Suggestions for a durable digital camera?

December 11, 2007 10:17 PM

What's a suitable digital camera to bring on a fieldwork expedition to Peru?

Help me choose a high quality digital camera to use in semi-extreme situations in rural Peru. I’m going on a fieldwork expedition in the wet, hot Peruvian countryside, in the far south of the country in a few weeks. Can you recommend a suitable digital camera? I’d like something with 4+ megapixels, weather/shock-resistant, decent zoom and under $600 or so. Also, it should be pocket-sized so as not to attract attention from thieves. I'm flexible on the other details.

Seems those protective camera cases are ridiculously expensive...

Anyway, thanks a lot guys. I couldn't do this without you!

posted by mateuslee to Technology (14 answers total)

Best answer: You can get all kinds of ruggedised cameras for industrial use.

Are there any particular photographic requirements you have? You mention fieldwork and that you're flexible - but do you care about things like a wide angle zoom, low light performance etc?

So, within your price range:

I've heard very good things about the Pentax Optio W30: (here) - it's a cheap (~$250?) waterproof compact camera but is rugged and portable enough to fit your needs.

Bit more expensive (~$400?) - I've used an Olumpus Stylus 720SW (here) - also shock and waterproof. There are some other 7-series models - anything with the SW after it should do the job.

Probably most expensive - the Ricoh Caplio 500 (~$650). (here) - I like this one the most. It's got a great wide angle zoom lens (28mm - 85mm), superb screen, excellent controls, takes both Li and AA batteries (very handy in the field), has a good blur reduction system and I've used Ricoh kit a lot and appreciate their technical support, firmware updates, and overall ease of use / no-nonsense design (e.g. this one doesn't have a bright pink "i'm taking pictures in a nightclub while drunk and covered in foam!" mode like the others).

Hope that helps.

tk
posted by tkbarbarian at 11:13 PM on December 11, 2007

I think I might actually take a different tack than you're thinking, as in my experience cameras just love to die during remote fieldowrk. If I had $600 to spend, I might buy three identical $200 cameras or two identical $300 cameras that met my base requirements rather than one $600 camera. If (rather: when) you're way out in the boonies and something happens to the camera you're using, I bet you'll prefer to have one or two extra low-quality cameras than to have no extra high-quality cameras.
posted by barnacles at 11:43 PM on December 11, 2007

Best answer: Barnacles makes a good point - a backup camera is important.

Unless you *know* you're going to be shooting while falling down on rocks in the rain, getting two less expensive cameras and keeping one in a cheap pelicase all the time would not be a dumb thing.

Even a basic ruggedised camera + a regular camera for backup would be sensible.

Extra batteries and memory cards are always handy and if you're not taking a laptop, consider something like an image tank for backup if your pictures are important or at least shoot across a few different cards in case of theft / loss.
posted by tkbarbarian at 11:55 PM on December 11, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for the excellent tips, not only about the cameras but about the ideas re: shooting across memory cards, keeping a standard back-up camera in a pelicase, and the image tank (though this seems a bit risky, prob will stick with memory cards as they are small, not big targets for thieves, and quite hideable).

I'll look into those cams now.

Thanks again.
posted by mateuslee at 12:25 AM on December 12, 2007

Best answer: You could look at the Olympus Mju Tough, which appears to be very pocketable, but rugged and splashproof.

Please note, everything I know about this camera comes from this advert I saw on TV last night, which may not be the most unbiased source of information!
posted by roomaroo at 2:59 AM on December 12, 2007

TWO WORDS: AA Batteries. Not too many trees have 120Vac plugs to recharge your batteries. I would suggest a camera that uses AA batteries and if you want, you can buy a couple of sets of rechargeable AA's and a charger. Try the Olympus 550UZ. It has a digital eye level finder. 10 x zoom, image stabilization etc. At about $250.00 each you can buy two.
posted by Gungho at 5:56 AM on December 12, 2007

OTOH if you want pocketable shock and waterproof try the Olympus SW790. No AA's but meets all other criteria.
posted by Gungho at 5:57 AM on December 12, 2007

on preview, Roomaroo, Yeah the 790 is that tough.
posted by Gungho at 5:58 AM on December 12, 2007

Sounds like the Fujifilm Big Job (no snickering at the back) might be useful to you. Supposedly developed in Japan for the construction industry - ruggedized and weather/dust proofed. Unfortunately not yet distributed to the US (Japan and UK, currently), but there might be a grey importer somewhere. Last I heard, Cameraquest.com was selling one on Rangefinderforum.com.
posted by normy at 7:25 AM on December 12, 2007

I asked about digital cameras for backpacking a while back and got some good advice. My criteria were very similar to yours, at least in regards to durability.
posted by vytae at 7:53 AM on December 12, 2007

I must second the AA batteries. I have a Lumix LZ7 that uses 2AAs, and I love it, but the Canon A570 or whatever the current camera of that series is would also do. Both these cameras are sub $200 and you could easily afford the backup in your budget.
posted by advicepig at 8:01 AM on December 12, 2007

tkbarbarian mentioned the Pentax Optio. I have their water-resistant one (Optio WR 33?) and it's served me well. It's got rubber corners for a little extra durability. And it's cheap enough that you could take two with you.
posted by bassjump at 8:52 AM on December 12, 2007

I just bought an Olympus 790SW for an upcoming hawaii trip and so far in testing the thing is just fine being full submerged underwater. Amazon reviews say the thing is nearly bulletproof.
posted by mathowie at 11:11 AM on December 12, 2007

Best answer: I just bought an Olympus 795SW for an upcoming hawaii trip. It hasn't been bashed around or dropped yet, but it has gone for a frollick in a swimming pool with me. As mathowie points out, all the reviews indicate that the SW series cameras are pretty damn robust.
posted by goshling at 3:01 PM on December 12, 2007