Next camera.... advice?

[samvara]

As the ridiculously happy owner of a new kayak clearly I need a camera I can take with me that doesn't mind getting splooshed so I've been scouting.

• Olympus Mju Tough 8010 - 14 MPix, 5 x optical zoom, waterproof to 10m, 1.8G internal memory, 215g ~ AUD $500 (slow start and 0.9 shutter lag, image quality 'acceptable')
• Canon Powershot D10 - 12.1 MPix, 3 x optical zoom, waterproof to 10m, ?? internal memory, 190g, ~ AUD $599 (chunky, chromatic aberration, better underwater)
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 - 12.1MPix, 4.6 optical zoom, waterproof to 3m, 40M internal memory, 162.5g, ~ AUD $499 (relatively slow performance but cnet likes it the most)
• Sony Cybershot TX5 - 10.2 MPix, 4 x optical zoom, waterproof to 3 m, 45M internal memory, 144g, ~ AUD $549 (barrel distortion

I'm leaning towards the Sony Cybershot right now because it's tiny and I want to paddle not scuba dive with it.

Comments

[hope]

I've had sony cybershots my entire digicam lifetime... witness evidence here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/76807306@N00/

[samvara]

Wow, some of those photos are gorgeous :)

[rdm]

There is also the Pentax Optio Wxx series to consider. And I think Fuji do something as well.

All up though, the question is 'What do you want to do with it?'

For quick response from start, the Sony. If you want decent image quality, look at the Pentax Optio series or the Panasonics. The Olympus has the advantage of being highly shock-resistant, and one of the longer zooms, so if you want to catch wildlife, go with the Olympus or a Pentax. The Canon is hackable, if that is important to you. I tend to avoid the Sonys these days, but that is a general issue with the company, rather than products.

For us, Leece has the Optio W60, I've got an older Olympus Mju, and we also have a Sanyo waterproof HD video camera (which also has a very long zoom, but only 2MP).

Best advice, though, is try them all out, and see what feels best in your hands. If you have sailing gloves or similar, wear them when trying out, to simulate clumsy cold hands.

[samvara]

Paddling! Bibbulmun tracking! Every day carrying and photographing, I rarely photograph people but I do sky/birds/trees/things/stuff a lot.

I want as much optical zoom as possible!

Also - thank you very much :)