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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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look at the images on this site of the scenes that you want to shoot and ask the shooter what camera they are using...
I use a Panasonic DMC-LX5 for my digital compact climbing camera... it replaces my wonderful Ricoh GR-1 film camera that was marvelous, but no longer serviceable...
Both of those cameras are outside of your price range...
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adam d
climber
The Bears, CA
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I was in the market for a P&S back when this thread started. I saw Malcolm's recommendation of the Canon S95 (and the link to Ken Rockwell's in depth review) and plus a little more research was convinced. It's the best P&S I've ever had...
Hope I don't drop it!
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marv
Mountain climber
Bay Area
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hey how does the video work on the s95?
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adam d
climber
The Bears, CA
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Seems to work fine for what it is. The mic is pretty good as well (if I remember right it's stereo recording? maybe?) and picks up voices well. I haven't used the video much as I was playing with a flip cam this winter as well.
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Morgan
Trad climber
East Coast
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For me it would come down to three cameras:
Canon G series (9, 10, 11) See Mark Hudon's trip reports. I think he's shooting a G10 My sister has the G9. It's sick.
Panasonic Lumix recommended by Chris Mac: Most portable of these three. Good combo of resolution and zoom. Sometimes I wish I had this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011Z44KA?ie=UTF8&tag=supertopo
The one I'm shooting right now: Panasonic DMC LX3 (I'm sure there are more up-to-date versions). I wish it zoomed more, but it is awesome at wide angle and 1080 HD video. It's like having a small digital Leica, and it has already paid for itself. Check out this video from Brian Post. He's a pro.
http://www.vimeo.com/4706992
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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I've been using a Canon SX120IS which is no longer available. It's been replaced by the SX130IS. Right at $200.00, and is a 12 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom. Great pictures. Great optics. Canon is hard to beat for a great compact camera with terrific optics.
I use Lithium batteries in mine, and they are rechargable.
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MisterE
Social climber
Cinderella Story, Outa Nowhere
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Another vote for the canon s95. Outstanding! It has the same sensor, and takes pics just about as good as my old canon G9 which feels like an Iron-age brick by comparison. The S95 seems faster than the G9, too, when it comes to writing the pics to the memory card.
Only real complaint is that, as Minerals suggests, S95 is not very easy to hold and use one-handed. it really, really needs a textured thumb grip, but alas no. A strange oversight. It does has a raised rib-thing under the dial on top that kinda works okay to pinch and hold.
The screen is fantastically bright and usable even in full sun. For these small cameras, viewfinders are going the way of the dinosaurs.
Batteries last okay; they do die quicker than with a larger camera, but the batteries are tiny and cheap; bring an extra and you will be good to go for the whole day. Back in the day, used to have to get by for a whole weekend on just 36 shots. Modern stuff is so easy and convenient.
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oldgrom
Trad climber
boise,idaho
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I had a canon s90, just upgraded to the s95. You don't really need a viewfinder with this camera-the screen is large and works great even in direct sunlifht, and it has great battery life. It has very good low light capability and surprisingly good video. Easy to use, great photos. Damn good little camera.
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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s95 is a good camera, Panasonic LX5 is the best compact out there. S95 is slower on the long end of the zoom.
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klinefelter
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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Aug 30, 2011 - 12:48am PT
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The specs on the P300 Chris suggested looks cool -- it's fast and wide and looks pretty small. I've had two Nikon Coolpix series in the past and they rocked.
I've been using the Panasonic Lumix LX3 for over a year, and it's great. Shoots raw, goes down to 24mm, and has Leica optics. It's been replaced by the LX5, but you can still pick it up on Ebay for $200-250. I just took it out for six days in the Sierra BC, so you can check out the captures here.
I think key features are raw capability, 24mm wide minimum, and nice, fast optics in a compact format.
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jstan
climber
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Aug 30, 2011 - 12:56am PT
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Recently i got a Sanyo S1415 for $74 at Walmart. I got it because it uses two AA batteries.
3" LCD
5x zoom
14 MP
But I frankly would not know a good picture if it bit me.
Works great.
It might not survive being dropped into a cement mixer.
But I would.
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cyndiebransford
climber
31 years in Joshua Tree, now Alaska
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Aug 30, 2011 - 01:21am PT
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I bought a Nikon Coolpix S9100. I really like it. It takes great photos, it has a lot of easy photo settings like backlighting, night, portrait and an easy to use panorama. It can also just be set to auto. The flash needs to be raised by you if needed. It stays charged for a really long time. I bought a waterproof bag for it too, DigiPac was the brand for $30. The camera has 12 megapixals, iso 160-3200, focal length 25 to 450mm, 18 x optical zoom. I like the zoom as I am a birder and it really can get up close. The camera was $279 and well worth the money.
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duncan
climber
London, UK
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Aug 30, 2011 - 04:11am PT
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A happy Panasonic LX3 user here. The 24mm lens is great for climbing shots, that clinched it for me over the Canon S95 (or the G12 - basically an S95 with an added optical viewfinder and a lot more bulk).
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handsome B
Gym climber
SL,UT
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Aug 30, 2011 - 09:55am PT
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Lumix LX5 wins this category every time. Its wide-angle, low-light capabilities make for amazing scenic shots.
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Aug 30, 2011 - 10:26am PT
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I have another thumbs up for the Panasonic Lumix. Image quality is significantly better than my old Canon clamshell or new v. small Sony Cybershot and even better than two SLRs that I've used (Olympus-E-510, Nikon D40). The Lumix is a lot larger than the Sony. The Cybershot is easily shirt or pants pocket sized, while the Lumix is more the size of a small SLR. I still carry the Sony Cybershot for most climbing trips due to size/weight. I don't like the controls or menus on any of them, except maybe the old Canon. The shot-mode-wheel on the Cybershot often gets rotated to some bizarre mode just by the act of putting it in my pocket. For a smaller camera, I think my next one would be a Canon, but I can't really use a camera with out a view finder.
Has Tony Brake weighed in here? The dude know A LOT about digital cameras, and based on his bird photos, he knows how to use them.
Darwin
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squishy
Mountain climber
Sac town
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Aug 30, 2011 - 12:28pm PT
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I never spend more than 100 bucks for a climbing/outdoor camera, I have bought 3 or 4 cannon's in the past ten years and all of them worked great..here's some shots from my current 12mp $100 cannon point and shoot..
it's not the camera that takes good shots, it's the person...
I am writing a short guide on how to take photos like this with a cheap ass disposable camera, no need to spend more than 100 bucks if you know what you are doing...
All of these were shot with the Canon Powershot A1200 (now $120): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HW73S4
I leave my big old SLR rig at home, I should sell it I will most likely never use it again, there's no need...
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