Sturdy compact needed

andrewc

andrewc

Suspended / Banned
Messages
10,024
Name
Andrew
Edit My Images
Yes
Looks like our workshop digital camera has died and I'll need to get a replacement.

Needs:-

1) Automatic flash.

2) Very close focussing ability without having to turn on a dedicated Macro mode

3) Wide angle lens (28mm in 35mm terms or better)

4) Must be able to survive a workshop working enviroment.

5) Idiot proof.

6) Cheapish.

Current camera is an HP 850 'bridge camera' which fails on numbers 1 thru 5!
 
Considering no. 5, there are two sayings about that (at least 2, excluding Einstein's):
"Make it idiot-proof, and someone will make a better idiot. "
"It will NEVER be idiot proof, 'cause idiots are both creative and clueless."

Anyway, I think Panasonics should be able to fit your bill, although I'm not quite sure how sturdy they are. You'll probably want one of the FZ series, although there are some interesting lower end models. Fuji S6500fd could be good too.
 
As many of you know I work in a classic car restoration company. Digital cameras is useful for recording progress and alerting customers to potential problems that will probably result in a bigger bill.

Current camera has a pop up flash relying on the user to pop it up. User normally fails to do so.

Current camera needs to be put into macro mode for the really close up shots. User normaly forgets

Current camera has a wide angle mode 37mm - 300. Something in early 20's with a shorter maximum would be better
 
I use a Olympus 1030SW.

Shockproof, Tough, Waterproof, Wideangle (28mm) zoom,

BUT....

It's not cheap (£200), and you have to turn macro mode on.

On the plus side........ its beer proof - took loads of pics from inside a full glass of beer on the last works curry night, to see if we could give the camera "beer goggles" :D. Just rinsed the camera in warm water when i got home and all was good.
 
the 6500fd has a one button macro mode (is that too hard) to focus to 1 cm . and i beleive in auto setting it pops the flash up automatically.
In terms of ruggedness i cant say mine was stolen with 2 months of me getting it!
It should be had for about £100 these days.
 
It might be worth checking out this month’s (October) Digital Photo magazine. They have a ‘tough’ digital compacts test, with the gold award going to the Olympus MJU 1030SW.

Sam-D
 
cameraA2.gif


:naughty:
 
Thats what we need :)

We had a little Olympus for years - dead simple point and shoot and it worked well until it was dropped or knocked one too many times.

It was replaced with my HP Photosmart 850 which was sitting in a cupboard since getting my 350D and this has been OK, but suffers from needing the flash applying manually and macro mode switched on and the workshop staff who use it keep forgetting.

Will do more investigation
 
I would suggest a little training for the spanner monkeys - I mean, how hard can it be to remember to press a couple of buttons to get the flash to work or to go into close up mode?

Once the SMs are trained up, an Oly Mju ???? SW should fit the bill - sturdy, drop-proof and waterproof (so should be dustproof too!).
 
Shoot the dogs and get some puppies! I'll bet they can be bothered to get the settings right when they're taking their holiday pics...
 
Actually they can't - I've seen the holiday pics. One uses a 400D on green box auto mode and the others use just point and shoot on auto mode. They're not really interested in photography and don't want to learn.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top