The time has come for a new camera, as mine just died. For the past few years I've been using a Canon PowerShot S400, a pathetic 4 mega pixel small camera. I liked that it was small enough to clip to my harness and take with me climbing or anywhere else. Photos were fine, but colors a bit unrealistic and landscape shots lacked detail. So, I'm for recommendations for an affordable small sized camera to replace this one. Realistic colors and more mega pixels is a must! Any ideas out there?

Ditto, also interested... S'pose I could just read internet reviews, but I'm lazy. Anyone have a good, wide-angle, light and compact camera to recommend? I'm currently using the Canon SX10 DSLR wannabe, which takes decent pictures, but it's way too big and heavy for most trips.

I've been using the panasonic travel zoom TZ3 for 2 or 3 years, and it fits the bill OK. It is a bit wideangle, being 28mm equiv, and zooms to 280mm equiv, both of which are very nice in the mtns. The sensor isn't spectacular and above iso 200 the results are quite poor. They have newer versions out with lots of megapixels. It's meant for travel, which also makes it nice for the mountains, since it's not too large. Given that the zoom is so nice, it must mean the sensor is very small (since the lens isn't very large) and you'll never be able to get DSLR quality, but I've been happy with it.
-Stephen

While I do not use it myself, I have a friend who uses a Canon Powershot S90 that you might find suitable for your mountain adventures. It has a reasonably fast lens and most importantly, it can be set to RAW mode, for more flexibility in post-production fixes of the photos. In using it, my main complaint is that it's rather small and can be difficult to hold with big hands (and nearly impossible if those big hands are cold!) Anyway, check it out: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons90/

Also, Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX3 is very highly regarded. However, it suffers (IMO) from a very small zoom range (only up to like 65mm).

I just started using the Olympus E-PL1. I am using the kit lens which came with it but eventually want to get the 17mm lens. The kit lens is a little to big to carry in a pocket but I think the 17mm lens is perfect.

Another option to consider if your looking to keep the price low ($150ish), point & click shots and compact (almost the size of a cell phone) is the Sony Cyber-shot series. I have the W310 which takes 12.1 megapixel shots with a 28mm equivalent wide angle 4x zoom lens and with a wide angle option. Specs are here: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666073339#overview.

As a bonus it also shoots video with audio. I used the video last week at a graduation and it did a decent job. A very easy to use up and down button flips between camera and video.

The new W350 appears to be the same slim camera body @ 14.1 megapixel with a Carl Zeiss lens and "record 720p high definition movies" (from their website). Priced at $180ish. No personal experice with this one.

The Panasonic TZ series, now renamed, has been good for some years now. I just picked up the Fuji F70 EXR, 10x not the 12x zoom of the Panasonic, but a hair lighter. Both are shirt-pocket size, readily buttoned in.
Ck the data on a camera website. I found it impossible to choose, simply went with what my local shop carries for the benefits of wisdom and service.

I just picked up a 12 Megapixel Pentax Optio W90 on the advice of a friend who has taken many great shots with his. I just started using it but I like it's light weight (5.7 oz with battery) and the fact that it's coldproof, waterproof (to 20'), shockproof (if dropped up to 4') and records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second. My friend has even mounted his on his kayak and rolled it under water several times while recording. The batteries are very small and litium ion to boot.

I happy with this little cam. I have no photo exp.

sorry Cannon PS SD770 IS

Tbenner wrote:sorry Cannon PS SD770 IS

I have one of these too. It replaced my older Canon SD400. Some shots from the SD770 -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhyang/set ... 988396010/

Some shots from the SD400 -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhyang/set ... 883041836/

I like how small and light the canon powershots are. The SD770's battery life is pretty good too. But a friend has a Panasonic Lumix that really blows my powershot out of the water -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics6 ... 424703140/

The lumix is a bigger and bulkier camera though.

I have used a couple of Pentax Optio waterproof cameras. One was a W20 a friend found and gave me after I lost my SD400 and before I bought the SD770 -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhyang/set ... 400490710/

Last winter I picked up a W80 for ice climbing & such -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhyang/set ... 461228945/

The W80 is supposedly also freezeproof, dustproof and shockproof, but the lithium-ion battery does not perform all that well in cold temps -- I was expecting better, having used my SD400 in similar conditions. And in low light there is a lot of sensor noise .. at ISO 200 my SD770 captures more detail despite having a 10 megapixel sensor vs. the W80's 12. Perhaps the W90 addresses these issues, but from what I've read it seems unlikely. On the good side, the W80 is cheap right now

I have read good things about the Sony TX5 -- anybody used one ?

Brad Marshall wrote:I just picked up a 12 Megapixel Pentax Optio W90 on the advice of a friend who has taken many great shots with his. I just started using it but I like it's light weight (5.7 oz with battery) and the fact that it's coldproof, waterproof (to 20'), shockproof (if dropped up to 4') and records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second. My friend has even mounted his on his kayak and rolled it under water several times while recording. The batteries are very small and litium ion to boot.

i vote for this one. i bought w80 (predecessor of w90) when getting ready for my Everest North Col expedition in May this year. i was sold on coldproof-ness after my old pentax froze on me on mt. washington. w80 has no moving parts and while it's not 100 cold proof it's a lot more tougher then some other cameras.

you can take a look at the pics i took with it here: http://picasaweb.google.com/stan.snigir

I have one of those Olympus Stylus Tough cameras - waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof. I believe Panasonic has come up with a similar camera as well, but it's more expensive.

Having used Canon PAS cameras before Panasonic and Olympus, I'd say nothing comes close to the color quality of Canon. Panasonic distorts colors the most, IMO. I like the lenses, but the software sucks, IMO. Maybe they have improved, don't know. I've had my Lumix for two years now. It's ok, not brilliant.

Thank you everyone for those recommendations. I actually just purchased a lightly used Canon PowerShot SD880 for under $200 on eBay and it can't arrive soon enough...I'm looking out at the sun setting over the Flatirons right now and wish I could take a picture!