Another Which Digital Camera thread.

[Mit321]

I'm going on a trip to India the week after next and was wanting to get a digital camera for it since I don't have one already.

My Price-range is up to about £100 and I'm not looking for fancy settings etc as I just like to point and shoot and so want the best quality pictures for the least messing around so seems pointless paying more for a camera which has loads of "professional" settings?

Was looking at the : Panasonic DMC FT1

http://www.cameras.co.uk/reviews/panasonic-dmc-ft1.cfm

As its a backpacking kindof adventure so will get banged around quite a bit and thats waterproff and shockproof. The cheapest I could find that for was £179 though which is quite expensive for what I want.

Any advice would be much appreciated

[XA04]

Samsung WB500.

Same situation as you really. I wanted a nice compact one and it's absolutely great for the money. It's a little bit over your budget, at about £130 new from I believe Tesco Direct. However you can get them second hand off ebay for a bit cheaper... got mine for £90 in like new condition.

Has a 10x optical zoom, 10.2 megapixel and can record video in 720p


Edit: Oops.. missed the bit about shockproof and waterproof. Well, it'd be good if you buy a decent case for it!

[HSK]

I'd defo recommend something to protect against dust, maybe before water. But that really depends where you go, and what you do. Dust will gather like crazy.

[Mit321]

I'd defo recommend something to protect against dust, maybe before water. But that really depends where you go, and what you do. Dust will gather like crazy.

I'm gonna go help out at a school south of Delhi. Guessing it gets pretty dusty out there plus its the monsoon season :/
Anyone else recommend the Samsung WB500 too? How "tough" is it?

This is the cheapest I could find the Panasonic on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...%3DI%26otn%3D2

[Mit321]

Anyone else got any suggestions?

[j.o.s.h.1408]

go to india next year, buy a canon 500d with a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 now and save up for your trip to india next year

[kalniel]

Buy 5 disposable cameras with flash. Tick the option to produce a photo CD when processing them. Total cost around £25 for over 150 shots including processing, prints and CD. Being largely mechanical film things, they can take much more of a beating than digital cameras, and if the worst comes to the worst you can just pull out the next one and carry on.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

why not use his phone then hehe. if he has a decent phone with 5mp.

[kalniel]

why not use his phone then hehe. if he has a decent phone with 5mp.

Because:
1) phones produce pretty terrible pictures. Disposable film cameras have pretty bad lenses, but they're still probably better than phones, and the film process is going to capture much better dynamic range.
2) if you lose/break the disposable camera you just pull out the next one and carry on. If you lose/damage your expensive 5mp phone you'll cry.

[Mit321]

Because:
1) phones produce pretty terrible pictures. Disposable film cameras have pretty bad lenses, but they're still probably better than phones, and the film process is going to capture much better dynamic range.
2) if you lose/break the disposable camera you just pull out the next one and carry on. If you lose/damage your expensive 5mp phone you'll cry.

Thing is I needed a digital camera anyway and I have insurance so if the camera was stolen it would be covered. I don't need an amazingly snazzy one just one that takes good point and click photos.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

use your iphone then

[Mit321]

Right now I'm looking at the following:

Canon PoweShot SX120 £130 incl. Delivery plus 4GB SDHC
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CANON-PowerSho...item5888755eed

Canon PowerShot SX200 at £185 incl Delivery and 8GB SDHC
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CANON-PowerSho...a2d0a4&afsrc=1

Panasonic Lumix ZS3 at £175 including Delivery and 8GB SDHC
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PANASONIC-LUMI...item43a0348535


Includiong price in the comparison which would people go for on a 3week trip to India and to be used afterwards?

[TheAnimus]

if you really are worried about dust (your going in the monsoon season ffs, dust is the least, damp humidity and mould are what you should be worried about!) then maybe see if you can get a tough camera, the canon D10 would fit the bill nicely if you got one second hand?

But in all honesty, if you are going for 3 weeks, just make sure your not an idiot with it, and any point and click to bridge camera will be fine.

It is probably just a question of what feels good in your hands

[HSK]

If he's going Delhi, monsoon isn't as bad there as it would be down south... it hardly rains, only when it does it's deluge. But it defo is humid, and dusty in general along with pollution.

I've been there 7 times or so, and stayed there throughout summer, hope you do well in the 40+ heat :-D

[Mit321]

If he's going Delhi, monsoon isn't as bad there as it would be down south... it hardly rains, only when it does it's deluge. But it defo is humid, and dusty in general along with pollution.

I've been there 7 times or so, and stayed there throughout summer, hope you do well in the 40+ heat :-D

I decided to get a Panasonic ZS3 and am now looking for a suitable case. I'm going just South of Delhi and am helping in the construction of some facilities at a school. We are working very early in the mornings (about 5-9) then resting in shade/ pool during the day as it will be just too hot to do anything active. Case wise I was looking at a Pelican 1010 Micro-Case:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelican-Micr...4&sr=8-2-fkmr0

It apparently fits the ZS3 Perfectly and is water resistant, dust proof etc so would seem quite useful for somewhere like that?

[HSK]

That sounds like a pretty solid case, I think that will cover you from getting crap in there. You never know though, conditions might not be so bad, but it's always good to be prepared.

Yep yep, work in the mornings, and keep cool through the heat of the day. Have a good and safe trip!