The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Cameras for Clumsies
Chalkbot
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Sooo...
A few years ago, I bought a nice Olympus digital camera for ~$400, which served me well until I met my wife. She brought her own digital camera into the relationship (a cheaper Cannon model I believe) which we tended to use exclusivley because she's not the type of person that wants to learn how to use different stuff, and I'm not the type of person to care a whole lot. So it was only a matter of time before she dropped the camera on the concrete and completely destroyed it. Not a huge deal, we had my camera still, so we started using that one. My camera however, is the type with a proprietary rechargeable battery that you have to take out and recharge between uses. This is something that she always forgot to do, as her camera just used regular batteries, plus she'd have to find the battery charger unit, which was always "missing" apparently. That alone was enough for her to nag me about getting a new camera, but I, being a guy and everything, pointed out that there was nothing wrong with the one we had and ignored her pleas. So now the battery AND the charger have gone "missing" somewhere between here and San Francisco and the camera is totally useless. My first instinct was to replace them (being the most logical solution), but I quickly realized that would be the wrong move, as I would still get the nagging, plus it was likely to happen again anyways. I need a new camera.
tl;dr
I need a new camera.
There are some pretty obvious requirements here:
1. The camera WILL be dropped, it needs to be durable.
2. It should not need to have the battery removed to charge.
Bonus traits (wife pleasers):
1. The camera doesn't take forever to snap a shot (there is a lot of impatience involved).
2. Very good auto-focus and "shake reduction" features.
3. Available in pink.
I'm a technical person, but not so much in the camera department. Please help! Assume a budget of $100-$400.
Also, my wife is a very good wife. Just saying...
A few years ago, I bought a nice Olympus digital camera for ~$400, which served me well until I met my wife. She brought her own digital camera into the relationship (a cheaper Cannon model I believe) which we tended to use exclusivley because she's not the type of person that wants to learn how to use different stuff, and I'm not the type of person to care a whole lot. So it was only a matter of time before she dropped the camera on the concrete and completely destroyed it. Not a huge deal, we had my camera still, so we started using that one. My camera however, is the type with a proprietary rechargeable battery that you have to take out and recharge between uses. This is something that she always forgot to do, as her camera just used regular batteries, plus she'd have to find the battery charger unit, which was always "missing" apparently. That alone was enough for her to nag me about getting a new camera, but I, being a guy and everything, pointed out that there was nothing wrong with the one we had and ignored her pleas. So now the battery AND the charger have gone "missing" somewhere between here and San Francisco and the camera is totally useless. My first instinct was to replace them (being the most logical solution), but I quickly realized that would be the wrong move, as I would still get the nagging, plus it was likely to happen again anyways. I need a new camera.
tl;dr
I need a new camera.
There are some pretty obvious requirements here:
1. The camera WILL be dropped, it needs to be durable.
2. It should not need to have the battery removed to charge.
Bonus traits (wife pleasers):
1. The camera doesn't take forever to snap a shot (there is a lot of impatience involved).
2. Very good auto-focus and "shake reduction" features.
3. Available in pink.
I'm a technical person, but not so much in the camera department. Please help! Assume a budget of $100-$400.
Also, my wife is a very good wife. Just saying...
Chalkbot on
0
Posts
There is a latency with taking a digital photo on a consumer level point and shoot, but the auto-focus and anti-shake stuff in any Canon should be enough. I had to retrain my step-mom to using a digital camera because she thought the auto-focus and anti-shake were bad. What she was doing was holding down the shoot button to where it auto focuses, moving, and then fully pushing to take the picture. Now she just presses and holds and lets the technology work for her.
Canons also come in pink.
Haha, those are hardly easy fixes.
Canon G10 you say? What is the battery situation on that one?
As well, the G10 is a damn fine little camera.
Well, touche. Touche indeed.
I have an Olympus evolt 510 and it rocks..but it's expensive, will break if dropped, and needs to be recharged.
Maybe a olympus stylus 1030SW?
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1363
I have nothing against canon though, I almost got a rebel.
I found camera labs to be an awesome site for camera reviews...but I was looking for a digital SLR so YMMV.
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/digital_camera_and_lens_reviews.shtml
looks like a canon power shot is within your budged... if you care about quality photos more than being able to withstand a drop this could easily be your best choice (at under $400).
That's a good idea. Do they make a casing that you can put on that leaves the camera fully functional? I never thought of that. Certainly it would be model specific.
I haven't looked at the links you posted yet Dman, but planning on doing so when I get home.
Thanks!
The G10 might withstand one fall, maybe. Falling on a regular basis would certainly be the end of it - and it's not a cheap camera. No camera case will increase your camera's impact resistance by very much.
If you truly have the butteriest of fingers, you need to buy a camera designed to be dropped. The Pentax Optio W-line or the Olympus Stylus Tough series both fit the bill. Canon's recently released Powershot D10 boasts similar features but unfortunately looks like a large, cheerily-coloured suppository.
If your wife learns a bit about AF and how to prefocus, she'll have no AF issues with any of the above mentioned cameras in decent lighting.
Casio's upscale Exilim models used to come with docking stations that would charge the camera. No idea if they still offer that, though.
I think the ruggedized Pentax looks pretty nice.
I have what seems to be the grandfather of this one, the mju 725 SW. I take it snowboarding, snorkelling (waterproof), hiking etc etc. It's great, picture quality at the time wasn't quite as good as some of the other point and clicks but that may have improved. Given the punishment it's taken I can recommend it's hardiness.
http://picasaweb.google.com/davidhamiltron/TongariroCrossing#5033405806300163154
http://picasaweb.google.com/davidhamiltron/Snorkelling#5007377118177398242
Can't remember what make or model it was though. I'll have a think.
Edit: Ok, I think it was the Olympus muju already mentioned.
Thanks people! That Olympus seems to fit the bill pretty well. I like the look of the Pentax better, but it's specs seem to indicate that it might be less durable than the Olympus line. Does it have any advantages over them that would make the difference?
Dark Moon, you are right about the Powershot D10, it looks hideous. I don't know if I could bring myself to shell out for that thing. As far as the battery goes, I didn't mean to imply that in-body charging was the only acceptable solution, in fact we never had any problems with the Canon that required regular AA batteries since those are always on hand. If all these cameras use the same "remove and charge" technology, then I guess I'm out of luck there. Maybe get 2 batteries or something?