Does anyone EDC a camera?

I used to carry a camera all the time -this was pre-digital - and am thinking about doing it again. any reccomendations?

tro

my cell phone has a camera built in. may not be the best but it will work.

Something rugged is a good idea.

The Pentax Optio WP is rugged and waterproof. Unfortunately the small fixed lens is limiting (though will probably crush anything built into a cell phone).
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0501/05010501pentax_optiowp.asp

Olympus has the Stylus series and some other small cameras that are weather/dust resistant and should also be considered.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/olympus/stylus_500-review/index.shtml

I just ordered an amazing little camera from Panasonic (DMC-FX9).
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05072002panasonic_fx9.asp

It has 3x optical zoom with stabilized optics. I don't think any other pocket camera can compare. I currently own the Panasonic DMC-FZ5. The stabilized optics in this camera has allowed me to take pics that would have been impossible otherwise. The FX9 is probably not as rugged as the Optio or Stylus, so I will be sure to pad it adequately. I am starting with this made in Australia, full cover, custom fit case I found on eBay.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZatomichh

If size is not an issue, I'd say look for one of the small cameras that still use AA batts so recharging is not a concern.

Good luck, TR

You will not be dispointed with the fx9... I have fx7 in 3 feet radius on me all the time and it is a great little gadget.

Go for the best...

http://www.minox.com/minox2002/index.phtml?&speechchange=e&sprache=e
(EDIT: Not a direct link. Click on the left "Products - 8x11mm - 8x11mm Cameras" )


Thi s is a direct decendant of the ones that have appeared in so many beloved spy movies. When closed, it is about 4.25" x 1.1'" x 0.63". If it is good enough for James Bond, then it is good enough for me. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The base "ECX" model is not as good as the one shown above, but can be in the low $300 range.

**EDIT**
Check out the following page:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=616
I have ordered from this company before. They have a very good reputation in the photo world.

Also note that the "LX" is the "best" minox camera. The CLX and TLX are "special editions" with an associated price increase. The street price of the plain LX should be around $500 or so. It is funny that the LX is no longer listed.

I carry a Canon S330 (no longer made, but it has descendants). It is a pocket digital with a Stainless case. Quite rugged and small with very good optics and capabilities for a pocket digital.

I specifically remember laying under my desk in 2001 watching my building crack, lights crash down and wishing I had a camera...a bit odd but this was one of my reasons for seeking a pocket digital camera.

I currently carry this camera in my shoulder bag daily. I have since upgraded my digital equipment but really like this little camera.

I usually keep an older Olympus XA 35mm camera in my truck (previously, it was an XA III, but I found this one for $10 at a yard sale!) It's come in quite handy for those "wish I had a camera" sunsets & other such moments. It's also been of use, unfortunately, at a couple of minor wrecks.

However, I've about decided that keeping a Fuji or Kodak (or your favorite brand) of disposable camera may be the best way to go. It's basically nothing lost should it be lost or stolen, they're light, & take decent photos. I like my little Olympus too much to continue risking it.

You might have similar luck searching garage & yard sales. I've picked up several "junk" cameras that way. They're fully functional, just no longer desired by their owners.

David

I've been wanting a cell phone with a camera for a while. Hopefully DH will read this thread and find out how useful an EDC camera is and get me one. So far I've been able to convince him that an EDC camera would be neat, but I have not been able to convince him that one would be necessary. So, could one of you experts please tell me how an EDC camera can help in an emergency?

I started keeping a camera in my car after I totaled my first car. The tow truck driver was really nice and let me go to a convience store to get a camera to take pictures of my (wrecked) car. After that I put a cheap wind-up camera and a roll of film in my glove compartment just in case.

I do not think a camera for EDC falls in the essential category. I do think it can be useful post disaster or for lesser things like auto wrecks etc.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0301/03010801pentaxoptios.asp

I think they had some of us in mind when they did this <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

cool !!
But is the camera good for actually taking pictures ?
It has a lot of cool features, but what about picture's quality ??
Anybody has played with that Pentax OptioS ??

I'm looking for a very small/light camera, for job related EDC : taking pix of customers installation make it easier, when calling them on the phone, to explain what they should do, which cable in which box they should move/connect a.s.o. ...

I just keep a disposable in the glove box in case there is a car accident or when one of my mates gets bogged <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Not that model, but I have friends with some of their older models which are pretty good. (by older I mean last year or 2 models)
I've used Pentax SLR's for years and now have their ist digital SLR, and haven't ever had a problem with them.
They are a funny company with funny marketing. But my experience with them has always been good.

You back, or have you left yet?

