Digital camera for hunting and fishing

[nate larson]

I would like to get a reasonably priced digital camera that I can take with when I am out fishing and hunting. I want something that can handle a little abuse and has a good battery life. Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations????

Thanks!

[Slyster]

I would recommend the camera we just bought.. it's amazing! Olympus Stylus 760. $199.... up to 7 megapixels.. VERY small... weather proof! (why I bought it).. great photos and great video too... see my fireworks video I took in the video sharing forum.

Beach camera (online) has it for $199 + free shipping. Get a 2 gig card at walmart for $50 and you can have 2500 photos (at my medium quality settings... no need to ever use 7 megapixels!) and/or up to 40 minutes of HQ 640x480 video. Really small with a huge screen and lens covers itself when off. Can handle rain and splashes... great thing to have for the outdoors.

Trust me... go to a local Best Buy or camera place and check it out! But don't pay $250 + Tax.. use Beach.. they have been around for 30 years and are a great mail order shop. Bought many cameras through them in that time.

[nate larson]

Sounds like an awesome camera! I am hoping to find a camera at Target so I can put it on our wedding registry. Looks like they have the same camera but they are asking 250 bucks. I was hoping to find something in the 150 or less range.

[Macgyver55]

I've had some bad luck with cameras over the years. Not really with the cameras themselves but with losing or breaking them. (my buddy even RAN over one of them with his snowmobile) I like to keep my play camera accessible for quick shots but I've found that really doesn't bode all that well for security. DUH!

Last time I decided to save some money, so I took a gamble and bought one on hsolist. I only paid 25 bucks for it and so far it has been great. The one I have now has actually been submerged in water for a few minutes and it still works! Wouldn't you know once I buy a cheap one it doesnt get lost and I cant wreck it! Anyway, used is an option for a "play only" camera that has worked well for me.

I do have a good Sony digital for everyday use, and I'm pretty careful with that, but I never dared to take the risk and bring it with on my hunting/ATVing and snowmobiling excursions.

[DinkADunk]

Pentax Optio WP. I bring mine fishing all the time and it handles being dunked in the stream just fine (the WP stands for water proof).

[mpester]

I also recommend the Olympus Stylus 760. Not only is it weather proof but it has image stabilization. The image stabilization is very helpful for getting decent photos when it is rough out or when you are zoomed way in on an object far away. The zoom is good for such a small camera. The only thing I do not like about this camera is that it is a little too small. It does not exactly feel right in my hand compared to my Nikon D40.

[nate larson]

Do any companies besides Olympus make All-Weather cameras? It seems like a company could make a lot of money if the made an affordable rugged weather resistant camera that can go in the tackle box or blind bag.

[hanson]

I thought I posted here yesterday but oh well...

My opinion, find something you like in that $100-150 range and it will be all the camera you will ever need for fishing & hunting type photos.

Point & shoot digitals change so fast that a $300+ camera now will be a $125 camera next year. So I wouldn't get caught up looking at features, megapixels, memory, etc, etc.

I have a Nikon CoolPix that I bought off HSOList about 1-1/2 years ago and absolutely love it. I keep it in a fancy camera case (old Crown Royal velvet bag), and have it in my coat pocket with me all the time while ice fishing. In the summer, its in my tackle bag. Duck hunting, its in with my blind bag and I carry it in a fanny pack for deer hunting. The camera is ALWAYS on me while doing outdoors type things. Its been dropped plenty, covered in snow a few times, and totally submerged on a couple occasions. It still works!

I figure if something happens to it now, I've got more than my money out of it and can upgrade to a new, inexpensive camera.

Whatever you buy, plan on buying a decent sized memory card and either lithium batteries or rechargeables.

[DinkADunk]

Quote:

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Do any companies besides Olympus make All-Weather cameras? It seems like a company could make a lot of money if the made an affordable rugged weather resistant camera that can go in the tackle box or blind bag.

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Yes, Pentax does

[nate larson]

Quote:

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I thought I posted here yesterday but oh well...

My opinion, find something you like in that $100-150 range and it will be all the camera you will ever need for fishing & hunting type photos.

Point & shoot digitals change so fast that a $300+ camera now will be a $125 camera next year. So I wouldn't get caught up looking at features, megapixels, memory, etc, etc.

I have a Nikon CoolPix that I bought off

HSOList

about 1-1/2 years ago and absolutely love it. I keep it in a fancy camera case (old Crown Royal velvet bag), and have it in my coat pocket with me all the time while ice fishing. In the summer, its in my tackle bag. Duck hunting, its in with my blind bag and I carry it in a fanny pack for deer hunting. The camera is ALWAYS on me while doing outdoors type things. Its been dropped plenty, covered in snow a few times, and totally submerged on a couple occasions. It still works!

I figure if something happens to it now, I've got more than my money out of it and can upgrade to a new, inexpensive camera.

Whatever you buy, plan on buying a decent sized memory card and either lithium batteries or rechargeables.

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Thanks for the post Hanson...sounds like a great idea. I don't really want anything fancy. Just something to get the job done and won't break me if it gets damaged or goes for a swim.

[slipperybob]

Quote:

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Do any companies besides Olympus make All-Weather cameras? It seems like a company could make a lot of money if the made an affordable rugged weather resistant camera that can go in the tackle box or blind bag.

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I had a canon underwater APS camera. I just don't normally go get photos produced. I've been eyeing some canons with the underwater housings. That's beacoupe $$$$.

[nate larson]

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I have decided that 150 dollars is the most that I am willing to spend and would like to spend less than that even. Any suggestions on a camera in this price range that I can get from Target? Here are a few options:

Samsung 6.0MP Digital Camera - Silver ($99)

Nikon Coolpix L10 5.0 MP Digital Camera ($120)

Samsung 7.2MP Digital Camera - Silver ($130)

Sony 7.2 MP Digital Still Camera ($130)

Nikon Coolpix L11 6.0 MP Digital Camera ($150)

Olympus 7.1MP Digital Camera - FE-210 ($150)

Any thoughts on these specific cameras????

Thanks!