How Rugged are Digital Cameras

I'd like to get a digital camera for outdoor use, but I don't know how
"ruuged" they are, particularly, how sucseptible they are to occasional
water spray or exposure to a few rain drops (not immersion, or constant
exposure to a down pour - more like a few drops hitting the camera while
putting it away). For some reason, most of my outdoors activity seems to
occur in the rain or drizzle, but I can control when I take pctures of
course, or take them in such a way as to minimize camera exposure to the
elements.

I know Olympus makes several weatherproof cameras, which look good, but
several non-weatherproof cameras have features that lead me to consider them
as well, if they are reasonably immune to the occasional rain drop.

Can anyone offer up their experience?

Thanks,

Jim Ray

An occasional drop or three of water or a few bumps shouldn't be a problem,
I camp and hike with digital cameras and also shoot my kids sports games (
often in the rain) and have never hurt one. These have been everything from
an ancient Kodak DC-50... look it up :-) though a few point and hoots like a
Dimage 7 and Dimage X to my current Canon 300D. I keep them under an
umbrella held by my faithful assistant ( wife) or hide under an eave or
something while shooting in a steady rain but other than that I just try to
be careful and put them away if the damp drizzle turns into a downpour.

--

Mikey S.
http://www.mike721.com


"Jim" wrote in message
...
I'd like to get a digital camera for outdoor use, but I don't know how
"ruuged" they are, particularly, how sucseptible they are to occasional
water spray or exposure to a few rain drops (not immersion, or constant
exposure to a down pour - more like a few drops hitting the camera while
putting it away). For some reason, most of my outdoors activity seems to
occur in the rain or drizzle, but I can control when I take pctures of
course, or take them in such a way as to minimize camera exposure to the
elements.

I know Olympus makes several weatherproof cameras, which look good, but
several non-weatherproof cameras have features that lead me to consider
them
as well, if they are reasonably immune to the occasional rain drop.

Can anyone offer up their experience?

Thanks,

Jim Ray

Thanks! Just what I wanted to know.
Jim
"Mikey S." wrote in message
...
An occasional drop or three of water or a few bumps shouldn't be a
problem,
I camp and hike with digital cameras and also shoot my kids sports games (
often in the rain) and have never hurt one. These have been everything
from
an ancient Kodak DC-50... look it up :-) though a few point and hoots like
a
Dimage 7 and Dimage X to my current Canon 300D. I keep them under an
umbrella held by my faithful assistant ( wife) or hide under an eave or
something while shooting in a steady rain but other than that I just try
to
be careful and put them away if the damp drizzle turns into a downpour.

--

Mikey S.
http://www.mike721.com


"Jim" wrote in message
...
I'd like to get a digital camera for outdoor use, but I don't know how
"ruuged" they are, particularly, how sucseptible they are to occasional
water spray or exposure to a few rain drops (not immersion, or constant
exposure to a down pour - more like a few drops hitting the camera while
putting it away). For some reason, most of my outdoors activity seems to
occur in the rain or drizzle, but I can control when I take pctures of
course, or take them in such a way as to minimize camera exposure to the
elements.

I know Olympus makes several weatherproof cameras, which look good, but
several non-weatherproof cameras have features that lead me to consider
them
as well, if they are reasonably immune to the occasional rain drop.

Can anyone offer up their experience?

Thanks,

Jim Ray

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I'd like to get a digital camera for outdoor use, but I don't know how
"ruuged" they are, particularly, how sucseptible they are to occasional
water spray or exposure to a few rain drops (not immersion, or constant
exposure to a down pour - more like a few drops hitting the camera while
putting it away).

It varies tremendously. Generally the SLRs are more rugged than the others.
The Nikon D70 seems to able to withstand use in light rain, snow and mist; I
have not had a problem with it in these conditions. The autofocus seems to
have trouble in 100 mph winds coming straight at the camera. The CCD is a
dust collector. OTOH my Minolta Dimage A1 will crump out if the humidity is
too high. A drop of water will render it inoperable until it has dried in a
dehumidified room overnight. Fuji Finepix cameras in general seem
excessively sensitive to heat.