Looking for a compact, rugged camera

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dbur
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Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by dbur »

Looking for a compact, rugged camera with good macro and low light capability. Any recommendations?

Don't want it to be so expensive I have to cry myself to sleep if something happens to it. Will be carried on off road motorcycle trips through rugged terrain.

I'm looking at Olympus TG-6. Any other recommendations?

Thanks.

nielsgeode
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Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:47 am
Location: Groningen, Netherlands

Re: Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by nielsgeode »

dbur wrote:
Sun Oct 25, 2020 2:39 pm
Looking for a compact, rugged camera with good macro and low light capability. Any recommendations?

Don't want it to be so expensive I have to cry myself to sleep if something happens to it. Will be carried on off road motorcycle trips through rugged terrain.

I'm looking at Olympus TG-6. Any other recommendations?

Thanks.
GoPro has an optional macro lens available that provides 3.8x magnification. It might be interesting to look at?

dolmadis
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Location: UK

Re: Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by dolmadis »


nielsgeode
Posts: 306
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:47 am
Location: Groningen, Netherlands

Re: Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by nielsgeode »

dolmadis wrote:
Mon Oct 26, 2020 2:25 am
Is this the GoPro macro lens?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Macro-Lens-for ... B01M0BQ285
I think so, although I have no experience with this lens. I just know it exists.

chris_ma
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Re: Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by chris_ma »

how small is compact?
how much is not expensive?
what is considered good macro?

;)

one option I would consider would be a used Panasonic GH4 with a 55mm AI Micro-Nikkor - if that is still considered compact. should be possible to find that for around 450EUR.

not as tough as an action cam, but image quality is likely a lot better.
chris

Lou Jost
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Re: Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by Lou Jost »

In addition to Chris' question, we also need to know what you want to do with it besides macro.

We give our reserve rangers Panasonic bridge cameras with a Raynox lens. Good macro and excellent for birds and mammals (600mm equivalent lens). Not good in low light though.

dbur
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Location: Oregon
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Re: Looking for a compact, rugged camera

Post by dbur »

Should be compact enough to fit in a pocket or fanny pack pouch without being obtrusive. Definitely not anything like a removable lens DLSR or even mirrorless. $100-$400 range. I have a Gopro Session 4, which is very tiny, but not that easy to work with as a still camera, and definitely not macro capable. Some macro lens might work but that one linked doesn't have very good quality reviews.

In addition to macro it should also work as a reasonably versatile normal camera.

Good macro would be sharp clear images down to a 1" diagonal real life image.

Low light performance should be good enough for deep forest shaded subjects with ISO high enough to take hand held. (without flash, I hate on camera flash photos, though sometimes resort to it for documentation purposes, but not for nice images)

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