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Hello there,

Anyone can recommend a good compact camera for mountaineering? I was comparing the Canon SX 30i with the Canon G 12, any suggestions? the budget is 400 - 500.

Regards,

JP

JP,

I use this camera: Olypus Stylus Tough.

It is much more resilient than other compact cameras I've owned, the battery doesn't konk out in cold weather, it's waterproof down to 33 feet / 10 meters, holds up well to being dropped/knocked into rock, etc. It's quite below your budget, too - what a plus.

I've been very pleased with this camera and know many other climbers who use the same camera and are happy with it.

Cheers,
Sarah

Olympu Stylus is pretty tried and true. I have a film version. For digital I have a Panasonic Lumix that I really like, although it is probably not as durable as the Stylus Tough.

It's pretty hard to go far wrong with a compact digital camera these days. I usually tell people to get last year's model and save some money.

The Canon G12 and SX30 are both seriously capable cameras. The major difference is that the sx30 has a much larger optical zoom range, which I'd certainly find very useful. A big zoom range gives you a lot of freedom to compose the photos you want. The downside is that the SX30 is about three times bulkier, which makes it a lot harder to carry and use on difficult terrain. In fact it's about the same size as a Canon Rebel SLR, so I'm not sure why Canon calls it a "compact" camera.

The Stylus are indestructible and produce mediocre images.
If you want higher quality photos, check into the Canon S95 (if you're after really small, be aware though, I found it too small for my hands to trust not dropping it), the G12 for tons of customization, or the Panasonic LX5 which has a gorgeous lens. Any of these P&S will give you great quality. There is also the TS10 from panasonic, which is more durable than the S95/G12/LX5 but provides a better image quality than the Stylus. I wouldn't worry so much about the long end on the lens as the wide angle, which you'll use far more often. This is one of the really nice things about the LX5, which has a nice, wide 24 mm equivalent.

I've had a Canon SX100 for 3 years, it's served me well, and fits right in my pocket for easy retrieval. I actually just broke it yesterday though (dropped it on the ground), so I'm considering buying a Canon SX130 tomorrow ($230 ish).

Actually, a compact camera is like a compact car.

If you're comfortable with it, it will give you some "high mileage" if you don't end up abusing it too much.

I have the Canon PowerShot SX 110 with the 10x zoom. It can be rather bulky, but takes good pics as soon as I can get the manual focus figured out,
which will probably take another couple years.

By then, it will be completely obsolete, and be time to get another at the good old department store down the street.

You might want to check out the Fujifilm FinePix X100:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/FujifilmX100/

I purchased the Sony DSC-TX10 earlier this year, but have not used enough (dropped, etc.) to know how well it holds up. It is spec'd for -10 C, dust proof, waterproof to 5 meters, and impact resistent. It is also only 4.7 ounces with my 32GB card + battery installed, and spare batteries weigh about an ounce.

I recently purchased a Pentax Optio W90. This camera has 12-megapixels, waterproof down to 20 feet, shockproof to 4 feet, and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes excellent video and is very easy to use. I purchased it for about $250.

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras ... ncol;lst;1

spiritualspatula wrote:If you want higher quality photos, check into the Canon S95 (if you're after really small, be aware though, I found it too small for my hands to trust not dropping it), the G12 for tons of customization...

I use the S90 and have had great results in the mountains. Just FYI the S90/95 are just as customizable as the G12 (which is larger really only because of dials for all functions), with a very few exceptions like a switchable ND filter.

Panasonic LX-5 - excellent pictures and sufficient zoom. Very good optics. Not as waterproof as Pentax or Olympus, but I take good care of my camera - so it is not a big concern.

The Panasonic LX-5 is a great camera. It's my go-to pocket camera for mountaineering. Amazing, fast very wide angle lens.

That said, the Canon S95 is also very good (some would argue as good as the LX-5) and is much much smaller. The S-95 will fit easily into even a small pocket, while the LX-5 requires a large pocket to fit.

I would recommend either the s95 or the LX-5 over the G12. G12 is much bulkier, and that bulk doesn't really get you any additional image quality.

Kai wrote:The Panasonic LX-5 is a great camera. It's my go-to pocket camera for mountaineering. Amazing, fast very wide angle lens.

That said, the Canon S95 is also very good (some would argue as good as the LX-5) and is much much smaller. The S-95 will fit easily into even a small pocket, while the LX-5 requires a large pocket to fit.

I would recommend either the s95 or the LX-5 over the G12. G12 is much bulkier, and that bulk doesn't really get you any additional image quality.

I pretty much agree with you Kai except I would add that the buttons on the S95 are incredibly small and hard to operate with gloves.

radson wrote:
I pretty much agree with you Kai except I would add that the buttons on the S95 are incredibly small and hard to operate with gloves.

We don't have that problem here in Arizona. Just proves that bigger is not always better.

Panasonic makes good boom boxes and wireless telephones. I've never tried their cameras, however.