Going on Camping Trip, Req. Lots of Gear, What Camera to Buy?

Hi all, several weeks ago I posted a thread about a field camp I'm going on to Meteor Crater. The basic question was, what camera should I bring? I got very split answers, but I think in the end I'm going to go with a P&S. Yes, some folks raised some good points about bringing an SLR, but now that I was sent a gear list of stuff I'm required to bring, an SLR really is not feasible.

With that said, what would folks recommend for a P&S to bring? First, I want something that fits in my pocket. That's the whole reason for going with a P&S. Second, I think I would like to be able to have full manual controls, though I realize that limits me in choices. If I were to go with something without full manual controls, would I still be able to choose things like Aperture and then the camera chooses shutter speed? I tried playing around with a few cameras at Target and couldn't really get them to do that ...

Anyway, I was looking at the Canon S90. I know S95 just came out today, but it seems like such an incremental upgrade (don't care about HD video) that the S90s will be on sale ($300 from Dell!) and maybe be worth it. I should note that I'm not thrilled with spending even $300 on this, but I realize that I could use it for things other than just this. Like I could keep it in the car for those rainbows or sunsets I see when driving and don't have my full camera gear with me.

Now that the horse is before the cart, a bit of setting: Meteor crater is a 1.2-km-diameter impact crater in the Arizona desert, and I will be camping for 7 nights in a tent in the RV lot 6 miles from the crater. We will be going in to the crater (yay!) which is something that is almost never permitted. Gear that I'm required to bring includes a rock hammer, 3 1-L water bottles, drafting tools, magnification loop, boots, etc. (those are the main things one may not think of). I have been to Meteor Crater before, several times, including walking fully around the rim and getting lots of pictures. The camera would be more to just document the trip for fun and to get shots of being inside the crater. Yes, this is remotely related to my thesis work (for those who read the old thread), but my thesis will not include anything about this.

Now that you have the whole scenario, what do you folks recommend? Something like one of the Elf models, or going to the S90?

Do you need RAW?

Don't need RAW. Don't need IS, either.

If you don't need RAW and don't want to spend $300 on a S90, you could pick up a Canon A570 for around $200 new. I'd probably spring for the S90, though. It's smaller and has better IQ.

astrostu wrote in post #10754821
Don't need RAW. Don't need IS, either.

You'll be glad that you have IS once you do...

You get the ability to use a slower shutter speed, great for low light stuff. There are other benefits as well, and since a good amount of cameras come with IS these days, you might as well get and not need it other than need it and not have it.

Yeah, I don't need IS, but any camera I'd consider getting these days has IS, so it's a fairly moot point.

IMO, the S90 at $300 is a good value. Av/Tv/M modes with quick controls AND better IQ. I've had SD/ELPH cameras and they're good but they're not in the same league.

It's really about you and what else you think you can do with that $100 you'd be saving.

The S90 at $300 dollars is twice the value of a good point and shoot that is $200.

Plus, it will be a lot better in low light than anything else you bring (unless you bring a dslr).

Don't forget to put it in a ziplock bag or zipper case. Meteor crater is dusty.

I think I'm leaning towards the S90, even though I "shouldn't" (as in I'm spending about $3k over 2 months starting a few weeks ago on various things and am not thrilled about it). But, I think that if I were to get something else, I would probably be frustrated with it when it doesn't offer the quality and/or manual controls that the S90 does. Still not entirely sure, though ... but I did go to a local camera store (they had it for $400 ... NOT happening) and asked to see if I could fit it in my pocket, which it easily did. Very different from its ancestor, the S30, which was my first and last P&S.

Consider the Canon SX210 ($300), it has some nice features like the 14x zoom starting at 28 mm. Sure it's not the S90 with the larger sensor, or as fast a lens, but you have more zoom options, if that were a priority.

There are some happy SX210 users on the DPR forum. Here's a recent thread;

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1010&messag​e=36082653

and the link to this person's Picasa albums using the SX210, but only shown in his August 2010 postings.

http://picasaweb.googl​e.com/shaisgs

If you really want to be bold, consider the Sigma DP1s through Amazon for $300. They are apparently getting rid of their stock of them, while other retail outlets are still listing it for $470 to $490.

Edit: just in case, you might want to visit this link of a person that really knows how to use the DP1s, and the other Foveon sensored Sigmas.

http://www.rytterfalk.​com/?s=dp1s


Dennis

You'll want one of the high end compacts and don't limit yourself to Canon. I'd check out:

Panasonic LX3
Canon g10 or g11
Canon s90
Samsung TL500 (f1.8 lens!)

Be careful on your trip.

The little green men come back sometimes, and if you don't have things they want (for trade), they get really mean.

How do you think that crater got there in the first place? A rock from space? Please! NO! It's a blast mark. You might not want to admit it (fear is a powerful blinding agent), but it's true.

They like gummybears. Bring gummybears.