Advice please for rugged compact

andrewcollier

This post is on behalf of a friend of mine whose son is shortly off to Africa for 12 months and has asked for advice on a compact.

I said the worst risk to any camera is probably dropping, seconded by rain/sand or falling in water, so something very rugged and waterproof is needed. I think I saw such a camera advertised, but I cant remember the brand. He is sensible enough to put price as a secondary issue, prefering to get the model most suitiable.

Does any body have any experience of any model with these features?

Thanks for any ideas.

ziggy53

When my son was heading to Iraq (Marine) I purchased a Fuji F40fd and a DiCaPac waterproof case. The combination worked pretty well.

I got the information to purchase from this thread:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=73205

Cuong

Check out the Olympus Stylus SW series. They're shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, and come in different colors.

Cuong

Grainbelt

Pentax and Olympus both make rugged models.

I take an older olympus stylus with me on dirt bike trips, and got around this issue by purchasing a very small, bright yellow pelican case.

It is visible
It floats
it is water and shockproof if sized properly.

When I'm slipping and sliding thru a water crossing on a 400lb bike, the last thing I'm thinking about is a camera.

swintonphoto

Olympus SW series.