Pocket size point and shoot camera for carrying climbing?

Ben Hicks wrote: Nice, but out of my league. I would not want to climb with something that expensive on my harness.

Ya wouldn't attach it to my harness but I carry it up in small pack or pocket on 2nd.

I use this:

Lumix Camera

This camera takes excellent photos, is small enough to shove in my pocket or wherever, seems to take a fair amount of abuse, and doesn't cost too much. I especially like the zoom features on this cam - it does very well for a P&S. I got it on sale for like $115 if I remember right. However - its not a "ruggedized" camera at all so I'm just very careful not to smash the crap out of it.

Ben Hicks wrote: My experience with the elphs and powershots as well. Lens motor/error and screen problems.

Absolutely true. I have had at least 10 of them. They take terrific pictures but i got sick of them failing.

I was rocking a Cannon Elph for the last two seasons and man was it beat up. It finally took it's final abuse this weekend when my buddy dropped it off the cliff and it fell (again) about 20ft bouncing the whole way. Game over. They take great pics and are very small but really not durable at all. This post was/is great because I also am in the market again. The Panasonic isn't made anymore they have since updated it. Looks pretty slick, as long as it take great pics, seams like a winner.

Ben Hicks wrote:Yes, I use a well padded case too. Don't however want to carry a larger rigid case on my harness. At least I don;t think so. Erik, what are the dimensions of your otterbox?

Since I was on the Otterbox site trying to see if it would fit my camera (Fuji Finepix F80 EXR):

Exterior Dimensions: 4.837" x 3.682" x 1.652"
Internal Dimensions: 3.700" x 2.350" x 1.000"
Weight: 5.12 oz.

My cameras take a beating on chimney/OW routes even with a padded case.

I have the Pentax WG-2 and have used it on several trips so far and wasn't in the slightest careful with it. Would usually have it strapped to a harness or on the outside of a pack so it took a fair amount of abuse. The glass on the lcd got some scratches but that's about it. Picture quality never suffered. I picked it up on Amazon for around $250 but feel it'll hold up for quite awhile and is worth the cost.

What size pockets are you going to be using?
Mono, 2-finger, 3-finger?
Sausage hamfist fingers, or little girl fingers?

It was close to a coin flip between the Panasonic TS20 and SZ7. Based on price and some performance issues, I decided on a non "Tough" kind of camera and bought the accidental replacement warranty that includes dropping/ water damage etc. for the SZ7

Despite that they take great pics and have generally good ratings, I eliminated Canon P&S shoot cameras based on previous experience with them failing.

I read a bunch of reviews and pretty much all reviews for point and shoot cameras in this price range have critique of image quality, so that aspect is kind of a wash. But with this one found better than average pic quality ratings (except for Canon) in its price range, better ISO handling etc. I figure just about any camera at the price point will be better than what I had before anyway.

The things I found compelling abut the SZ7 for the price is a 10x optical zoom (I have always been pretty disappointed by 4x with additional digital zoom), CMOS rather than CDD brain, faster shooting speed, 1080 video, and overall good ratings, so hopefully just basic good bang for the buck

Panasonic DMC-SZ7

Found this site an interesting resource for comparing features of cameras

Cool, sounds like you figured out a good plan for yourself.

For my part, I have to say the little Canon s95 has been a stunning purchase for me (same sensor as the g12, but smaller body). Fits in my cargo pocket easy on climbs, never falls, I have dropped it multiple times on granite, easy to use, etc.

But most importantly the image quality well exceeds my expectations. I came from shooting a Canon 5d so was prepared to be extremely disappointed, but I'm not. I've blown up multiple photos from the s95 shot in RAW format and the look fabulous. Not good above 400 ISO, but at high elevation, I find that's rarely needed.

Anyways, just wanted to share- I think that little camera (now maybe it's the s100) is perfect for climber/ photographers who don't want to carry in their SLRs.

happy climbing!

The s95 (or s100 or s110) is a bit pricy for me to take on a wall. It is a great camera, but if you're gonna go for this style, the Sony DSC-RX100 is absolutely amazing in this regard.

Paul Deagle wrote:I was rocking a Cannon Elph for the last two seasons and man was it beat up. It finally took it's final abuse this weekend when my buddy dropped it off the cliff and it fell (again) about 20ft bouncing the whole way. Game over. They take great pics and are very small but really not durable at all. This post was/is great because I also am in the market again. The Panasonic isn't made anymore they have since updated it. Looks pretty slick, as long as it take great pics, seams like a winner.

"Hurr I dropped my camera off a cliff and it broke, NOT DURABLE ENUFF GUISE"
So tell me which camera exactly you think would have survived such a drop?
Dat logic...

Nathan Stokes wrote:Olympus Tough series.

+1

I've already destroyed 2 Canon Powershots and 1 Olympus Tough. This time I got a Panasonic Lumix (don't remember the model and it's worn off the camera body). It seems better and tougher than either. All of these are out of your price range. I think you should rethink the amount of money you're willing to pay for something that'll last a while.

I recommend finding a used G-series Canon on Ebay. I climb with a G7 in a small Lowe Pro case on my harness. Takes great pictures and is tough as nails.

FWIW, I think Costco has a Canon Powershot 2400 for $110 on sale right now. I think it was 5X optical zoom, included a 4GB SD card, has 16MP resolution, has optical stabilization, and a 28mm lens.

I think this

costco.com/Canon-Powershot-…

gives you some details.

Also found a Canon Powershot A810 with 16 MP, 5X optical, image stabilization, but no memory card for $99.

shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/w…

for more details.

Also, a Fuji Finepix JZ250 16MP, 8X optical, image stabilization, includes a 8GB card for $120.

costco.com/ProductDisplay?s…

for more details.

This case has kept my p&s alive through two rough deployments to iraq. It may not survive a drop from climbing, but it will take any other abuse you give it.

pelicancases.com/1010-p/101…

I carry a pentax w90 clipped to my harness. I have dropped it, snow skied with it, climbed even rode off a 40' waterfall with it in my pocket. Its tough and takes good pics