Compact camera choices for motorbike touring

Oh heck, first read of the specs isn't so good.

ISO dial removed, as is the LED screen which is now fixed.

The pop up flash, like the S95, will be useful but the 2 practical items lost could put some off buying it.

Good to see the 2.8 capacity there though.


Ally
 
Looks like the Canon G1X is still the better option, this looks like it's a budget version of the G1X

Oh heck, first read of the specs isn't so good.

ISO dial removed, as is the LED screen which is now fixed.

The pop up flash, like the S95, will be useful but the 2 practical items lost could put some off buying it.

Good to see the 2.8 capacity there though.


Ally
 
If you're looking for a cheap Canon camera to take riding that might get bashed around, looks like Photo Bug in Chiang Mai (off the north side of the moat square/ beginning of R 107) have a huge sale on.


camera sale.jpg
 
I´ve bought this Nikon new last month for 260 €. Water + shockproof with GPS. After the loss of my waterproof Samsung last year, I´ve got a non waterproof Sony. It was broken because of the dust in less than 3 weeks. So iI got a very cheap waterproof from Lotus,which makes only in perfect brightness good pics. But now with the Nikon Coolpix I am quite happy. it was the second winner in the last test with waterproof compact cameras. For me is waterproof (dust save) the most importend feature.
Harry Clusen's Photos | Facebook

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If you're looking for a cheap Canon camera to take riding that might get bashed around, looks like Photo Bug in Chiang Mai (off the north side of the moat square/ beginning of R 107) have a huge sale on.


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Those Fujis look tempting for when mine needs replacing
 
I've had several point & shoot fujifilm's Slash & at that price, you will get a crap camera.
I always went cheap when digital first started coming down in price & regret it. The pics are OK but dust is a killer.
Fuji P&S have always been low end cameras & really not worth it
 
My Fuji JX210 is barely 2 years old and has now taken 17201 photos which I am happy with and cost me just over 4000 Baht here in the UK.

Apart from my last camera which was a Sony and I only bought it because Sony still put viewfinders on their cameras whereas Fuji didnt, every camera I have ever owned has been a point and shoot Fuji, the Sony was more expensive and the pictures were of a lower quality despite having a Carl Zeiss lens.
The Sony needed two new lenses and I threw it away after about 16000 photos but the Fuji is still going strong on the original.

That JX 700 has more mega pixels than my current one
 
Good thread. I'm new to the camera thing, inspired by the pics I'm seeing on RideAsia.net. Just picked up a Canon 300 HS for $100 to replace my aged antique Casio. Was going to try the S100 but I'm not to the point where I want to fiddle the knobs yet.
 
Like the Capt'n I like a viewfinder but for me the best feature is the ability to use regular batteries. Then I don't need to carry a charger. OK I carry two AA batteries but. Batteries can be purchased even in outback nowhere. Sure the quality of batteries is variable but they are always available
 
I used to think a camera with a GPS function was a gimmick, but after doing a trip with someone who used one, it opened my eyes as to how useful it was. Where the GPS function really comes alive is it's a super quick way to record waypoints. Simply take a picture of the guest house, pump up fuel drum, bridge etc...... and you've got the waypoint recorded. When you get to civilization you can then upload all of the cameras recorded waypoints to the computer. A very useful function.



Here's a Canon GPS enabled camera for instance


canon_sx230-gps.jpg






This is the first GPS enabled camera for Canon's compact line up. The GPS logger technology records where and when you took every shot. Upon upload, the GPS logger maps out all your locations and pairs it with Google Maps giving you a bird's eye view of photographic journey. Bold and beautiful, the Canon SX230 HS rocks more than a pretty body but we'll start there. A 3.0 inch LCD screen with 461k dots starts it off right. Anything less than 3 inches just isn't as impressive. The rear of the camera is jam packed with buttons and dials galore. The SX230 HS touts a dedicated movie record and playback button; a functional dial that allows you to manually use your camera adjusting ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focus; the mode dial allows you to quickly switch between Manual, Portrait, Video Record and so forth; the usual suspects, Power, Display and Menu, grace the back as well.
The pop-up flash covers up to 3.5m which is pretty average for this new class of camera. The lens does heavy duty zoom work with 14x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle, 392mm telephoto equivalent lens. And yes, this bad boy comes with ever reliable image stabilization. Now let's take a look inside: a max resolution of 4000 x 3000 is justified with 12.1 megapixels. It has a decent shutter speed range of 1/3200sec to 15 second long exposures. The movie record and playback button would be useless if it weren't for the 1920 x 1080 full HD video recording capabilities. At the end of the day, this camera will be able to keep up no matter where you take it. You can preorder the Canon SX230 HS now for $349.99.
 
