Cockpit digital cameras?

Bruce wrote:
Martin Gregorie wrote:
Bullwinkle wrote:

Anybody have any suggestions for digital cameras to take in the cockpit?

Looking for: Small, so easy storage in the cockpit. Shirt pocket
compatible. I've also
got a Powershot S50, which is too thick for my purposes, although
length and
width is fine
Decent resolution (5 MP or above?)
Large storage card capacity (1 GB?)

Don't need:
Professional quality (this will primarily be for snapshots)
Interchangeable lenses
Bulk

Anybody already been through the process of evaluating and selecting who
would like to share their experiences?

I'm interested in this too, but I'd suggest another couple of things
that would be nice:

- no pop-out lens. A camera without a pop-out lens can be mounted on
the canopy rail close to the canopy without fear of the lens
ramming the perspex and damaging something.

- low power consumption and without an automatic 'off timer' or with
one than can be disabled.

If you don't mind dropping to a mere 3 Mpixels, I notice that Nikon
Coolpix 775s are selling cheaply on eBay. It looks like a suitable
camera for use in a glider, though having handled one, they are almost
too small for easy one-handed operation and they do have a pop-out lens.


If you want a new model that does not have the pop up lens look at the
Olympus Stylus 720 / 770SW

They are resistant to the kind of abuse that will leave many of their
competitors in expensive kit form. Particularly useful is low
temperature capability.

The 770SW even has a manometer function for enriching your EXIF
information with altitude.

Limited optical zoom range because of the internal movement design, but
you can't have everything.

The perfect camera for you - if you can accept the compromises and cost?

Its an interesting beast. I see the zoom range is 38mm - 114mm: 28mm
wide angle would be nice to have for gliding.

Judging by a quick search (and a look at eBay) the 720 was never
released in the UK or was never popular. I didn't find one on offer
though there are plenty of 720SW and 725SW cameras. Is that the case
elsewhere as well?


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |