Another what camera thread - small form

[zpyder]

Another what camera thread - small form

Hi all.

Sorry for adding to the list of "What camera" threads, but maybe this one is slightly different from the run of the mill stuff.

Basically, I have 2 cameras.

I have a 7-8 year old "compact" Pentax Optio 330RS camera. I say compact, its a bit of a brick and fairly heavy. However due to its age and lack of value, it was ideal to get a cheap underwater housing. However, the housing is now rusting through, and its going to be getting harder to find spares for the battery etc.

I also have a Canon 400D with kit lens and a 70-300mm telephoto lens.


My semi-predicament is, Im into my wildlife, and "oddities" for things that happen on the fly. Its not practical when going out and about to carry my 400D and accessories when not deliberately going to do photography. My pentax however is slightly chunky and heavy, and is showing its age. So basically, itd be nice to have a small, light camera I can carry around with me, not an SLR or an antique that might as well be made from lead.

Im essentially after a camera with the following features:

Small & light (Ideally fit into pocket size)
Cheap
Takes compact flash cards
Powered by AA rechargables (preferred, but not essential as obviously this would add to the size and weight...)

Other optional features would be a good macro and zoom due to the kind of subject matter getting photographed...either things from afar, or invertebrates under a log or microscope. Would also be useful if its a popular make/model due to increasing the likelihood of getting an underwater housing for it etc.

It doesnt have to be new, Im on an uber tight budget, so will likely take the risk and sort it out on ebay. Just after recommendations over any cameras that fit the bill that have been released in the last few years.

Specs wise, my Pentax is only 3mp, but has a decent sensor/lens so it takes better pictures than some 4+mp cameras Ive seen over the years! So 3mp is a minimum Id say...

[XEntity]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

What kind of zoom are you looking for? and what is a tight budget?

For a small camera, I like my Canon Powershot 560 7MP 4x Zoom, good little Camera and takes the AAs there is also a hack* (you just copy software to your memory stick) and it unlocks a load of features that you are probably used to in your 400D (Not that Im comparing it to the 400D!)

7day shop often have it for about £60 on deal, if you dont get their mails already, its at £80 at the moment.

Jake

[Mongoose]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

youll be lucky to find a modern compact which takes CF cards, and it will boost its size anyway. Better to go for one which takes SD cards, as decent sized ones can be found very cheaply and you can also get SD>CF adapters should you want to use your SD cards in your 400D (Im guessing the 400D takes CF and thats why you want the little one to do the same?)

My mum has recently got a Pentax Optio T30 which is very neat, but its touch screen controls probably wont lend themselves to a waterproof housing.

Have you considered the Pentax and Olympus waterproof models? I have never used the Oly ones but the Pentax W series are used by my Dads company and have proved to be close to indestructible. They arent certified waterproof to the depths you dive to, but if you are staying close to the surface they save messing with a housing. I dont know if theres a full diving housing available but it strikes me that there should be.

[Serious]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

Even the latest canon 450D takes SD cards rather than CF. TBH they arent that expensive and will enable you to at least have a decent chance of finding a suitable camera.

Would be nice to have a price range too, whats the most you want to pay?.

Actually Ive looked at one of the Panasonic compacts recently, 10x optical zoom and reasonably compact, but a little pricey.

[zpyder]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

I didnt give a price range because Im not specifically in a rush and can afford to just keep an eye on ebay...so Id hope I might be able to pick up a £60 camera for say £40 on ebay or something.

But if you want an upper limit, £75 probably.

The 400D taking CF is one thing. I know that I should probably switch to SD, but for some reason I just prefer the solidness of a CF to the flimsy SD cards.

I guess putting that down as an optional factor would be good.

The waterproof cameras might certainly be worth a look I guess, as there are times where I have wanted to get a photo in a marsh or pond, but not wanted to lug my housing out too!

Zoom wise, I dont really know a specific figure. Its for things that will run away. So at one end of the scale are things like sand lizards, which might be 6 feet away but quite small, and at the other end, are things like birds on the other side of a field? I figured the bigger the zoom the better.