If you're more of a photography enthusiast rather than just happily snapping, I would also give the new Sony RX-100 a shot. This is not to say there is anything bad with happy snapping, just to understand my recommendation, because it's expensive (S$850 in Singapore) so not for everyone, but I just got one and pretty happy so far.

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Here is my take on it:

- I used to travel with a D90 using a tourist zoom lens (18-200, average speed), which served me well in Australia and New Zealand on road trips (less offroad) where I could shove it in the tank bag on the GS (examples here)

- Then I had more lenses for the D90, it became a total hassle and a pain in the ass and I just gave up (example1, example2)

- Then I moved to some mirrorless system (a Samsung NX body with lenses). Quality is pretty good but I was always struggling to carry all the lenses. Last year I spent a whole year traveling on the bike lugging this stuff around, trying not to drop the camera when swapping lenses, avoid sensor getting dusty...etc. But I think the photos worked ok (examples here)

travelkit-2.jpg

- Unfortunately due to an accident in Timor-Leste I've managed to submerge the camera with one of the prime lenses on it and I had to fall back in the G11. It's a great little camera and the G15 should continue the same heritage just with better optics. What I like about it is that it's sturdy, has most of the controls available as a physical knob. What I don't like is the small sensor doesn't give enough quality and dynamic range (especially in those frequent riding situations when you're in a fores with sunny spots and completely dark areas inbetween). I also didn't like that I had to carry one more charger examples here

- Here is where the Sony comes in. I didn't have much time to experiment yet, but from my test shots it addresses these issues. A larger sensor gives far better quality (same as the Samsung I believe), it's a fast zoom(!) lens (don't need to swap anyhing) and the camera is well built but tiny. Also, since it uses a micro USB interface, it can be charged from the same small charger as my phone. With a converter I can directly connect the camera to the phone and upload jpegs from the road, while still keeping the RAWs on the SD cards. I reckon this system is a healthy compromise and almost equivalent to the one above in quality. The handling is pretty good, almost like the G series, I can map the frequently used functions on 5 buttons and don't need to dig in the menu. I like the flash too, it can be directed to bounce off the ceiling, avoids the zombie look (especially in case of too much powder on the face :))

travelkit-1.jpg

Example of the Sony RX-100 (ok, not representative, just gives an idea):

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Btw...I think it's also important to keep that camera alive in adverse conditions :)

I was using this Overboard belt bag for a year, in outback dust and Sumatra wet season (at high speed exposed to direct rain) to store the entire Samsung system, offroad worn as a belt bag, in less demanding situations (or when I stopped caring) on the handlebar.

waterproof-waist-pack-black-side.jpg

Their backpack is great too, I had my laptop and a few documents...etc in there in that accident I linked, went completely underwater myself with the backpack on and everything came out bone dry. I had it sitting in ankle deep salt water for 6 hours when we went out fishing (trolling) on an inflatable rubber boat in Sumbawa (Indonesia). I think it's perfect for this sort of travel (minus the fact that I had to drill a hole and patch up a system to route my drinking system out).

(I'm not affiliated with any of these brands...I think anything similar would work.)
 
YES. You beat me to it. The RX100 is a motorcyclist's dream camera. Despite being truly pocketable and relatively light, it has a 1inch sensor which is more than twice the size of the G15 / S110 / XZ2 / LX7 competitors.
But all that means nothing if it cannot take nice pictures.
Only one pain, - no outboard charger, so need to charge the battery in-camera.
And another gripe; no manual given as well.

And its expensive at RM2,100 in KL. The XZ2 - RM1,600, LX7 RM1,600, S110 RM1,500, G15 RM1900.

But its worth it.
 
For me the in-camera charge is a positive thing, one less charger to carry, especially this way it's shared with my phone.
It's just dead weight to forget in the morning at some guesthouse only to realise 100km away.

2 batteries, 600+ photos is about the best part of a week for me even if I take panoramas (manual stitching)...hardly ever without electricity or a bit of free time to charge for that long.

And one thing i forgot: I had issues with the speed of the G11 (startup but more AF and burst mode). The RX has a fast 10FPS(!) burst mode if needed and AF is definitely a lot faster. Startup is still not a DSLR but not bad for a zoom lens hidden away.

