looking for an outdoor camera

[northwind]

I am looking for suggestions on choosing a digital camera that would be well suited for rugged outdoor seasonal use in Alaska. As cameras evolve quickly, I want something in a medium price range (<$500). I plan to keep the camera in a weatherproof case during inclement weather, as I typically want shots in good weather to promote my website. Animal photography and scenery shots are the most frequent subjects, and want to be able to use a polarizer filter.

[ian408]

I am looking for suggestions on choosing a digital camera that would be well suited for rugged outdoor seasonal use in Alaska. As cameras evolve quickly, I want something in a medium price range (<$500). I plan to keep the camera in a weatherproof case during inclement weather, as I typically want shots in good weather to promote my website. Animal photography and scenery shots are the most frequent subjects, and want to be able to use a polarizer filter.


Olympus has a few weather proof cameras. The stylus 300 comes to mind.
Around $300?

Ian

[gus]

I am looking for suggestions on choosing a digital camera that would be well suited for rugged outdoor seasonal use in Alaska. As cameras evolve quickly, I want something in a medium price range (<$500). I plan to keep the camera in a weatherproof case during inclement weather, as I typically want shots in good weather to promote my website. Animal photography and scenery shots are the most frequent subjects, and want to be able to use a polarizer filter.


For the type of photos mentioned (animals/scenery) i would def look at any one with a 10x optical lens built in (no carrying lens's & swapping in bad conditions) There are 3 that come to mind...the Kodak DX 6490...the Fuji S5000 & the Olympus C-750. All about that price range & maybe a bit left over for some extra memory cards & a cheap tripod, very handy for low light distance shots. Dont get talked into big digital zooms..optical zoom is what you need for animals.

Im also a big fan of any camera that can take AA rechargables so if you end up in the middle of nowhere...you can carry a 12 pack of AA disposables for about $10.

[wxwax]

Cool suggestions, Humungaloid, almost as if you were recently shopping the market... :wink

Northwind, check out the dpreview of each camera. If they don't have a full review, click on owner comments.

For example, some say the autofocus on the Kodak is very slow in low light, and it doesn't have manual focus - might be an issue if you're shooting animals.
Kodak (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Kodak/kodak_dx6490.asp)
Steve's review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/dx6490.html)

Fuji
dpreview (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixs5000.asp)
Steve's review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/fuji_s5000.html)

Olympus
dpreview notes and links to owners' comments (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_c750uz.asp)
Steve's review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/c750uz.html)


If you get a 10X zoom, might as well get a tripod too, you'll need it.

[gus]

I so badly wanted a 10x lens but am addicted to low light shots & the c-5050 i bought has a f1.8 lens.



[QUOTE=wxwax]Cool suggestions, Humungaloid, almost as if you were recently shopping the market... :wink

[fish]

I so badly wanted a 10x lens but am addicted to low light shots & the c-5050 i bought has a f1.8 lens.
I hear ya. I've got a ping in at bhphoto for their ridiculously cheap canon 50mm/1.8 for that very reason (per Tugrik's suggestion). Long zooms on P&S cameras just don't cut it. The lenses tend to be quite slow anyway, and when you go to 7-10x, it turns out to be f8 or so...no way you can handhold except in very bright sunshine.

[northwind]

Thanks for the suggestions, it would have taken me lots of time to find those on my own.
I should have mentioned that I have an 'intro' point and shoot Olympus D-520 from last season. It left much to be desired, and seems to be locked into its own poor included softward. But now I feel I know enough to want to go to the next stage.
I like the AA battery option too. After looking at the cameras you suggested below, I think I like the Fuji the most.
Lot's to learn now about the terms and what they mean.
Northwind


For the type of photos mentioned (animals/scenery) i would def look at any one with a 10x optical lens built in (no carrying lens's & swapping in bad conditions) There are 3 that come to mind...the Kodak DX 6490...the Fuji S5000 & the Olympus C-750. All about that price range & maybe a bit left over for some extra memory cards & a cheap tripod, very handy for low light distance shots. Dont get talked into big digital zooms..optical zoom is what you need for animals.

