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So on my last hiking trip to Fossil Creek I slipped into the water while holding my faithful little Sony Cyber-shot. As soon as I went under with the camera I popped back up out of the water and took the battery out. I didn't try to turn my camera back on. I let it dry out. Then a day later I tried turning it on. It was alive, but not functioning properly. I have given it a week in hopes that it would restore itself, but unfortunately I think the damage is permanent.

My poor little camera. I have really squeezed some good shots out of her. She has survived getting water on her (but not getting completely dunked) at Oak Creek Grasshopper Point, and withstood being kept in the sports bra on long hot hikes. The sweat got to her one time and I thought for sure she was dead, but she came back to life. My little cyber-shot has been like a cat with nine lives. She was dropped a handful of times and it didn't faze her.

Well let me get to the reason for this rant...I am looking for another camera and am not sure if I should go the DSLR or point and shoot route. I really want to delve deeper into photography. The past couple of years I have developed my interest and skill with taking pictures and am thinking that now is the time for the DSLR. Still I don't know which one to get. I want one that works well in low light situations because I love night time photography. I also want to be able to capture the detail of mountaintop views and get nice close ups of flora and fauna that I encounter on my hikes.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Go with a Gopro HD. Shoots video in 1080p, is waterproof down to 180ft, and takes great photos, although has no zoom. Has a 170 degree wide angle lens, you are not gonna get much wider than that. And bombproof. We threw 10 of them out of a plane at 12000ft, and all but three survived!

gringoantonio wrote:The only major drawback of the Lumix is limited optical zoom range (24-60mm equivalent).

I have the Panasonic DMC-TZ5 with the Leica Lens and it has a 10x optical Zoom (280mm). The newer version of this camera (I can't remember the Model#) has 12x optical Zoom. I had Cannon's in the past and had durability issues with them. I switched to Panasonic Lumix, and thus far have been very happy.

coanbru wrote:I have the Panasonic DMC-TZ5 with the Leica Lens and it has a 10x optical Zoom (280mm). The newer version of this camera (I can't remember the Model#) has 12x optical Zoom.

If it's like its predecessors, the TZ5 is also capable of 12x optical zoom (or more) depending on the selected aspect ratio and picture size.

Been using Canon film camera's since the Canon T-70 and also have a Penta x105WR. Been using a couple of digital camera's for SLR digital rebel. For point and shot been using a Kodak Easyshare Z-712. Couple of years old but taking some good hummingbird pictures. Next trip will be using a Canon Powershot SX 120 and hope to also borrow a Nikon CoolPix. Though most may offer a video setting my brother has been taking some very cool video with his digital Flip video. Been buying from B&H photo video on line.

@Nighthiker (user id # 3) All those cameras and you haven't posted ONE photo

A very important consideration is what types of pictures are you interested in taking?
Landscape shots? People shots? Macros? Long-distance? All types?
Does it have to fit into your bra? Are you okay with lugging something larger around?
Are you willing to buy a warranty?

Hope to soon, just a little busy with 2, four wheel drives, popup camper, military jeep trailer for backcountry camping, 3 backpacks, SAR PACK, 2, day packs and nine bicycles. Leaving monday for a week popup camper trip which will include day hiking, nighthiking (but since a full moon, may not count) and one overnighter backpack. Have not decided if I will take the mtn. bike for an overnighter as well. Been getting reports of lions and bears in the areas I will be. Hope to observe and not be part of any menu.

gringoantonio wrote:Canon makes, by a wide margin, the best point and shoot cameras. They have the best image quality and the most user-friendly and intuitive menus. A great option that is compact but retains full manual control and shoots RAW + JPEG is the Canon S90. It has the same sensor as the G11 (the biggest of any compact camera from any brand), plus a bigger screen, plus a faster lens (f2.0), yet is more compact than the G11

Canon S90

http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=10358

http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=10529

http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=10950

http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=10985


You decide...

@ssk44
Woah. Great photosets! Thanks for sharing!! I guess the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" holds true in this case

After some consideration, I am thinking that this time I will go with a point and shoot. Once I am more flush I will definitely be investing in a DSLR with all the bells and whistles.

Thanks to everyone for your opinions. They have given me confidence in my decision. Plus I learned a lot about photography in process! Ya'll are grrrrrrrreat!

I have an SLR but it's too heavy so I seldom take it. I always have my Canon PowerShot A2000 IS. It runs for a long time on two AA batteries and has an excellent zoom. 10 megapixel to top it off with a large viewing window and it works great. I would highly recommend this camera.

Canon G11; or buy an older, used G9. You can't go wrong.