Does anyone know of a Ruggedized DSLR

TwentySixDays

TwentySixDays

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Stuart
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Hi
I am looking for a DSLR that can withstand some knocking around.
I work for a manuafacturing company that also is involved in stie surveys.
I get a bit nervous using my D300 in this type of environment where it may get knocked or shaken. Also it is quite likely on site surveys to be pouring down, muddy, etc.

I have been asked to look into buying a DSLR that can stand some abuse.

It also needs to take decent images as these will be used for brochures.

It could be a compact with a reasonable zoom (e.g 20-120)

Any ideas?

Thanks Stuart
 
Could maybe look into some DSLR Armour, a friend has some on his nikon and it's not that bad, that or some of the cameras in higher ranges are more rugged than others. For example a 5D would take a hell of a lot more of a beating than my plastic 300D.
 
Canon 1 series. I've dropped mine, used them in the rain, dunked in salt water and they are pretty tough... Pick an appropriate lens (24-105) and it is weather sealed too
 
Yep, canon 1 series, and if the budget does not stretch to new, get one second hand. Rugged enough for the arctic.
 
Thanks for the quick response. (y)
All from canon guys - you must be tougher than us Nikonites :LOL:
 
all the pro canon kit is meant to be all weather
it's part of the price hike
that includes the L glass and the 580ex series flash units.

nikon have a great rep for sports shooters at the mo
they wouldn't have that if they could stand a few knocks and a bit of rain
 
TwentySixDays said:
Thanks for the quick response. (y)
All from canon guys - you must be tougher than us Nikonites :LOL:
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Yeah right ;)

Whilst I cannot say that I had a pleasure of "dunking" my D200 in salt water, I have tried it in bucket pouring rain for an hour with ordinary 24-70 Sigma without any protection apart from shielding the front element with my hand and it performed faultlessly. The camera was quite wet externally but other than that I saw no changes.

I had also used it whilst it was heavy snowing - again without any consequences apart from battery depleeting quicker.
 
Any of the Pentax K series (K10d, K20d etc) coupled with the new Pentax AL WR lenses would be spot on, bodies are weather sealed and they're pretty robust.

Carl
 
CReid said:
Any of the Pentax K series (K10d, K20d etc) coupled with the new Pentax AL WR lenses would be spot on, bodies are weather sealed and they're pretty robust.

Carl
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Not meaning to thread hijack but you have my name .....
 
AliB said:
Yep, canon 1 series, and if the budget does not stretch to new, get one second hand. Rugged enough for the arctic.
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I took my ixus 750 to the Antarctic!

I think you need to consider what you are intending to do with it.

simple rain and dust can generally be dealt with by weather sealed models but if you want it to be tough enough to withstand knocks then one of the pro or prosumers with body armour might be the best bet.
 
dalex_257 said:
Yeah right ;)

Whilst I cannot say that I had a pleasure of "dunking" my D200 in salt water, I have tried it in bucket pouring rain for an hour with ordinary 24-70 Sigma without any protection apart from shielding the front element with my hand and it performed faultlessly. The camera was quite wet externally but other than that I saw no changes.

I had also used it whilst it was heavy snowing - again without any consequences apart from battery depleeting quicker.
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Must admit I haven’t test mine that severely yet and it does seem pretty robust.
I looked at the D1’s but I suspect they would be too expensive (£2500 - £4500).

The Nikon armour looks like possibility.

Another possibility would be a £200/£300 compact for the general shots bringing out the ‘good’ camera when required.

Thanks again
 
TwentySixDays said:
Must admit I haven’t test mine that severely yet and it does seem pretty robust.
I looked at the D1’s but I suspect they would be too expensive (£2500 - £4500).

The Nikon armour looks like possibility.

Another possibility would be a £200/£300 compact for the general shots bringing out the ‘good’ camera when required.