Im also a big fan of any camera that can take AA rechargables so if you end up in the middle of nowhere...you can carry a 12 pack of AA disposables for about $10.

[wxwax]

Feel free to ask away, Northwind. And when you decide what yer gonna get, let us know. Enquiring minds, you know... :wink

[dkapp]

I would suggest the Panasonic FZ10. I has a 12x Optical zoom (35mm -420mm) f2.8 through the entire focal length. It also has an IS system which works great for handheld full zoom shots at slow shutter speeds so you can leave your tripod at home.

I own one, and have fallen in love with it. The Leica lens is sharp and the colors are amazing. It has full manual controls to give you the freedom you want along with fully automatic mode to get off quick shots.

You can find them on the web for around $500 but you will need to buy an extra SD card. I would suggest Panasonic 256mb or larger. They are about $80 and will hold around 140 photos. People have used the FZ10 in cold weather without any problems.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Dave

[wxwax]

Dave, tell us a bit about the Image Stabilising. I'm struggling to believe that a P&S IS will work at 12X optical. Can you verify that it's worked for you?

[dkapp]

Dave, tell us a bit about the Image Stabilising. I'm struggling to believe that a P&S IS will work at 12X optical. Can you verify that it's worked for you?

It has worked for me, but I do not have any photos online to show. You can read the Panasonic section of dpreview, and there are examples all over. There are many bird lovers in the forum that have added 1.7x tele lenses and are able to shoot at full 714mm handheld w/o any compromise in image quality.

The IS does work, I was skeptical myself until I bought the camera.

Dave

[gus]

[QUOTE=fish]I hear ya. I've got a ping in at bhphoto for their ridiculously cheap canon 50mm/1.8 for that very reason QUOTE]

So me ol' china plate ...did you get it ?

[wxwax]

Wow. 700mm and handheld and not blurry? That's amazing.

[dkapp]

I do have one photo online at full optical zoom shot handheld. Its not the best example since it has been converted to sepia in iPhoto, but you'll get the idea.

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/gallery/56420/1/2040047

*Edit*
I found another photo wich is a better example
http://dkapp.smugmug.com/gallery/58707/1/2040351
This was taken at full zoom handheld. View the original, and you can see the detail in his facial hair.
*End Edit*

I've got it set so you can view the original and photo details.

There are other photos online that do show the photo quality of the FZ10 if you care to look around.

Let me know if you have any questions or advice for my photos, I'm very new to photography.

Dave

[wxwax]

Dave, both those links take me to your Street People and Street Performers galleries, not to single shots. :scratch I looked through them, also your graffiti gallery - some very sharp shots.

[dkapp]

Dave, both those links take me to your Street People and Street Performers galleries, not to single shots. :scratch I looked through them, also your graffiti gallery - some very sharp shots.

I'm not sure how to link to a specific photo on smugmug. I joined not too long ago and have not had much time to play with it.

When you click on the first link, it will be a picture of a hooded man, picture number P1030048. That is the first shot at full zoom.
http://dkapp.smugmug.com/gallery/56420/1/2040047


The second is a man playing the drums looking to his left, picture number P1030031. This is my other full zoom picture posted.
http://dkapp.smugmug.com/gallery/58707/1/2040351

You can view both at large, and original size. I hope this helps.

Dave

[wxwax]

Ah, thanks. Here's an explanation (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=92) of how to link a specific photo.

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/2040047-M.jpg


http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/2040351-M.jpg

wow, that's really impressive, especially the drummer. He's extremely sharp.

[dkapp]

Ah, thanks. Here's an explanation (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=92) of how to link a specific photo.


Thanks for the tip. Thats exactly what I a needed. I couldn't figure out how to find a link directly to the photo.

Thanks,
Dave

[cmr164]

It has worked for me, but I do not have any photos online to show. You can read the Panasonic section of dpreview, and there are examples all over. There are many bird lovers in the forum that have added 1.7x tele lenses and are able to shoot at full 714mm handheld w/o any compromise in image quality.

The IS does work, I was skeptical myself until I bought the camera.

Dave
The lens is a 6mm-72mm zoom that is "35-420 equivalent". The f-stops range is from f2.8-f8.0.