Quote: "You will not be disappointed with the fx9... I have fx7 in 3 feet radius on me all the time and it is a great little gadget. "

Matt,

Two days left and counting before delivery. I can’t wait. I plan having it handy at all times. I almost jumped on the FX7 (very cool camera), but had just purchased the FZ5 and needed some time for my piggy bank to recover. Panasonic came right back with the FX8 (better battery life), but it is a gray market product here in the states. My patience will be rewarded with the FX9. The LCD resolution is greatly increased as well as some of the speed specs. I have been doing my camera business with Vann's in Montana. The prices are great and the service superb. Bonus: no taxes, free shipping.

Vann’s
http://www.vanns.com/shop/index.jsp

I don’t even bother with the rip-off, cut-rate, New York/Jersey hack shops. I won’t subsidize these joints and their games.

B&H also has decent prices and good service.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com

One Call can have some good deals on equipment too.
http://ww2.onecall.com/

Unfortunately they are here in WA State, requiring payment of sales tax. (It also pains me greatly to subsidize politicians and their games).

Below is a list of my favorite digital camera review sites.

http://www.megapixel.net/html/reviews.php

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM?view=dp_all

P-man knows what he's saying. Great links!!

Though my Nikon D70 dSLR is my favorite camera, I tend to like the photo quality that comes out of my Kodak digital cameras very much - great color quality.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com is indeed a great place to buy. They are sort of the campmor.com of photography. I spend way to much $$ at both.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/ is also my favorite source for camera reviews. They do a great job and show no bias.

Some other bits of advice for digital camera users (based upon my biased opinions):

1. Buy an external card reader. I find them easier to use.

2. Take a look at Adobe Photoshop Elements. For about $100 it provides a wealth of photo organization/editing capabilities. It comes with an auto-card reader so all you do is pop the card into the reader and the software guides you from there.

3. Get a tripod. Though some will say you need to spend big bucks on one, I think a lower cost one is far better than not having one at all. They allow you to takes some time to frame the picture as you want it, and, more importantly, they give you clear blur-free pics.

4. If you don't have the camera with you, you won't get the picture. That is why I have a smaller point-and-shoot camera as well as the better one. I try to carry it when ever I can.

Yes, a Canon PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH. I'm taking classes toward a certificate in digital photography.

-- Craig

My cellphone has a camera built in ( Motorola A1000 with 1.3 megapixs) takes decent enough shots and is always with me,EDC'ing my Konica KD20M would overload my pockets <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I do find haveing the abillity to take shots to use as instant referance very usefull.
P.S does anyone use the video clip facility on camera phones? I videod a friend tying some knots that i allways scew up <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, now i have my own little tutorial <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> its no Hollywood production but really helps.

Does anyone have any recent experience or knowledge about whether film photos (where you actually have a negative as proof) have any more weight than a digital photo in a legal proceeding, like in a lawsuit? I don't EDC a camera now, but I always think I should put one in the car.

Before digital cameras were readily available, I was on a jury for a civil lawsuit. A guy got rear-ended and was suing the other driver for damage to his car, some medical costs, and some pain and suffering. The pivotal evidence for me was when the other driver's insurance-company-provided lawyer produced photos of the guy's car from a year before the accident. They showed that the guy's car already had the damage that he was claiming happened in the accident. None of us jurors had any doubt that the photos were real and undoctored, but today, in the era of Photoshop and drug store photo kiosks, it's pretty simple to alter a picture and produce a print (real photo, not inkjet print). And not just altering the car, but also, say, placing a tree in front of a stop sign so the guy can claim it was obstructed...all kinds of shenanigans.

E.g. I could easily see a situation where I'm in an accident and say the other car had a damaged front bumper and that's it. A couple weeks later, I learn that he wants my insurance company to fix his bumper, a cracked windshield, a smashed fender, both headlights, yada-yada. Just wondering if having a digital or film photo of the original damage would be more credible in case it went to court. I have no idea how vigorously attorneys attack digital photos in court these days. I mean, I watch lot's of Law and Order, but it's never come up in an episode yet! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And those Perry Mason reruns aren't any help either...

Then again, maybe so few people have cameras with them (cell phone cameras are changing that) that having any photo impresses the jury and it doesn't matter so much if it's digital or film.

Listening to a police scanner, I hear "Any unit with a digital camera on the north end, contact Sierra 11". So, uh, if the police use it, it's probably good. However, I'm sure that any disks used are serialized, and a good chain of custody is maintained.

Now, realize I'm not a lawyer, and really consulting one that deals with DUI's, domestic cases or traffic accidents will be a good thing. Most of the times I've heard the camera being used, it is to record bruisings as a result of batteries, and sometimes car accidents. They can tell you what you need to know.