[zpyder]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

Looking at the pentax and olympus ranges, it seems that Olympus is the way to go for waterproofing.

However price wises Im a bit out and will have to fork out more likely £120-£150 for one of the cameras.

Their lowest end waterproof camera, the 770SW (http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/29_mju_770_SW_Specifications.htm) might be doable around the £80 used/nearly new on ebay though. I will have to wait till I get paid!

Tis annoying they all seem to be using XD cards!

The only other annoying thing is the apparent lack of manual focus. Am I asking too much of the current generation of compact digital cameras? The reason its preferable is that its useful for taking shots of critters under a microscope:



Im not sure whether the autofocus would cope, but I guess one way to find out when I have money, is to go round some camera shops and see if the shop clerks will let me try to focus the camera through the end of a binocular lens!

[Leon]

Another what camera thread - small form

Why does it matter which format they are using? Cards are dirt cheap now. I picked up at 2gig XD card for 8quid.

[zpyder]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

Doesnt matter too much, its just convenience. If all my stuff uses the same card type, I can just take one bag of cards, and swap out as needed. No need for different card readers etc.

As I said, doesnt matter too much. Reflecting on what Im after things like manual focus might not be totally necessary either, as lab work would allow me to forward plan and bring my SLR in. Batteries and Cards are just the fact that I have a surplus of rechargable AAs, and CFs.

[Mongoose]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

might be worth checking Morgan, havent looked at the site but the latest flyer has quite a selection of cheap digicams.

I have had some success using the landscape mode on my Panasonic at the eyepiece of a telescope. It locks the focus at infinity and you can then adjust using the instrument controls. Did the same thing with my old Nikon and a microscope for my 3rd year lab project, so you might be able to get around not having true manual focus that way.

SD cards look flimsy but theyre actually pretty robust, I wouldnt worry too much.

Im sure you know them already but www.7dayshop.com and www.picstop.com are your friends for cheap memory and batteries.

[Serious]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

I would still suggest getting a housing, nothing like buying a new camera, going on holiday and finding it leaks. With an underwater job simplicity is the key so make sure its fully automatic.

Another option is to buy an underwater film camera. A basic one will massively reduce the possibility of damage due to a leak and be far cheaper to buy, the downside is about 36 pics on a film and you have to scan them into a computer.

[zpyder]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

I was thinking that. 10m is not much and I wouldnt trust it to that depth anyway. However for convenience Id be happy to take it under the pier in only a couple of metres, in a pool, or stick it in a marsh somewhere.

For "proper" diving a housing would be a must. Also I wonder what its survivability would be like at depth if the housing flooded. I suppose if it was notoced early enough so at 30 metres you see a small pool of water, and abort the dive then, the internal water pressure might not be enough to get into the camera workings.

Just have to hope that by the time I can afford a camera, theyve gotten cheaper again!

[Serious]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

Youre pretty good at doing things, why not make your own housing? :shrug:

[zpyder]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

Because its uber difficult and materials and tools would cost me more than buying the housing probably? I wouldnt even know where to begin in terms of making pushable buttons that dont leak.

[Serious]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

/thinks about it...

For pushing buttons use rubber sheet (or alternative) with rods, on both sides if you need to. For the case use fibreglass and resin.

That leaves the viewing, a couple of filters might do it but the glass is too soft, if you already have a case thats gone use the glass from that. Sealing is similar to a kinler jar.

If you want to go deep it might be worth using carbon fibre/kevlar and resin. Basic bits shouldnt be that expensive.

[zpyder]

Re:Another what camera thread - small form

Would be too great a technical undertaking methinks. The fact that a spec of dust or a fine bit of hair in the seal of a normal housing is enough to flood, the chances of me being able to make one which doesnt have such a small gap, resin or not, is out of the question! Plus my version would resemble a tank, whilst commerically available ones are pretty small form now!