Thanks again
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Suppose if this is just for site surveys does it even need to be a £200 / £300 compact? surely it just needs to be a clean, sharp image with nothing creative ?? it's not like you are going to want long shutter speed or shallow depth of field etc. I have an £80 compact that I took on my honeymoon and have one of the best sunset shots I have ever taken... so much I even framed it and have it in the bedroom, granted the zoom isn't brilliant but again for site surveys even zoom won't be a massive requirement as you will probably want wide angle anyway?

Think you on the right lines though of unless it's absolutely necessary you will be better off with a compact and the SLR when you're doing the brochure shots.
 
Cheap camera + camera armour or pro body (Canon 1 series, Nikon D1/D2/D3 series). Nikon D200/D300 are pretty tough as well, as many will testify.
 
New Pentax K7 has 77 weather proofing seals and as already mentioned comes with new weather resistant lenses.
 
alexkidd said:
d1 for 2.5k? wtf... :)
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...Typo ... Canon 1d not the nikon D1 (£270):bonk:
... 1d used to be a penny.
...£2500 for a D1 anyone?:LOL:

awp said:
Get yourself a D3. Solved. :)
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Now there a thought it could double up as my second camera.
and I would have to get a 600mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II NIKKOR (Grey) lens :thinking:

Ok now I need a favour...
I always think you should try before you buy...
So who will lend me their camera to test drop from 10 foot :LOL:
 
Save your money and buy camera armor for your Nikon D300. It really does protect your camera very well.
 
You could get a D3 or D2x because they'll survive a nuclear attack probably.. :LOL:

But I'd just stop worrying about it and stick to the D300. They're tough enough so can take it.

Pete
 
Just wanted to give another thumbs up for the rubber camera armour. I've never had mine off my 400D and while I realise it is one of the more fragile bodies it's taken a good few scrapes, scuffs and bumps while I've been out and about in woods etc. While most of the damage it has saved the body from would have been purely cosmetic scuffs and so on there have been a couple of cringeworthy whacks where I've expected a large crunch but merely heard a nice rubbery bump instead, for it's price (around 10-20 quid) you can't go wrong imo.

Tommy.
 
(y) Thanks for the advice. Amour definitley seems to be the option, and a cheap compact for other people to use. :LOL:
 
To be fair, you could probbably run over a d300 with a tank, its a totally sealed body and its a magnesium body so, yeah you can use it as a hammer, i really wouldnt be too worried about it.

If its that much of an issue the d3 isnt exactly built that much more robustly you may want to insure the d300 with one of the companies specialising in camera insurance, not only do they provide you with a new one most have the 2000 pound equipment hire until you do get your new one, so in a pinch situation you should never be without a camera
 
If a compact would suffice how about the Olympus "tough" compacts. they can go underwater to a few m, and stepped on or frozen.
 
I would vote for an LX3 for wide quality but you can't rugidise it with anything but underwater housing!
then a cheaper camera than the pro series, D300, 50D with armour and a wide lens.
would do a cracking job
 
CReid said:
Any of the Pentax K series (K10d, K20d etc) coupled with the new Pentax AL WR lenses would be spot on, bodies are weather sealed and they're pretty robust.

Carl
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:agree::plus1:

I was down an old slate mine the other day with my K20D covered in slate sludge, gave the camera a wipe down and there's not a mark on it.
 
Thanks guys cameras are obviously a lot tougher than I thought, still treat mine gently though, but it good to know they can take some stick :)
 
CReid said:
Any of the Pentax K series (K10d, K20d etc) coupled with the new Pentax AL WR lenses would be spot on, bodies are weather sealed and they're pretty robust.

Carl
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i hurd they are pretty good do you have any trould with over exsposure though??
 
I'd be gutted if I marked any of my gear! I'm so careful with it all. :LOL:
 
Thanks for the tips...

planetf1 said:
If a compact would suffice how about the Olympus "tough" compacts. they can go underwater to a few m, and stepped on or frozen.
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Blapto said:
Get an Olympus compact, abuse it as much as you'd like.
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A Few meters of water probably just enough for a raining site survey :LOL:

TheBigYin said:
think that a D2x looks pretty tough - if it'll stand 1000 miles clamped to the outside of a Baja buggy, it should stand most things:D
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Yep that should do it. :)
 
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