Hi all,

 

I'm looking for a small compact camera; chest zip pocket, ideally 24mm with some zoom.

 

Ideally I'd like some ability to fiddle the aperture or exposure, but crucially unzip pocket, turn on, snap.

 

It will be used in mountain environments, so lots of light, sky and contrasts. Even better if it can emulate some film types, velvia for example. The 24mm req is alot of pics will be taken where the bipod zoom effect cannot be used easily.

 

Tough cameras: maybe, in reality if it's raining, I'm bailing and not taking pic's.

300+ camera: not really, rather can't quite justify it. 

300+camera 5 years ago: yep if spare batteries are available.

Phone: Tried it, takes too long and too fiddly to handle when hanging off a rock face.

 

Threw all that at the sales guy and he ran away, so got nowhere really. Mostly it seems as I didn't want an idiot proof camera, yet wanted an idiot proof camera.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

Canon G7x or Sony RX100, both fantastic cameras. I have the Canon G7x and it ended up replacing my SLR. Both cameras use the same Sony 1 inch sensor and the resulting images are fantastic. Even though you have the manual controls they can be fully automatic and from switching on are ready to take a picture in less than a second.

 

The Canon is 24-100mm optical zoom compared to the Sony 28-100mm. Both should be less than your £300 target, the Canon you may need to look harder for at that price, and spare batteries are readily available. Both have programmes for film effects. Video although not listed on your requirements is also pretty impressive for such a small camera.   

Edited 19 April, 20179 yr by CWARD

I'd missed the canon. I had thought about the rx100, but was seeking a 24mm, which the canon fulfills.

 

I swapped my dslr kit for a Olympus om5 which with primes is great, but not practical on a cliff ledge where you can't really walk back and forwards. It's also a bit bulky for a 'pocket'.

 

Time to put some watches out on ebay then, super thanks.

I've had no complaints with mine other than getting used to having no view finder just the screen on the back but then that opened up some new angles too. Even my wife likes using it which is surprising as she firmly in the point and shoot camera camp.

have a look at some of the older Nikon P series compacts second hand.   They tend to be aimed at more advanced photographers who want manual options as well as point and shoot. I have a P60 and it really is a great camera, small, good optical zoom backed up by a digital zoom, has both LCD screen and electronic viewfinder and takes cracking photos.

I have a red Olympus TG4,..

 

now £300 & less as newer TG5 is just launched at £400 mark.

 

25-100m (35mm) F2.0 to 4.9...Macro (1cm), 100Iso to stupid fast...exposure comp, dust, water, freeze, shock, etc proof....

 

PM me for a link to my photos on Dreamstime if you want to see what it can do.