboss]

Got Gary's rack in the mail(most excellent), got it installed (took 10 min), and it looks so good on the bike. I ran inside to get the camera and it is dead. Changed batteries, not going to resurrect this one still dead. So RIP mr. HP 733. I need a new camera.

I'm now in the market for a small snapshot camera that takes a decent picture(because I can't).

I have no knowledge of what's available or where to look. What I like is small, simple to operate, and bullet proof enough to travel thrown in a tank bag or stuffed in my pocket, and be of moderate price. My history with cameras says I am A. goin' to break it or B. lose it.

 

[donaldb]

I have a Pentax Optio W10. I like it because it is compact and water proof and very simple to use. See my pic's as a sample in the images section under the thread topic Cherohala the Dragon trip. IT has a macro setting for very close up detail shots and a decent zoom capabilities and it costs a little less than 300.00. I tested the waterproof abilities while on vacation at Grand Cayman when I took some under water pic's and it worked perfect. Good little all around camera and it fits in the FJR glove box with room for my shades.

I got mine at Willoughbys.com....best price at the time I bought mine.

here it is

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I have a Pentax Optimo 10. I like it because it is compact and water proof and very simple to use. See my pic's as a sample in the images section under the thread topic Cherohala the Dragon trip. IT has a macro setting for very close up detail shots and a decent zoom capabilities and it costs a little less than 300.00. I tested the waterproof abilities while on vacation at Grand Cayman when I took some under water pic's and it worked perfect. Good little all around camera and it fits in the FJR glove box with room for my shades.
I got mine at Willoughbys.com....best price at the time I bought mine.

here it is

Did you dive the wall in Grand Cayman?

Cameras: Since you are taking pictures while riding, make sure you buy something with stability control features. Also, one that has a wide range of apeture abilities. This makes things easier on the back end (less futzing around with images in photoshop)

Everyone I talk to likes Canon, Nikon and Sony/Pentax in that order.

I look forward to seeing the results of the purchase!

Hey donald...send me some pics from Cayman (or post them). I have been there 4 times and each time dive about twice a day. I have never had an underwater camera there and I'm not sure I'll go back.

 

[Barabus]

I am a serious ameteur photog and have been looking at the Canon sd800is ultra compact. Without knowing your budget or what you are thying to do, it is harder to answer your question. Google "digital photo review" and go to the dp review site for the most complete reviews on cameras. I like the sd800 b/c I can put in my chest pocket when I ride. That way it is aways handy. The Canon G3 (i think or s3 or something like that) is also making a lot of press as the new midsize from canon. I shot a Canon 5D which is the cat's ***, but does not easily fit on my bike.

 

[donaldb]

Sorry O'vale, the waterproof capabilities are minor with this camera and you can take it under water only 10 feet or so. The underwater pics I took were when wifey and I swam with the stingrays. I think I have a couple pic's of that I can post:

If you look in the distance where the water color changes from light to dark........there's your wall/vertical drop 1000+ feet

While I am NAUI certified, I did not have the opportunity to dive on that trip as it was a family vacation and I would had to have left on my own and left the family behind. Mom and Pop are getting on up in age and I wanted to stick close to them during the trip. So, if there is a next time to Grand Cayman....I'll make a special effort to get in some dive time

 

[mdisher]

A most excellent digital cameral review site:

https://www.dpreview.com/

 

[C&C]

Canon S1 1S is what I have. Great pictures, manual or automatic, 10X zoom; great camera. If I had to do it again, there is a new Canon, which is a S2 1S with 12X zoom and 5 megapixels, the S1 has 3.2 megapixels.

 

[Scab]

Get a canon or a canon. Hard to beat.

 

[Fallen Jim Rides again]

+1 on the dpreview site.

+1 on Canon (G2 here)

 

[ionbeam]

Another pretty good review site is Steve's Digicam. Look for battery life, shutter lag*, image stabilization is very desirable, ability to shoot higher ISO speeds (ASA 400-800) with limited 'noise' in the picture and a bright LCD**.

*Shutter lag is the time between pressing the button and when the picture is actually taken. In that time the camera needs to focus and set exposure. On our Panasonic there is too much lag, you see it, shoot it -- and miss it because of the time delay. My Canon is almost instant.