Optical stabilisation is really nice in both photo but especially video mode and it takes 1080P videos at double framerate (depending on the region 50 or 60FPS, I guess 50 in most of Asia). So you get free slow motion. It uses the AVHCD codec, not bad for editing but might better choose H264 mp4 for regular user (but this has more limited resolution).

And yes, it's pocketable in normal jeans for walking around without looking like having an permanent erection (that might be a negative, I don't know) :)
 
Leica M 240 now released


Really want to treat yourself? The new Leica M has just been released, in black USD$ 6,495 (but it's a work of art)!


Order here:

Leica M Digital Rangefinder Camera (Black) 10770 B&H Photo Video



Leica-M-second-picture-680x460.jpg





"In that respect, the M 240 delivers on a level that's at least one, if not two, complete generations ahead of the M9; it finally feels like the M system has come of maturity into the digital age. Unlike the earlier digital Ms, the camera no longer feels like the limiting factor- barring startup delays - it really does feel like the time when Nikon went full frame all over again.
...
I am as impressed with the image quality as I am with how much difference all of the little changes make towards overall usability. Yes, there are still things to be improved - ergonomics (that damn right strap lug!), microphone placement, EVF behaviour, colour - but for the most part, the M 240 shows Leica are firmly back in the game."
Update - Jonathan Slack also published his review of the Leica M:
"I think it's a total success. The M8 and M9 were excellent cameras - with much to love and excellent Image Quality. The new M is a joy - the ergonomics are subtly improved, the general responsiveness and speed is a real revelation. Of course, it isn't perfect, (which camera is?), but if you want to catch decisive moments with lovely lenses and a delightful camera then, for me, for now, this is it."





The M Digital Rangefinder Camera (Black) from Leica is a compact full-frame (24 x 36mm sensor) digital camera. As part of the Leica M-series, it is directly compatible with Leica M-series lenses and by utilizing the Leica R-adapter, is compatible with Leica R-series lenses. The Leica Max 24MP CMOS sensor and Leica Maestro Image Processor were developed together at Leica and produce richly detailed, low-noise images. The integrated imaging electronics provide particularly fast start-up and response times and the powerful image processor consumes minimal power while offering high speed performance. In combination with the new Lithium-ion battery, this allows for long battery life on a single charge.
The Leica M offers both rangefinder focusing through the optical viewfinder and Live View focusing and preview on the 3.0" LCD or an optional electronic viewfinder. The rangefinder provides fast and clear focusing with LED settings and the Live View offers Live View Zoom which magnifies the image 10x for precise focus and Live View Focus Peaking which displays a red contour highlighting on the image for accurate focus assessment.
The Leica M is also the first M series camera to offer Full HD 1080p video. Shoot videos with the "Leica Look" using any Leica M or R mount lens and preview and playback on the 3.0" 920,00-dot LCD or an optional electronic viewfinder. Shoot your videos in Live View mode to see them exactly as they will appear. A dedicated button will activate video mode in just one touch and manual exposure control allows for custom video capture. An optional microphone adapter set will record stereo audio with your videos.

A dual type focal plane shutter controls exposure and a new ergonomic design places buttons and dials in convenient locations on the camera body. An intuitive menu design offers a clear overview of all camera settings and user profiles can save personalized settings for easy set-up. Leica cameras are built to last and the M features a one piece full-metal body with solid brass top and base plates. Rubber seals protect against moisture and dust and the LCD monitor screen is made of scratch-resistant Corning 'Gorilla' glass.
The Leica M brings together 50 years of rangefinder design experience with state-of-the-art digital technology and an array of precise, compatible lenses to create an innovative, versatile and durable digital camera system that will provide high quality still and video images over a lifetime of use.

24MP CMOS Sensor A newly designed high-resolution, 24MP CMOS sensor in full 35mm format provides top-notch image quality. Its intelligent design and flat pixel architecture enables each individual pixel to gather a particularly large amount of light. This results in images of superior sharpness and maximum resolution. The new M delivers extremely low-noise and richly detailed images, even at higher sensitivities of up to ISO 6400. Leica Maestro Image Processor In conjunction with the new sensor, the Leica Maestro processor provides fast image-processing speed. The energy-efficient imaging electronics of the processor and sensor equals improved lasting power for a single charge of the Leica M's new 1800 mAh lithium-ion battery.
 