But, there are some things that may help them be credible in court.

First, most of the newer cards today use encryption to store the actual photo to the portable disk. When you "decrypt" the file you get an image. As long as you cannot write back to the disk an image from outside the camera at anytime, then it is as good as a fingerprint. If you can, then you won't be able to guarantee the authenticity of the digital photograph.

Second, all new digital cameras have a timestamp function. Make sure the date and time are correct.

Third, you're talking "big" items and "low cost/benefit ratio". Is it worth it to professionally edit photographs, risk detection, just so you can save $150 every 6 months? Taking the photograph, along with your statement, will probably serve as a good "complete package" of your testimony.

One things I will do if ever using a digital camera to take photos for legal things, is to take ALOT of pictures, from different angles, distances and finally panoramic shots. The reason being that I would have to digitally alter EVERY SINGLE picture in EVERY SINGLE ANGLE. Make sure key landmarks, or things that can be measured, are included. The simple location of a median with relation to the vehicle may help. Street signs, traffic lights, business signs, and even lane markings. If need be, someone can go into the "real world" and measure all those things. With the timestamp function, you might even be able to find things that confirm times. i.e. a police officer/ambulance/fire truck, taxi was known to be responding to another call. Maybe even the traffic light timing might confirm the time.

All of this together can reduce the possibility that the photo has been altered. Plus, someone can print these photos out and go around asking potential witnesses if this is what they saw.

Consider using the movie recording function, if your camera is equipped.

...now EDC'ing a digital camera. Very useful for many things; taking notes, remembering stuff to do, scenic photos...

Wow! Talk about resurrecting an old thread...

With the latest generation cell phones, I think a lot of people are edcing some sort of camera device these days.

As a matter of fact I do carry a disposable camera in my current pack. Its still in its foil wrapper. Once I go back to my normal pack (DW is using while on crutches).

Many years ago when I had a disposable camera on me and witnessed a car accident. The guy who caused the accident got out and got really hostile with the female he hit. So I whipped out my camera and snapped some picts while both cars were in the road before they moved them for traffic purposes.

When the cops showed up the guy started blaming the female for the accident. I stood off to the side for several minutes, gawking, then offered the camera to the officer with my name and number on it. He called me a while later telling me the pictures helped close the case and cite the guy.

So yes, camera phones are very cool, but i do like that I can just snap some photos and put the effort on the other party instead of me having to type in emails or send here and there. As common as phone cameras are, a lot of people still can't take them well or send them or receive them correctly.

Olympus 1030sw or equivalent... I love those little water/drop proof things. Have one with me all the time. Doesn't take the best pictures in the world but since it is so shock and drop and water resistant I have it on me all the time. Average camera on you takes better pictures than professional set up left at home

I bought a camera phone, but it runs windows mobile, so you hunt for the the camera button, wait for it to load then hunt for the menu's to change its zoom and settings then finally take a low res blurry picture. Then you have to use some tool afterward to insert the exif data from the file date and time because Microsoft left that out as well. Quite annoying.

I always have my iphone with me and 90% of the time I carry a cannon SD1000 in one of my pockets. Its not an essential device so there are times it stays in my murse but its something that I like having. Just never know when you want to snap a picture of something or take a short video.

While everyone has an opinion about a camera to carry the best advice I'll give you is simple. If your going to carry it constant make sure its small enough to pocket along with the other 50 things we all carry. Or that you can carry it in a small belt pouch with out being to intrusive to your life and with out looking like a total bat freak because of how much is on your belt.

The problem I'm finding is a camera small enough to pocket carry doesn't use AA batteries so you have to remember to charge it up every so often. I can't find a small pocketable one that uses AA batteries so I can use the low self discharge. We keep our old camera in a diaper bag which is almost EDC and it runs off a pair of AA's so some ebeloops in there and I never have to worry about it.

I have a phone with a 1.3MP camera in my pocket, and a 5MP Canon PowerShot in my EDC bag.
Neither is meant to be a lifesaver, but I have them handy if a situation comes up that warrants it. The PowerShot uses AA batteries and an SD card, which puts it in line with several other gadgets in my EDC bag, so I always have plenty of batteries and storage media.

I usually carry a small Casio EX-Z1050 which can give some decent photographs and is quick to fire up and take a snap or two. The battery life for this camera is very good, but I still carry a spare Lithium Ion cell just in case. With a 16Gbyte SD card it will take around 3000-4000 10 Megapixel photos or over 3hours of VGA video.

http://www.digicamreview.com/casio_exilim_ex_z1050_review.htm

Modern Camera technology is pretty amazing. Even 720p HD video is now being introduced into sub $200 pocket cameras.

