Compact camera recommendations?
Posted: July 4th, 2010, 2:31 pm
I've been wasting lots of time reading reviews online and I'm still not sure I know what to get, so I'm turning to you guys for some help. For the last few years, an Olympus Stylus 790 SW has been my herping camera. It's held up very well to some occasionally punishing conditions and I've generally been satisfied with its performance. The camera they got me for work is the newer model Olympus Stylus Tough, and I don't like it nearly as much (slower to use and lower quality pictures).
Both of these are waterproof, but worst case scenario I might use a camera in the rain-I never submerge them. Does a typical digital camera handle precipitation and high humidity without much fuss or should I look for more waterproof models? Assuming I don't need to go with another waterproof model, my main areas of concern are good macro capabilities and fast startup, autofocus, and shot to shot times. I'm not the most photographically inclined guy and I usually just stick with auto mode. Any recommendations with this in mind?
One more thing-I've been reading about the low light performance of several new models (particularly Canons). I frequently take pictures at night with the aid of a headlamp using my camera's flash. This generally works well for me, but amphibians with moist skin sometimes look far too reflective and the flash washes out the subject in some conditions. Is my understanding correct that improved low light shooting means sharper pictures using only ambient light with no flash? So far I've taken almost no pictures without a flash because of the blur. It seems like that option would be nice in some of the scenarios I just mentioned, but I'm wondering if the technology is good enough to produce a sharp picture with accurate colors if I snap off a few with only a headlamp for illumination? Any guidance you guys could give me would be much appreciated.
Both of these are waterproof, but worst case scenario I might use a camera in the rain-I never submerge them. Does a typical digital camera handle precipitation and high humidity without much fuss or should I look for more waterproof models? Assuming I don't need to go with another waterproof model, my main areas of concern are good macro capabilities and fast startup, autofocus, and shot to shot times. I'm not the most photographically inclined guy and I usually just stick with auto mode. Any recommendations with this in mind?
One more thing-I've been reading about the low light performance of several new models (particularly Canons). I frequently take pictures at night with the aid of a headlamp using my camera's flash. This generally works well for me, but amphibians with moist skin sometimes look far too reflective and the flash washes out the subject in some conditions. Is my understanding correct that improved low light shooting means sharper pictures using only ambient light with no flash? So far I've taken almost no pictures without a flash because of the blur. It seems like that option would be nice in some of the scenarios I just mentioned, but I'm wondering if the technology is good enough to produce a sharp picture with accurate colors if I snap off a few with only a headlamp for illumination? Any guidance you guys could give me would be much appreciated.