Hi Folks,
I'm looking to buy a compact digital camera and was looking at the Olympus tough thingies, but seems others may be better now.
Any recommendations? the Panasonic looks to be well reviewed, any comments appreciated.
Thanks
Andy
Chat Forum
Which compact waterproof/shock proof camera?
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Posted 4 months ago #
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I've had an Olympus mju-Touch 8010 for a year or so. Not the best camera out there - my boy's standard Lumix compact is better, but it's great being able to take it to the beach, on the bike etc. I guess the enclosed lens limits the picture quality. Having said that, it takes decent pictures when the light is good, and the HD video is good.
So not a recommendation necessarily for the Olympus, but the idea of a tough compact is a great one.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I had one of those olympus as well. Lasted 5 years of bikes, boards, planes, trains etc - it fell from a moving bike a few times. Eventually it got broken but I really abused it and I'd say its very tough, the pictures are decent.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Kodak C135 not out till March but looks good value to me, getting one for my 6 year old.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have the Olympus. It is literally bombproof. However, Mrs R has the Fujifilm FinePix XP30 which is much better at taking panoramic shots.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Finally broke my Olumpus myu after 6 years abuse last October.
Posted 4 months ago # -
The Oly ones can be had pretty cheaply nowadays, that's the main plus I'd say. Mrs Grips has the Sony one that's the only one that doesn't look like a chunky kids' toy. It's also good but it was almost £300.
Posted 4 months ago # -
We've been using an Olympus tough the past year or so. Not as good as the (normal) canon it replaced, but has proven very tough indeed. Video is pretty good too.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004QGY2US/ref=redir_mdp_mobilePosted 4 months ago # -
Ive seen some poor eeviews of the olympus ones, like the look of panasonic ft series especially now theyhave a fairly cheap one the ft10. ive had panasonic cameras forthe lastfew years and image quality is always very good.
Posted 3 months ago # -
we have a Pentax blah-de-thingumygig at work. Regularily take it coasteering without any hitches.
It's purple if that helps...Posted 3 months ago # -
I have this one
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What do you need to know
Posted 3 months ago # -
@frankers
Whats the pic quality like ?. Do you have MTB/ woodland shots we could see.
I was pondering one of these
Posted 3 months ago # -
Posted 3 months ago #
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Just bought an Olympus TG610. £144 from Currys / PC World. Looking at reviews it gets decent results. it's about £180 every where else.
lumix camera pictured above gets great reviews but is quite a bit dearer at about £270.
Look at reviews on Amazon.
You'll find the cheap Fuji isn't as waterproof as some would have hoped.
Posted 3 months ago # -
The Pentax one is in the review there ^ but it's not purple!
It took this with it's stitching function:
And captured a packet of flying beef jerky quite sharply (and accidentally):
Haven't got any watersport stuff on tinternet to show you but I've got some quality surf and coasteering shots with it.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Takes very good shots, and the camera is very solid and well built. Also use it a lot on holiday to take underwater shots & video clips of the kids.
Only negative points are that you have to remember to check the lens has no finger printed before taking shots, and also the GPS doesn't connect all that quick, and drains the battery when GPS switched on.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I got a wee fuji for £50 sh of fleabay, bit slow but takes OK pics
Posted 3 months ago # -
I had a Olympus until last summer- a staff only gorge walk killed it, but it had been abused!
I rplaced it with the Panasonic FT3- based on some less than favourable reviews of the current Olympus. The Canon got the best ratings IIRC but I couldn't get past the looks.
I've not had the new one in the water yet but hopefully its good.
Posted 3 months ago # -
My Oly doesn't like to focus on infinity when zoomed in all the way unless it's a high contrast subject, which is annoying.
On the other hand, it has the best feature I have ever come across on any camera - you can change the shutter noise to a squeaky toy sound. Fits of laughter every time I take a picture
I have some pics somewhere.. might see if I can dig some out.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I've got the panasonic lumix - really good - best small camera i've had and really tough - used it in South America and Africa for work, it will fit in your trouser pocket.
I've dropped it a few times, out of cars, off bars..... and used it on the beach, and got it very wet in the mountains - all with no problems.Pictures are really good (well i think so) - the company has used a few for publication.
Video is impressive as well - but the mic has to be quite close to pick up speech.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Have the Olympus-Tough - won't get another... Broke one dropping it in a snow bank (not so tough); replaced under warranty for a second which promptly froze shut at -15C (Yes; perhaps I should have kept it inside the jacket but keeping it outside prevents condensation issues and it is supposed to be "cold proofed". As a comparison my wife had a normal compact Nikon which was functioning just fine both times.
More importantly I don't think it takes nice pictures as any time I try to take a landscape in less than brilliant sunshine it complains the shutter speed is too slow. A friend has the Lumix which seems as tough and takes much nicer photos. There is also a huge lag on the shutter which makes action shots a pain and it seems to take ages (well probably seconds but a while) to start when you turn it on. Important if you've sprinted ahead to get photos of people coming towards you and it isn't ready on time.
So more of a recommendation against the Olympus than anything else I'm afraid.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Does anybody have a Ricoh PX? It doesn't get the best reviews in that test linked above, but crucially it's available at Ebuyer for far less than I can find any of the others (less than half the price of most of them). Are the low light issues they talk about in that a real biggie - potentially an issue for me if so, as I often shoot in low light.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I would like to point out that my Oly was £80 refurbished.. so that's a significant advantage over the others. And I am quite happy with the pictures.
Posted 3 months ago # -
+1 for the panasonic lumix.
mine is a couple of years old now. very nice picture quality for a compact, and very tough. I've dropped it lots of times, and its been in my jersey pocket (no case) for lots of crashes with no ill effects.
The first time you come back from a muddy ride and wash your camera under the tap is a bit odd
Dave
Posted 3 months ago # -
Yes - make sure you wipe the lens though otherwise you'll get water marks on it when it dries
Main advantage to my Oly is that they make a holster for it that you can strap to your camelbak strap. The camera is bungeed to the holster. This means that you can whip it out and take a photo without even having to stop - brilliant. They also make a wrist strap with floats in it for water sport use.
Posted 3 months ago #
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