Good compact camera to take on the slopes?

A snowHead

I have never noticed it to be a problem anyway - but will test it out!

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I would have thought that a compact hasnt got the frame speed to capture a skier correctly a decent DSLR will do circa 5 frames per second

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Good enough for my purposes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71958789@N00/sets/72157615071528764/show/

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marksovereign, A DSLR would be theoretically better, but I found that whenever I took a big camera with me, then it stayed in my pack all day, and I ended up with no pics. A compact on the other hand just slips into a pocket and is quickly and easily available.

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I had my DSLR in my pack when I tomahawked 50-60 yards through some rocks down this slope (far end of the slope facing left - you can see the traverse we took later). But I was worried primarily about myself at that point (and earlier, when I downclimbed the cornice).

Detail of the guy who led us there, downclimbing to bring my skis and retrieve his own which had slid down about the same distance as me.

Yes, I know, it was a stupid chain of decisions. Details to follow in the St Anton TR.

Btw, these pics are taken with a friend's badly set up TZ6 (+1 exposure compensation, high compression). I had lost my TZ7 by then.

After all it is free

horizon,

Glad you're alive to tell the tale. Sod the camera.

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I also have a TZ5. I love it and it takes great stills and HD video. I do not know if they have addressed the problem of slow to focus video on the newer models but it is a well known problem with the TZ5. Also the sound recording in video mode is very poor producing very tinny audio. I do not know if this is the case with all compacts but definitely it is a problem with TZ5.
What makes the TZ range so great is the high zoom rate and the excelent quality lens. Also you can pick up very cheap spare batteries (-£5) on ebay that work great.

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palumbex, is the TZ5 movie HD? I didn't think it was.

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My powershot G10 is for the times when the EOS 5D MKII is too big, ski slopes, racing yachts crowded South East Asian street markets etc, and has never let me down yet, no the pics aren't as sharp as the 5D with L series glass on it but that is a pro set up, it easily matches image quality and performance with slightly less flexibility of a mid range dSLR though. Plus there are add on lenses to both increase the max telep0hoto range and widen the wide angle lens so no problem setting the level of zoom you are after.

You know it makes sense.

hugh_b, If you want something robust then canons powershot d10 is very nice. I've also got the olympus equivalent(tough 6000) and although its capable of taking some nice shots the canon is head and shoulders above it.

If you shop around they can be picked up below 200quid.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I'm liking the look of the recently announced Nikon S8000...

World’s thinnest* 10x zoom camera with slim 27.3 mm body.
Quick response: fast start-up and autofocus.
NIKKOR wideangle 10x zoom lens with ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass offers outstanding precision, sharp resolution and crisp results (35mm equivalent: 30-300mm).
Crisp HD (720p) movie clips with stereo sound: captures all the action at an impressive 24 frames per second.
7.5 cm (3-inch) high resolution (921-k dot) LCD monitor: offers vivid color reproduction, sharp contrast, and clear viewing with minimal reflections, even in bright sunlight.

4x anti-blur automatically counters blurred images in four different ways. Lens-shift VR (Vibration Reduction) reduces the effect of camera shake. High ISO (up to 3200 at full size) light sensitivity reduces the risk of blurred images with fast-moving subjects or in low-light. Advanced Motion detection compensates for camera and subject movement. Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically selects the sharpest of up to 10 sequential shots.
Advanced flash control system: synchronizes the flash with high ISO sensitivity for well-lit, naturally exposed results in low-light, and clear telephoto shots.
Creative Slider: instant retouch and review function. Lets you adjust the brightness, saturation and color tone of the image without the need for a computer.
Sports Continuous Mode: shoot up to 45 continuous shots at a speedy 3 frames per second.

A snowHead

The TZ7 is a good camera, but one issue is the video is recording using an AVC HD codec, which has some compatability problems with certain programs (eg. Apple Quicktime won't play it, Windows XP and Vista issues, etc) Else it's a fab camera.

It's predecessor the TZ6 is also very good, and with the release of the newer range, the older ones get a lot cheaper. The TZ6 is around £150 now.

The Ricoh CX2 is also a great camera, takes fab photos and videos, but is slightly outside your £100-200 budget.

A snowHead

Thanks for the help guy's, the new nikon sounds promising so i shall look into that! I'm holiding off for a little longer to see if the price of the current tz6 drops due to newer models coming out! Thanks for the heads up on the video compatibility problems, sounds like there wouldn't be much point in me having the video then as it wouldn't be compatible with my apple!

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hugh_b, my only comment on the matter is whatever you decide to get, make sure you take PLENTY of back-up batteries. We have a cheap and cheerful Olympus which takes nice pics etc but it EATS batteries for breakfast in normal temperatures. In the cold, you can probably wave bye-bye to a pair of AAs every day. We bought rechargables and always have a pair on charge just for the camera.

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I agree with andyph's sentiments about batteries but I found my two Canon cameras to have a good battery llfe. I got between 100 and 200 pictures per charge plus some reviewing. For my old Canon Ixus 500 I had three rechargeable batteries and they would last me for a two week holiday without recharging. I have two rechargeable batteries for my new Ixus 95 IS, each lasted three or four days on holiday.

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I've had an LX2 for 3 years and think it's excellent & very pocketable. If I needed to replace it now I'd get an LX3.

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Battery life on the TZ7 was excellent. I put in my spare battery on the 5th day though I didn't use it as much as I would have liked as the weather was so bad early in the week.

Media player 11 plays HD video with the hd codec pack. Easy to d/l from ms. I recorded in 720p HD and did not use the AVCHD. Windows 7 media centre plays HD and AVCHD without extra codecs. Only issue was with vista but hey I dont have vista so sod it. My only gripe was with the software supplied by panasonic. You would think they would have something to view all your files easily along with the editing suites on the CD!

I did really like the LX3 but opted for more zoom which was interesting...

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guys,

How many of you take pics with an LCD screen looking thru goggles/sunglasses??

After all it is free

Help!!

Good compact camera to take on the slopes?

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