Robust camera for work

[Johnnytheboy]

PH expert advice please!



I am a reasonable photographer with a reasonable camera of my own, but don't know what to look for here.

I have been tasked with buying a new camera for work to take photos of our products (plants in offices) at the point of installation, for subsequent marketing/website use. Previous cameras have ended up suffering because we are usually dirty and in a dirty van, so ideally I'm looking at something fairly robust, and I guess at the point just below which interchangeable lenses are a thing, as that's an obvious route for dirt to get inside I camera I guess.

So am I looking at a 'bridge' camera by this description?

I haven't been given a budget yet but I'm purely guessing at £200. Ish.

[sgrimshaw]

Rugged compact would be the immediate thought, in your budget you are looking at something like:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JP354W6?tag=georiot...

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DNTCDF2?tag=georiot...

You'll struggle to break either

[_Hoppers]

You ought to think about lighting too if you're doing some product photography. Perhaps consider a decent flash/studio lighting and some reflectors/diffusers?

[Johnnytheboy]

sgrimshaw said:

Rugged compact would be the immediate thought, in your budget you are looking at something like:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JP354W6?tag=georiot...

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DNTCDF2?tag=georiot...

You'll struggle to break either

Thanks - that's the sort of thing, the latter gets better reviews. Over lunch I was looking at...


https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-TG-6-Tough-Came...

But a lot of money, but the previous version 2nd hand on ebay might be a way.

[Bill]

After having a couple of cameras die due to dirt getting into the lense mechanism, we have the previous version of the Panasonic and it's utterly indestructible. The first time you wash it under a tap is a bit weird though.

[silvagod]

I've used one of these for taking survey pictures for the last few years, it's been battered, dropped many times, submerged in various liquids and used in very dirty and dusty surroundings. Still going strong! (I survey dilapidated premises for asbestos)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMC-FT30EB-D-Op...

[mike80]

Johnnytheboy said:

PH expert advice please!



I am a reasonable photographer with a reasonable camera of my own, but don't know what to look for here.

I have been tasked with buying a new camera for work to take photos of our products (plants in offices) at the point of installation, for subsequent marketing/website use. Previous cameras have ended up suffering because we are usually dirty and in a dirty van, so ideally I'm looking at something fairly robust, and I guess at the point just below which interchangeable lenses are a thing, as that's an obvious route for dirt to get inside I camera I guess.

So am I looking at a 'bridge' camera by this description?

I haven't been given a budget yet but I'm purely guessing at £200. Ish.

I don't know what the environment is like where you are taking the photos, but you mention a dirty van. Would a decent bag or case for the camera make more sense, then buy whatever camera is best suited for the actual pictures?

[Johnnytheboy]

We work with compost so it's more that I often have grubby hands, and the van looks like a delivery van will.

A case will definitely be on the cards too.

[steveashdown]

Whatever you get, stick it in a Peli case or one of the cheaper clones. Lenses get scratched however tough the camera is.