The perfect ovcerlander's compact?

[Warthog]

Hi All,
I had been in the market for a new compact for a while: my new requirements had been sturdy, adequate zoom, but with a wide angle.
Enter the Panasonic DMC-FT2 with a 28mm wide angle Leica lens, just under 5x optical zoom, waterproof to 3m, dust and shock proof and good to -10 celsius (perfect for Estonia!)
Only gripes are no optical view finder and few manual overrides but I have used the latter only fleetingly in recent years!
NOrmally they have been selling for £275. I once spotted them at £250 but sold out.
But now: £215-219 depeding on the colour!! Mine is ordered.
LUMIX DMC-FT2

HTH

[Threewheelbonnie]

I've been using a Leica lens Lumix (Don't know the model without looking) for the last two years and as you say, pretty close to the perfect travel camera. Think it was reccomended by someone on here.

There again, I like my 195? Ensign roll film travellers camera too. It's just over £1 a shot though these days and definately not the perfect overland camera!!

Andy

[The Raven]

We use the Pentax W90. Pretty good camera for bouncing around on the bikes. waterproof to 10m, shock/dustproof. Can't complain

We also have a Canon G12, that although not anything proof, is rugged as hell and takes great shots

[Bjorn]

How do you define "perfect"? A fellow overlander likes to zoom in with her 10-times zoom, wheras I couldn't care less about zoom range. Wideangle is more important for me.

The G series from Canon are nice, BUT they have one problem: the lens hood mechanism is dangerously close to the lens. On my old G10 I've scratched the lens just by leaving it inside the tank-bag whilst riding. Same happened to a travel buddy just 3 weeks after he bought the G11 in Ciudad del Este/Paraguay. Panasonic LX3/LX5 have a 'proper' (sturdy) lens hood.

Then again – the Panasonic aren't perfect either... small zoom range.

[Warthog]

Originally Posted by Bjorn

How do you define "perfect"?

Hence why the title is a question, not a statement.
For me "perfect" will inevitably be a compromise and hence impossible! However, the closest I'll get is a camera that ticks off as many of my "must have" features. In the FT2 I find many.

Originally Posted by Bjorn

A fellow overlander likes to zoom in with her 10-times zoom, wheras I couldn't care less about zoom range. Wideangle is more important for me.

The FT2's 28mm wideangle, and its considerable toughness should be quite attractive, then...

Originally Posted by Bjorn

I couldn't care less about zoom range.... small zoom range.

Make up your mind!!!

[T.REX63]

My choice of weapon is the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010. Water proof, shock proof and uses regular SD cards.

[SeanF]

Originally Posted by T.REX63

My choice of weapon is the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010. Water proof, shock proof and uses regular SD cards.

I bought one of these in Almaty to replace a Pentax W60 that was stolen in Mongolia. One feature I like vs. the Pentax is the metal door that covers the lens when the camera is shut off. Keeps the lens clean and scratch-free. I also like that it can be charged from a wall socket, or by being attached to the computer via USB cable.
In the meantime it has been a very good camera.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Warthog

Hi All,
I had been in the market for a new compact for a while: my new requirements had been sturdy, adequate zoom, but with a wide angle.
Enter the Panasonic DMC-FT2 with a 28mm wide angle Leica lens, just under 5x optical zoom, waterproof to 3m, dust and shock proof and good to -10 celsius (perfect for Estonia!)
Only gripes are no optical view finder and few manual overrides but I have used the latter only fleetingly in recent years!
NOrmally they have been selling for £275. I once spotted them at £250 but sold out.
But now: £215-219 depeding on the colour!! Mine is ordered.
LUMIX DMC-FT2

Hi, you're right it's a fantastic camera, if the predecessor is anything to go by. I was using it as my sole camera on my Africa trip that I've just got back from.

Two flaws that they seem to have remedied since the TS1/TF1 is the mechanical switches, the zoom and the mode dial were vulnerable to getting small particles underneath e.g. sand and dust. Which caused jamming.

However, I did managed to crack my (sacrificial?) lens in Zambia going through a grade 5 rapid on a body-board in the Zambezi.... it happens! (I guess it helps that the rapid was called Oblivion).

My word of warning is, regardless of me wanting to pay to have the camera repaired, Panasonic wont seem to give you any support, even if you're under warranty, they just send you in loops of calling different repair centres who send you back to Panasonic. It's all on the basis of it being waterproof, only Panasonic can repair it (according to the 3rd party repair centres), however Panasonic disagree.


I would recommend if you're into photography, you'll need something else as well. I was a little gutted that I was limited to this camera, despite it taking fabulous photos and being always something I could carry in the pocket. I would recommend a Micro 4/3s camera like the Olympus EPL2 or the Panasonic GF2 if you have the money and not the space... equivalent to a DSLR but smaller.

[anaconda moto]

There are alot of good choices,
but for me it is important that the lens closes,it must be small,
and not to expensive,
i hate to take stuff with me that is very expensive becouse
i do not want to be thinking every minute about where i put it ,
or worry about loosing it.
But i know a lot of people that do not worry about taking
expensive things with them on a trip......everyone is different.

Saludos.

[The Raven]

Originally Posted by Bjorn

How do you define "perfect"? A fellow overlander likes to zoom in with her 10-times zoom, wheras I couldn't care less about zoom range. Wideangle is more important for me.

The G series from Canon are nice, BUT they have one problem: the lens hood mechanism is dangerously close to the lens. On my old G10 I've scratched the lens just by leaving it inside the tank-bag whilst riding. Same happened to a travel buddy just 3 weeks after he bought the G11 in Ciudad del Este/Paraguay. Panasonic LX3/LX5 have a 'proper' (sturdy) lens hood.

Then again – the Panasonic aren't perfect either... small zoom range.

Good to know on the G series. I have a retro looking rugged leather case that protects the lens and camera when not used, I'll be sure to use it

mind the advert, just pulled the photo offline.

[mcgiggle]

I'm on the hunt as well but it must have AA batteries

Cheers
Pete

[Bertrand]

I enjoy this one
Oympus U-Tough 8000 12 megapix, waterproof to 10 meters- can be used under water too

[Neil]

Originally Posted by mcgiggle

I'm on the hunt as well but it must have AA batteries

Cheers
Pete

Frankly Li-ion batteries (although people do believe this is a subjective debate) are better.

Size vs battery life, vs charging time off the bike vs environmental impact of disposal of all the AA you'll get through.

Good luck with your search!

[Starbeck]

Another vote for Panasonic Lumix here, mines done around 14,000 miles in my tankbag. I've also recently bought a Nikon P100, obviously not a compact camera but fairly small and very easy to use. And the Blackberry of course, excellent photo's, always to hand and also easy to use.
By the way, if you're planning on putting the SD card into your DVD Players slot, make sure the DVD can handle the memory. I bought a 4gb Sandisk SD card with the Nikon and the DVD player could'nt read it. 2gb max, so they tell me.

[Redboots]

Originally Posted by Neil

Environmental impact of disposal of all the AA you'll get through.

Rechargeable AA's Charge on the bike or via mains. I think Pete's argument is that the same batteries can be used in many devices... That's what I do.

Cheers,
John