Rugged (ish) Compact

[PetrolTed]

We've been using Canon Ixus compacts for the last 5 years or so. It seems that without fail, just after the warranty expires the lens motor fails or gets jammed etc. It's a delicate mechanism and no doubt a year of banging around in bags, sand from the beach, kids fiddling etc. take their toll. We've dropped one in the past too which obviously went kaput.

I'm not prepared to buy them year after year so I'm looking for something less fragile.

The image quality (and particularly the video quality) of the Ixus has been great and we've got hundreds of fabulous video clips of the family from the last few years. We definitely want similar quality in a tougher shell.

Olympus do a 'tough' range, which might meet our requirements, although that's full on waterproof too which may be OTT. Are there others?

Can anyone offer any advice?

TIA

[urban_alchemist]

The Ricoh GR and GX ranges are made of magnesium and (from experience) are made like brick st-houses.

Four years on and my GRD is still working perfectly, despite god-knows-how-many falls... And that's before we evern get started on the image quality and incrdible interface...

GRDIII (28mm equivalent, f1.9): http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/gr/gr_digital3/
GX-200 (24-70mm equivalent): http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/gx/gx200/

Best digital p+s this side of micro-4/3....

[sgrimshaw]

Had two Pentax waterproof models, first an Optio WP then an Optio W30.

Can happily print either to 16" x 12" as the quality is very good.

Latest version does well in this group test:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgrou...

[Simpo Two]

I'd head for a waterproof one. If it's waterproof, it should be everything-else proof (sand, peanut butter etc) as well. Not sure of the shock rating though, if that's an issue - maybe keep it in a padded bag when not in use?

[sjj84]

I bought an olympus tough 6000 to take on holiday this year, mainly for it's waterproof abilities. It can go down to 3 metres (the 8000 model can go to 10m) and can be dropped from 1.5m I think. Not bad for the money really, it was £200 at the time, I think the 8000 was nearer £300. Not the greatest in low light, and no doubt other non waterproof camera's for the same price would be better picture quality, but that's the compromise.

[kevin63]

I have just gone from a Cannon Ixus to a Panasonic TZ7 and can't believe the quality of photo's, the video is HD and is brilliant, you can zoom in and out while filming too, that's something I could not do with the Ixus. Th TZ7 has a 12x zoom too, in fact is has everything I could wish for in a compact. Macro is awesome too.

[Simpo Two]

kevin63 said:

stuff

Mmm but is it rugged?

[kevin63]

Simpo Two said:

kevin63 said:

stuff

Mmm but is it rugged?

Not broke it yet.

I do get your point. The little knob on the top seem flimsy but it is a steel case like what my Ixus was. Time will tell but I think you can get a case for it which is water proof while still been able to take photo's. It is in my opinion though a dam good camera.

[LongQ]

Most 'name' manufacturers seem to be doiong something ruggedised these days. At a price.

If you want to stick with Canon they introduced the D10 this year and it is targeted at your requirements to the letter.

On the other hand having just had an Ixus 70 fail after some hard use (but is succumbed to water ingress after, or so I am told, my elder daughter's cat(s) knocked over a water container and drenched the camera - the circuit board just near the strap mount corroded - I picked up an Ixus 80 for £80 on eBay. Full 12 month Canon warranty. So the trade off is to run the risk of damage and hope for a los cost purchase opportunity every 18 months or so or spend about 4 times as much and buy something designed to survive a heavier lifestyle load.

I'm not sure it is possible to make the choice 'obvious'. There is potential for similar costs over 5 or 6 years but the 18 monthly change regime allows for technology upgrades ...

Seems to me like it may be flip a coin time.