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I know there is probably a thousand threads at ADV on Point and Shoot cameras - but, since you folks haven't steered me wrong any other advice, figured you all might be a good source to start with.

I recently bought, and returned the Sony CyberShot 14.1MP I bought a few weeks ago. It was OK for a cheapie P&S, but, the ON/OFF button was crazy sensitive and would turn on at the slightest touch - which often left the battery dead when I went to use it because, for some reason, this is the only camera in the world without an auto-off function. And, since the battery pack would not charge off the USB - I'd be stuck until I got to the real world (home or hotel.)

Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts on what they have used and worked out well, or, did not work out so well - I'd like to hear them. I'd like to keep the expense under 100.00 and have a battery pack that will charge off of USB.

Ryan, pretty sure you said you were pretty happy with your P&S, and I believe Eddie (or Randy) was pretty happy with their as well. Happy to hear your thoughts.

The camera doesn't have to be super fantastic quality, I have my DSLR for that, but, I'd like better than, oh, say, a 1976 Polaroid type quality.

I have been very happy with my Panasonic Lumix DMC0ZS10 http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/ZS10/ZS10A.HTM (Before that I had an earlier model Panasonic DMC that I also liked but I scratched the lens.) The camera is about 3 years old. If something happened it I would get another Panasonic.

The reason I purchased a Panasonic P & S is because of the zoom. At the time it has the greatest zoom that I could find at 16xs. I take the camera hunting with me as well. I also liked the size of the camera as well as the buttons.

The model I purchased also has a built in GPS that records where the picture was taken. It takes some time to find the satellites when it is turned on but over all it works pretty well. I imagine the newer models have a faster GPS.

A really old thread with some relevance
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=481

I now carry this and enjoy the nice video it takes for the water crossings, etc.
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1622

Since I do a lot of true off-road riding I have to consider a camera that can take some real abuse. If I did not need to worry about that and was not going to carry an SLR, heck the camera on the latest mobile phones does about as nice a job as a $150 P&S.

The 2 cameras I killed on motorcycle trips were defeated by dust getting into the lens mechanism. So I decided I had to have a camera without a lens that comes out. This also means relatively crappy photos. Compromise.

I am still using my old (8 years or more?) Sony Cybershot DSC-40. It weighs in at a whopping 4.1 mega pixels but takes very good photos and even better video. I think the secret to this model is the Carl Zeiss lens it came with. It does have a retractable lens but I have been pretty careful about not getting it dirty. Now I have to admit I don't take near as many pictures as Troy does. Not being much help here, I guess I just felt compelled to defend the Sony Cybershot...there are some good models out there. Out of curiousity, why tether yourself to a "proprietary" battery pack? I insist on a camera that uses 2 trusty AA s for my travel camera. I pack an extra set or two and can pick more up just about anywhere. Rechargeable battery packs just don't last as long...and lith-ions are ticking time bombs. LOL

ajayhawkfan wrote:The model I purchased also has a built in GPS that records where the picture was taken. It takes some time to find the satellites when it is turned on but over all it works pretty well. I imagine the newer models have a faster GPS.

I believe I did some research for the GPS enabled model of the Panasonic, and of the reviews I read, their one complain was that it 'took quite a long time' for it to find the satellites. Now, in this day and age where if a website hasn't loaded in three seconds we consider that a long load time, I'm curious as to how long is 'some time.'

I guess a possible answer would be 'well, it depends on many factors.' Have those factors been factorial enough where you became frustrated with that feature?

KC wrote:IOut of curiousity, why tether yourself to a "proprietary" battery pack? I insist on a camera that uses 2 trusty AA s for my travel camera. I pack an extra set or two and can pick more up just about anywhere. Rechargeable battery packs just don't last as long...and lith-ions are ticking time bombs. LOL

I am very, very bad at remembering where I put the batteries and to just buy them in general. So, I prefer something that will recharge. If it charges off the USB, I can plug it into the tank-bag and be done with it.

I liked my CyberShot - if it had a power button that wouldn't activate when the local barometric pressure dropped - I'd still have it tucked away in my bag for a rainy day.

troy wrote:A really old thread with some relevance
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=481

I now carry this and enjoy the nice video it takes for the water crossings, etc.
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1622.

Doh. Should have searched first. Thanks for the links.

Here are some photos taken with my Samsung camera/camcorder. Not so high quality, but it takes good video and is shockproof, dustproof, waterproof.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1149614835 ... ideOct2012#

jasoomian wrote:

ajayhawkfan wrote:The model I purchased also has a built in GPS that records where the picture was taken. It takes some time to find the satellites when it is turned on but over all it works pretty well. I imagine the newer models have a faster GPS.

I believe I did some research for the GPS enabled model of the Panasonic, and of the reviews I read, their one complain was that it 'took quite a long time' for it to find the satellites. Now, in this day and age where if a website hasn't loaded in three seconds we consider that a long load time, I'm curious as to how long is 'some time.'

I guess a possible answer would be 'well, it depends on many factors.' Have those factors been factorial enough where you became frustrated with that feature?

If you remember to turn on the camera and find the sats in the morning they re-find the sats much quicker the rest of the day.

To me the GPS was a bonus that I like. I did not notice it on the package when I purchased it. I purchased this camera because of the 16x zoom.

If you need a GPS and a camera look that the Montana 650 or 650T. They are a GPS unit with a camera built in. It records the location of every picture taken. I was surprised how good the pictures were when I used it.

Mine is a Canon Sx140i or something like that. It has a big display, no viewfinder (sometimes I miss it) and a killer range on the zoom for a $150 p&S. Something like a 28-210 35mm equivalant. And it is a 2.8, so it's kinda fast. It uses 2AAs which I think is a good thing. It is when the battery dies in the middle of the day.

I've thought about one of those "weatherized" shock proof cameras, but they're kinda expensive, and only have a limited zoom. I was thinking of something to have out and ready to do "on the go" shots. But I think that is probably a bad idea. Kinda like texting and riding. I know lots of people do it, and get shots that I would be too lazy to stop, but I haven't convinced myself it's a risk I want to take.

Ryan

I use my Google Glass to record every second of my life in brilliant HD video.
http://www.google.com/glass/start/

troy wrote:I use my Google Glass to record every second of my life in brilliant HD video.
http://www.google.com/glass/start/

Oh man! I hope you wear that silly thing this weekend! I'm going to try and throw rocks all over it!

kendall_smith wrote:

troy wrote:I use my Google Glass to record every second of my life in brilliant HD video.
http://www.google.com/glass/start/

Oh man! I hope you wear that silly thing this weekend! I'm going to try and throw rocks all over it!

It was only $1,500 so no worries. They said it was "tough".

For those who don't understand my dry humor, I am KIDDING. I don't own a Google Glass. It is a very intriguing product, though--one I'd love to play with. They have about 8,000 people wearing them now as part of a major trial. Those people had to pay $1,500 to get to be a part of the Google Glass trial. Google hopes to make these available for sale by early 2014.

if I did own one, I would not wear it on a gravel or off-road ride!