New Beer Camera required! Can't find anything suitable...

[VxDuncan]

Evenin...

I've been looking for a new beer camera for a while now. You know the one, the thing that you chuck in a pocket when you go out and make a fool of yourself dancing like t1t at the local disco. Will also serve as a backup camera on overseas trips.

What I would like:
- Low resolution sensor, something under 8MP (pref 5ish!) to keep noise down
- Apperture Priority and full manual modes (this is critical as I'm sick of changing scene modes to get something sensible)
- Compact, needs to fit into jeans pocket without leaving me with a massive bulge in my pocket!
- Decent screen to show what I've taken.
- Good lens (with optical IS). Range unimportant, but quality is. Wide angle a bonus.
- Use of AA's a bonus (third world availabilty)
- Sensible price, bearing in mind I have a habit of giving my camera to different friends during an evening
- Underwater housing would be lovely

You just can't do it. The few cameras that do have full manual control either have stupidly dense sensors, massive 10x zooms or are stupidly expensive. Maybe I just want too much! Closed I've gotten is the Canon Powershot A570/590.

[Simpo Two]

I haven't checked the spec too closely but for £59.99 you won't mind if you spill beer on it:

http://www.hughesdirect.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=...

[snotrag]

I think the cheap Samsungs get close-ish to that spec, certainly worth a further look. Mum and G/F both use them and I've had a play, they definitely have a decen amount of manual exposure control for a compact.

[theRossatron]

You could try and pick up an older Sony V1. I had one, 5mpm full manual controls, carl zeiss lens. Was a great camera. The only downside is it's size, it's not credit card thin like a lot of the newer ones.

[kybo]

Simpo Two said:

I haven't checked the spec too closely but for £59.99 you won't mind if you spill beer on it:

http://www.hughesdirect.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=...

megapixels: 7.2
lens: Sony Lens
lcd Screen Size: 2.4"
optical Zoom: 3x
digital Zoom: Not Provided
memory Card Type: Memory Stick Duo
internal Memory
battery Type: AA Alkaline batteries
movie Mode
macro Mode For Close Focusing
minimum Focusing Distance: 5.8mm
autofocus
continuous Shooting
menu System
built In Auto Flash
flash Modes
red-Eye Reduction Flash Mode
programme Ae Exposure Modes
exposure Compensation
slide Show Playback
av Out Connection
pc & Mac Compatible
pc Download Software Included

Scott

[Fordo]

snotrag said:

I think the cheap Samsungs get close-ish to that spec, certainly worth a further look. Mum and G/F both use them and I've had a play, they definitely have a decen amount of manual exposure control for a compact.

I use an really old samsung as my beer camera- its only 5 megapixels, but like you say, theres hardly any noise, and as a result takes far superior night out photos than a lot of my friends supa dupa 12 megapixel all singing all dancing cameras.

Its still to auto for my liking though.

In reality, all I want from a point and shoot, is a decent, small, not too dense sensor, a decent bit of glass on the front, and auto focus, in a rugged housing. not too much to ask is it? Maybe i should make one!