Yeah and add a f1.4 prime for only 6995 USD on top.. Bargain !!

Or the fuji 1-ex with the kit zoom and add the 600 usd f1.4 prime for a total package of 2k usd..

Leica brand snobbery lays a huge part.. Remember when the LX3 (or LX5) was sold for twice as much simply as it had the red dot on it ??
 
Hmmm...7,000 baht and i might be interested :RE
 
Related topic.

Does anyone know if there is any 'Duty Free' shopping here in Chiang Mai?
Seeing we have an 'International Airport' I thought there may be.
 
Related topic.

Does anyone know if there is any 'Duty Free' shopping here in Chiang Mai?
Seeing we have an 'International Airport' I thought there may be.



All the shopping Malls (CNX) are set up to give you the required tax refund documentation that you submit at the airport. You have to show your international departure boarding card.
 

Just an update on the Lumix I bought for carrying on the bike.
On a ride the other week, one of the guys brought mine back to me after seeing it fall off the bike at about 40kph & bounce down the road.
I turned it on & all is good. It was in a Lowepro case.
I've used this in pools, surf, motor bikes in rain & dust, hot air balloons & tubing in Laos, private porn, underground mines & it's still going strong.
 
Just an update on the Lumix I bought for carrying on the bike.
On a ride the other week, one of the guys brought mine back to me after seeing it fall off the bike at about 40kph & bounce down the road.
I turned it on & all is good. It was in a Lowepro case.
I've used this in pools, surf, motor bikes in rain & dust, hot air balloons & tubing in Laos, private porn, underground mines & it's still going strong.

Stuff the rest... just post the porn. We will keep it private. Honest.
 
Sony RX 100 "Mk 2" released


The mark II has been released and can be pre-ordered now in Thailand. If pre-ordered from one of the Sony shops in Thailand, they have a promotional free second battery and screen protector. Retail price is around 22,000 Bht.



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Reviews of the Sony RX 100 Mk 2 in the link below, it's supposed to be the best compact camera available:


Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II Hands-on Preview: Digital Photography Review


Sony RX100 Mark II (M2) Review - evolution in times of revolution » EOSHD.com


Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II hands-on (you want this camera) - SlashGear


Overall, on the basis of our limited time with the camera the RX100 II seems at least as capable as its predecessor, with the added potential benefit of improved autofocus speed in low light, something the RX100 struggled with. We weren't able to directly compare it to the RX100, but in a darkened lab with only one window letting in a small amount of light the RX100 II was able to focus quickly on subjects that would challenge an ordinary pocket camera. Even at telephoto, we were impressed how well it acquired focus. We'll give this a closer look in the full review.





WIFI enabled:

The new Wi-Fi feature promises to make the RX100 II a more versatile companion to cell phones and tablets, allowing enthusiasts to again use their cameras for quick social-media posts and emails to friends, as well as uploads to servers. We quickly linked the RX100 II to an Android device via Wi-Fi, and had Smart Remote Control working in a few seconds. The phone could then control the camera, capture images, and transfer them into the phone, albeit at reduced resolution.



Sensor size comparisons:


Sensor-Sizes.png
 
The youtube clip below was recorded by Nik from KL, Malaysia using a Sony RX100 MK 1, quite astonishing.



[video=youtube_share;cp6orDDXhi8]http://youtu.be/cp6orDDXhi8[/video]
 
Really nice compact.. Powerful little package.
 
Mine is an Olympus XZ-1 with a ZUIKO!!! 6-24mm lens. Added a separate VF2 view finder, a Lensmate 52mm filter adapter and a Richard Franiec's custom Grip.

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The new Canon G 16



USD $ 549.00 in the USA


The good: The Canon PowerShot G16 produces very good photos in bright light, and the fast lens, optical viewfinder, and relatively streamlined design make it nice to use. Plus, it finally delivers solid continuous shooting.
The bad: A mediocre Wi-Fi implementation, no articulated LCD, and lack of manual controls while shooting video are among the ways in which the G16 lags behind the competition. And other cameras deliver better photos in low light.
The bottom line: While the Canon PowerShot G16 is better than the G15 and remains a nice enthusiast compact, its low-light photo quality disappoints for the money.





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Overall, with the exception of the aforementioned record button, and the annoying operation of the quick-settings menu -- you have to press the Func button to dismiss it, you can't just press another button -- I like the design of the camera and find it delivers a pretty streamlined shooting experience. For the most part, the interface operates cleanly; you can quickly dive down to more detailed adjustments straight from the quick-settings menu.
 