I have some distant ancestor of the current Canon Powershot A1000 IS, and have looked at this particular model to replace it. The A1000 IS takes two AAs, an SD card, and fits in my shirt pocket. The 35mm equivalent of the zoom is roughly 38-150mm, and it's 10 megapixels.

Hmm, that 1000IS doesn;t look too bad, I saw a couple referbs for under $100.
I absolutley do not want anything with a lithium ion battery, if I had all my gear that way I'd need dozens of chargers not to mention replacing batteries all the time as they age.
My wife has a nice camera, a Canon S3 IS, its our big camera we take anywhere, a neat feature of it is it will take pictures while its taking video so places where picture camera were ok but video isn't it was a nice stealth video camera, take a couple stills to make the flash and they never knew it. They have revised it up to like an s6 now but switched to the lithuim ion so were going to hang on to the current one for a while.
I'm wanting somehting I could mount on my bike handlebars too so if I would crash and break it its not a big deal.

If you have independent camera repairmen around, ask them for a bargain. If they receive cameras that are beyond economic repair, some will buy them for parts, then repair the camera hoping to sell on spec. I got a the old Canon for a song.
KEH.com has always been especially good to me for used equipment. Usual disclaimers: I am only a customer.

There is a guy here at the office that does that, buys three or four broken ones on ebay and swaps parts around to get a couple good ones. I may have to do it too.

My blackberry camera It has an 8gb card, lots of available space for pics and movies.

I used to EDC a camera but not anymore, and I did use it in a car accident too. great to have.

I was looking at the Canon SD780 IS the other day. I can't decide whether to pic it up or get one of the more expensive Olympus Tough series cameras. That little Canon is as pocketable as any I've seen, has an optical viewfinder for backup and it even shoots 720p video and has a HDMI output. My primary camera is also a Canon so the GUI is familiar for me and the DW.

Sure - 90% of cell phones have at least a mediocre camera built in. But in my day pack I carry my Canon A650 IS, a 4AA, 12mp camera that IMHO is the cat's meow with it's rotating view screen.

I am on construction sites all the time as part of my work so it just makes sense to document everything. It also came in handy when some "baby-on-board" twit rear ended my vehicle. I was able to document the evidence including his very short skid marks before hitting me! Needless to say, HIS insurance paid for the repairs and car rental, etc. and he picked up the deductible.

Luckily for me, I didn't have a back or neck injury from his carelessness.

But even the timestamp isn't always necessary. Cameras also write meta information attached to the file itself -- the date/time, exposure settings and model number. I suppose someone could photoshop a timestamp pretty easily but then they would also have to edit the meta information.

I hate when people post pics with that ugly time stamp on the picture like an antique film camera, its there in the exif data so there is no need to make the pictures ugly.

Nice to have in car, in case of an accident.

I live in an urban environment and EDC a mini digital cam for fun. My cell phone has a cam too. Never know when that UFO might show up!

Speaking of meta information... I noticed that my BlackBerry 8330 (Sprint) has an option to geotag pictures. (IIRC the built in camera is only 2 megapixels. ) The default setting is geotagging=off but it's any easy to find option and it's nice to know it's there.

Yep! I used mine for that! Was a coincidence I had it even though, haha. (Not normally the car I drove)

I was somewhat surprised as I started reading this thread that someone carried an ancient old Canon S330....then I notice that post was from me when this post was new


I have upgraded to a Canon G9 now...still daily carry. There are so many reasons to not only have a small digital but to carry it daily....just for being able to post cool stuff is a good enough reason for me.

Here is a SD card wallet I sewed up last week...notice the precision seam work



Folded it slips in my shirt pocket.

Does a Blackberry w/ a 2.0 MP camera and built-in GPS count?

I still throw a disposable film camera into the glove box of the car.
Sure developing has become a pain and they do go stale eventually but they are fairly cheap, nobody steals them and there is no old battery problem.
The only reason I put them in the glove box is in case an accident or something unusual needs to be recorded.

Just picked up a better one myself, we carried a small nikon, but nikon has some issues so I bought a small canon to relace it.
I use eneloops so low batteries are not an issue, got rid of all our film camera back in 2000, even the nice $1000 film camera we has can't take a good and clear pictures as a $150 digital, glad to be rid of that format.

I keep a digital camera in the car now. Used to keep a film camera, I can't get them developed anymore. Keep a set of lithium batteries in a wrapper - they last forvever and you can pop them in as needed.

I've put my Canon Digital Elph in the car as it's now backup to a Nikon D90.

Most of us have cameras on our cell phones and other gadgets, but in the event of a car accident I'd much rather have the Canon quality.