**Most LCD displays can get washed out in bright sunlight. It's hard to shoot when you can't see.

 

[airboss]

Thanks for the links everyone, this could take a few days, right now I kinda like the olympus stylis 710 sw, small,fast,shockproof at 5 ft, waterproof to 10ft, plus more features than I'll ever figure out. This looks like a stick it in your pocket go anywhere camera.

 

[Fencer]

Do you want to shoot stills only or movies as well? It will change the ball game a little if you want motion.

 

[L8RG8R]

I shoot with a Nikon D70 and love it. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a Digital SLR.

Here are some of my recent shots

 

[evilmedic13]

I've got MAXXUM 7&7D excellent shots but too big to shoot on the fly. I bought the wife a Canon A620 and she love's it, even though it's got almost too many features for her( I'm usually stuck w/ setting it up for her). The only time she complains is when she's trying to compare mine to hers(pictures) when I'm using one of my "bazooka lenses" as she calls them, I just tell her thats like comparing a rifle to a naval gun, similiar but different users purposes. here's 2 from mine

you can see the detail in moving and staionary pretty good. It really depends on what you want, portable/pocketable or if you're like me, you'll deal w/ inconvenience for variety of lenses. Also, no DSLR's can capture movie's ,yet, whereas the little one's can. Good luck, lots of good advice here from these guys.

 

[6mmbr]

Kydex molded mount replacing mirror rubber pad.

ANSI spec lens filter.

Remote switch to clutch lever.

why: just to see if I could. Wadya know, it works great.

 

[boogahboogah]

I'm on my second 'cheapie' digital, a Kodak C330, they're now around $150 or so at Best Buy & similar stores. My next digital will probably be the one to last me for years, but I've been waiting for the technology to mature. Still have the 35mm, 2 1/4, & large format cameras, but I may succumb to the Ebay urge for some of them soon...

I wanted a small camera, with optical zoom, a quality lens, decent programming & easy setting & found the Kodak easier to use & less cornfusing than most others. Currently has a 1GB card in it, will support up to 2GB I think.

I posted a bunch of shots from the WFO5 trip & had to shrink them pretty far to end up with a size that wasn't too big for 1024 screen resolution. WFO5 Trip Pix

 

[Charlie Hoss]

Got Gary's rack in the mail(most excellent), got it installed (took 10 min), and it looks so good on the bike. I ran inside to get the camera and it is dead. Changed batteries, not going to resurrect this one still dead. So RIP mr. HP 733. I need a new camera.
I'm now in the market for a small snapshot camera that takes a decent picture(because I can't).

I have no knowledge of what's available or where to look. What I like is small, simple to operate, and bullet proof enough to travel thrown in a tank bag or stuffed in my pocket, and be of moderate price. My history with cameras says I am A. goin' to break it or B. lose it.

We just picked up a "small snapshot camera" last night. A Sony DSCS500 for $149.99 @ OfficeMax. They give you a 512 memory card @ N/C.

Its easy to use, seems to take good pics. We've only messed around with it a little bit and reviewed pics on 2.4" screen. Haven't put them on the computer yet. 3X Zoom, uses AA batteries or optional rechargeables. Doesn't have viewfinder.

Will give update on pic quality after using it a bit if thread still seems active.

 

[airboss]

I love this place. Ask for help you get it in spades.

I've been researching on the web, right now I lean toward the olympus stylis 710sw, for shock resistance and weather proofing, other features are shared with the other compacts in the same price range,net pricing is right at $300.

I still have to do the physical hands on shopping so nothing is ruled out at this point, still need to check out how the cameras fit the hand, battery life,and how fast they focus and shoot.

This will be a stick it in your pocket, go anywhere shapshot camera, so small, light , and rugged are the top considerations. If I get in the serious picture taking mode I still prefer to use 35mm,orginal olympus om2 way old and still taking great shots, but way to large for a take along on the bike.

Now I have to go shopping...........I love to shop. hwell:

 

[Fencer]

Now I have to go shopping...........I love to shop. hwell:

Careful tinkerbell, you just may perfect the princess wave.

Just to be safe - change your oil when you get back in. B)