Canon G1X "MK II" released


- MK 2 version will retail for around USD $ 800 in the USA

- No optical view finder on the Mk 2 model, although there will be an optional external optical viewfinder, seems crazy they've done this



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Cnet.com review link below:


Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II hands-on Preview - CNET




The successor to the G1 X -- now creatively dubbed the G1 X Mark II -- is definitely a worthy upgrade on paper. Fortunately, the camera lives up to these lofty expectations in the real world. It looks completely different from its predecessor in almost every way, doing away with the clunky G-series styling in favour of a more traditional camera orientation. In the hand it's a hefty beast, with a sturdy construction that looks and feels like it can withstand some heavy-duty use thanks to the stainless steel chassis.




From Canon G1X vs G1X Mark II: the new camera is garbage - National Photography | Examiner.com - The USD $ 300 add-on optical view finder


For any traditionalist (or anyone demanding the best viewfinder), the lack of an optical viewfinder (as was seen on the original G1 X) is a huge handicap in the picture-taking experience. Why? There is simply no way that any electronic viewfinder can replicate what is seen by the human eye. Adding to this disadvantage is the fact that Canon chose not to use a shielded OLED viewfinder in what would have been the optical viewfinder chamber, either. Result: one will be forced to rely on the Sun-exposed (and thus glare-prone) rear LCD screen. Yes, while the tilting can help reduce the flare problem, in bright enough Sun, many people will be wishing for a shielded viewfinder, whether of the optical or even OLED variety.
However, Canon has developed a hot-shoe mounted 2,360k dot external viewfinder for the G1 X Mark II, which it will be selling for $300, meaning that, in order to get a fully-functional camera, you'll be shelling out $1100, which could buy a entry-level dSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens camera kit plus an additional lens! End result: the G1 X Mark II is a waste of money as the only way it becomes usable is via buying a $300 "accessory" that takes up the hot shoe and thus further limits the camera's functionality.
 
- No optical view finder on the Mk 2 model, although there will be an optional external optical viewfinder, seems crazy they've done this

Very much as the prosumer and enthusiast compact range of ILC kit are all incorporating viewfinders (many EVFs tho).

Odd choice and will hurt sales I think.
 
The Canon G1X seems to be a very robust camera. Mine came out of it's pouch at 130 km/hr, I thought it would be toast and wasn't even going to go look for it. Keld saw it come out, stopped and picked it up, had his GoPro on at the time too!



[video=youtube_share;cS_Uqa8lKt4]http://youtu.be/cS_Uqa8lKt4[/video]



LCD was cracked but still worked, took it to Canon for repair, they checked it out, sensor and everything else survived, quite amazing. 4,000 Bht for a new LCD and it's all working as before.
 
I see the new Lumix LX100 is getting rave reviews.. Superb lens too.. Slightly larger form factor than the G7 X I think tho..
 
I bought a Sony RX100 mk1 a few months ago and although I havn't had a great many chances to use it I really rate it over all the other compacts I've had so far. One or two reviewers elsewhere on the net have wondered if this is the compact that will have you leaving your SLR at home but although very capable in a range of situations it's not really as near as versatile. And if you like tweaking camera controls the RX100 isn't as much fun as an SLR either. It's foremost an automatic camera with a rather limited manual mode and with a weedy 3.6 zoom some might find it dissapointing. However, the camera has 20mp res, a thumping great (for a compact) 1" sensor and a Zeiss lens. What you can't close in on with the zoom you can get back by image cropping later in most cases, it's what I do and it generally works out.
For motorcycling around Asia, well I can't wait to try it as I have a big trip on in February and I think it's going to be a winner judging by the rather pleasing pictures I've taken so far over here in the UK -(in comparison with the Sony HX9V & 20Vs I've been using). One thing that concerns me is the physical size of it, it's very small and it's difficult to find a natural grip on the camera body if you have largish hands, the body is a bit slippery and needs a rubber grip fitted. I wouldn't dream of trying to take it out of a pocket with motorcycle gloves on, I'd drop it for sure. The bottom line though is image quality and I'm certainly pleased with that.
The RX100 has a few toys to play with, one setting is new to me it's called colour select and enables you to shoot a monotone with either blues, greens, yellows or reds 'selected' as the only colour, I love playing with this. Here's an example:-

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