I am looking for a new “compact” digital camera to carry when riding and would like to get some feedback on what everyone is using and how they like it or what would they get next time.
Im also going to be looking for a nice digital camera soon. One feature ive always liked is when you can just click and the picture is taken. No wait.
Ill leach off this thread for a bit. =p
I have a Canon SD800 and I am quite happy with it. It is small and takes good
pictures. I also like the fact that I can take pictures of the computer screen or a page of text and I am able to read it.
When I am working on something I take a picture before I taking it apart making it easier to put it back to together.
Check out the Canon A620. It is 7.1 megapixels. It is fast. It works well as a point-and-shoot camera. It has 3x or 4x optical zoom. Lots of other features.
It uses 4 AA batteries which gives it more shooting capacity but with a bit of extra weight. I like the AA batteries because they are more readily available than expensive proprietary (odd sized) batteries. I use rechargeable batteries.
I have a canon ixus 6 megapix.
It’s great. Small and compact. Takes great photos.
Would get one again.
You will need an SLR probably then.
BIG price jump from the point and shoots.
As far as P&S cameras; the Canon A series as mentioned seems to be everyone’s favorite. There is a hack available that will allow you to shoot RAW, as well, with the Canon.
The “burst” rate depends on what you want to spend. This one takes 1.7 fps, which is pretty fast for a low priced mini digital: http://underbid.com/action/display/item/19906-1419/sku/cp-s9-fp-512.html
Here’s some info on “lag time” or how long it takes a digital camera to take the shot: http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20050118_dealing_with_digital_camera_lag.html
Here’s a great little “Digital Shutter lag” comparison chart: http://www.cameras.co.uk/html/shutter-lag-comparisons.cfm
This one appears to be the fastest all around: http://www.cameras.co.uk/reviews/sony-dsc-w80.cfm
Other great sites to read about camera details:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html
More information than you probably know what to do with, assuming you even want to know all that stuff. You should start off by knowing what you want. Perhaps the most important piece of information we would need to know to be helpful is your price range. Want instant shooting? How much are you willing to spend?
Note: My first digital, an Olympus D-450 in 1999, could take pictures of whatever instant you wanted, as long as you had time to prefocus on the spot where the action was going to happen. Worked fine for me. I like to prefocus everything I shoot, and only go for the “smash down the shutter button” when the action is already happening. And at that, my Canon 20D (SLR) still makes me wait sometimes, usually in low light.
I love my current “trail-cam,” my Casio EX-P600. But it’s from 2004 and someday I’ll have to replace her. Things I like about it:
- no lens cap
- 6MP, which was a lot then
- 4x optical zoom, which was also a lot on a small camera then (note: digital zoom is to be ignored and never used if you can help it)
- fast boot-up
- full manual controls
- lots of “best shot” modes, though I seldom use them
- optical viewfinder (I consider it essential!)
- plug for an external flash
- soft focus mode
- tiny rechargeable battery that goes all day
- Doesn’t use expensive cards, i.e. Sony’s memory stik or Olympus’ XD
- “continuous shooting” mode, at around 3fps
And others that don’t come immediately to mind. And it still works flawlessly after more than three and a half years.
What I want in my next small camera (for bringing on the trail):
- everything above
- more zoom
- optical image stabilization
- bigger CCD (this is better than more megapixels, though less likely to be found on a small camera)
- 8MP or more
- hot shoe for flash
- articulated LCD (fold-out)
- wireless downloading (if it’s fast enough to be useful)
- VGA-sized, 30fps movie mode with sound, and the ability to zoom while filming
- a mic for the videos that doesn’t always catch the wind
I don’t know of a camera that has all that and would still fit comfortably in my butt-bag. I’m looking. Nathan Hoover always gets great cameras (though it’s more about the person using it; he would still do great with a crap camera). His new one is a Panasonic with something like a 10x stabilized zoom and he seems very happy with it. I don’t remember the model number offhand but you can find it by looking at his photos online and reading the data with them.
Robert, feel free to give me a call, I can help you narrow it down. Jerrick too if you want, but I’m not giving out my number here… 
I am using Canon EOS 60D:
3.0-Inch LCD and 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS UD Standard Zoom Lens
not bad. 
I have used my little Canon Elph Powershot for years. Worked well, small and easy to carry. Now using the iphone instead because the colors are better.
Shouldn’t be a hard decision. If you have a favorite brand then figure your budget and go from there. Lots of good small cameras on the market. I’m a Canon user but Sony has some great stuff these days.
Yeah, the 60D is nice. Wouldn’t be sensible for riding with.
Another thought: The average camera is way better than the average photographer.
I’ll get back to you in a sec… just gotta finish this unicycling thread I’m posting on a digital camera forum 
I use Casio EX-ZR200. It is superfast from off to actually taking an image. It has burst feature which shoots 30 images/sec. Records movies in full HD. Also can shoot up to 1000fps movies with lower resolutions. And I can edit the movies directly on the camera. M/S/A modes + lots of presets.
No rush, another year or two couldn’t hurt.