good in a blizzard?

Ricoh G700 or G700SE new or used should be fine for the task and have pretty ok image quality compared to many of its rivals including the newer G800 which is more of the same.
Unfortunately for Ricoh the G800 have problem with too much NR and sharpening issues unlike the G700. So I can't recommend the G800.
Another which is older and bigger is the Ricoh Caplio 500G and 500SE but it actually have somewhat better image quality from my experience. Ricoh Caplio GX8 served as base for the 500G and 500SE, it is the same image-sensor and zoom.
Unlike the newer G700, 500SE have faster widest aperture at 28mm, 2.5. The G700 is only 3.5 at 28mm and have a little slower AF as well. The AF-speed in G700 is not bad either.

I've stayed clear of the new different-consument-oriented Ricoh WG-series which unfortunately have worse image quality due to NR-issues than 500G/SE and G700.
 
I've got one of the Panasonic waterproof P&S cameras DMC-TS3, and while it's very waterproof, and the kids and I love using it in the pool and the ocean, it doesn't take the best pictures out of the water.
 
I'm using iPhone 5C in protecting case. I dropped it in the tray with water at darkroom and it protected it. And it is not even famous Otter brand. As long as phone is not freezing, here is absolutely no problem to use it, stills and video.

Sony, Olympus, Pentax have frost and diving P&S, sealed lens and controls, but quality of pictures from this rugged P&S are not worth the price if not diving, but dog walking under heavy snow.
Maybe Hero GoPro or knock-offs of it which I have seen in the stores would be more fun.
 
Canon WP-1 (film). Canon states that it's weatherproof, not waterproof, but I've had mine underwater to at least 5ft with no problems. I've not used it in the snow, but I would think it would handle it fine.

15204829187_67a12172af_z.jpg


20803620414_511660910d_b.jpg
 
I used a Lumix TS1 for a few adventures even in salt water and snow sports (especially salt actually). It was purchased in 2009 and survived until 2012
It did what it was meant to but eventually was lent to the wrong person who did not clean it properly after snorkeling.
Panasonic is on version TS35 or something like that now. They are under $200 and Still work great.
I Highly recommend getting one with Wifi transfer ability.
Lumix makes nice gear. I'll vouch for my little first Generation TS1 any day.

Swam in to get this one of the bay. Dried it off and took the shot (furthest sailboat boat on the top right hand side.
isola maddalena sardegna by Adnan, on Flickr

Bonifacio Corsica by Adnan, on Flickr

Captain Cam by Adnan, on Flickr
 
Pentax has been making weather sealed dslrs and compact for many years. Everyone else only pretends to do it. I have been using my K5iiS outdoors in rain and snow ever since I bought it and it still works great. No one else will guarantee their cameras for that type of use.

The Ricoh WG-5 is going for about $270 US and a K30 DSLR (very light and handy) is about $400 US.

Of course, if you want to pay for a pro Nikon body or a pro Canon body then you might get away with a bit of weather exposure, but they still recommend you protect the camera from direct, prolonged exposure to rain or snow.

EDIT - Pentax makes REAL outdoor cameras. 😀
For those who do not believe, check out Reid Reviews.
 
A film waterproof P+S should be cheap and easy to find. I have one....a Canon something or other. It works fine in downpours (I'm in western Oregon, we know rain here). For digital: I saw the Oly tough was mentioned. A fellow XC skier had one and it seemed nice to me. It worked great in wet snow, my skis didn't.

Also, I think there's a huge difference between rain and snow (unless its that wet snow when the temp is hovering around 32F). When its truly cold, snow is dry. I've used some very non-weather resistant cameras in Montana snow (sometimes serious snow) without problem. Just make sure to dust off fully before putting the camera back in the bag/pocket. Those were film cameras....digital in Montana winter can be a bit of a hassle. I had a digital camera stop working in a matter of seconds when its 40 below but my little Zorki-C worked fine for as long as I kept it out -- usually several minutes. Still, at 40 below I start to worry about mechanical failure too. For example, I dropped my car key once and it shattered at my feet. The metal hinges on my truck canopy snapped when I opened it. My little Zorki is made of small metal pieces.....so I limit "exposure time" to intervals of minutes. Its always something, eh?
 
my thought was to find a small, pocketable, hardy camera that i could pull out for shots in the snow or rain and not have to give the camera a second thought.
if it fit into a jeans pocket or the small pocket out front on a winters coat that would be great.
 
Well the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 would certainly fit the bill as far as pocketable, hardy, and small. If the image quality on land is better than my DMC-TS3, you should be good to go. (again, underwater, I have no complaints with the image quality of the DMC-TS3).
 
Reviews of the Ricoh Caplio 500SE. http://digicamreview.com/ricoh_caplio_500se_review.htm
It was also being covered in a German review. Here run through Google translate in case German isn't you native language https://translate.google.com/transl...Caplio_500G_Wide/4125.aspx&edit-text=&act=url

Superb somewhat old but good quality compact camera! Clearly something else, better, than most of todays' waterproof camera with smudgy noise reduction.
Of the current crop, (based on image quality which includes very little NR) I would probably only recommend Canon Powershot D30. But be aware of the slow widest aperture at 28mm which is 3.9. That's one weakness of a camera which seems to be pretty good otherwise. I had the predecessor, Powershot D20 for a while which have the same zoom-lens.
http://photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_d30_review/
 
Reviews of the Ricoh Caplio 500SE. http://digicamreview.com/ricoh_caplio_500se_review.htm
It was also being covered in a German review. Here run through Google translate in case German isn't you native language https://translate.google.com/transl...Caplio_500G_Wide/4125.aspx&edit-text=&act=url

Superb somewhat old but good quality compact camera! Clearly something else, better, than most of todays' waterproof camera with smudgy noise reduction.
Of the current crop, (based on image quality which includes very little NR) I would probably only recommend Canon Powershot D30. But be aware of the slow widest aperture at 28mm which is 3.9. That's one weakness of a camera which seems to be pretty good otherwise. I had the predecessor, Powershot D20 for a while which have the same zoom-lens.
http://photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_d30_review/
 
I think the production TS5 is discontinued the TS6 takes it's place.
If you can find a new TS5 in stock for the right price you might jump on it.
Panny lowered the price down on the TS-30 by removing the wifi and putting a smaller LCD (it's a smaller camera).

I'm pretty sure that's the only real difference between the TS5 and later TS30 for a still Photographer.
Sensor, Lens, and waterproofing are all the same.

http://cameradecision.com/compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS30-vs-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS5
 
rfaspen said:
A film waterproof P+S should be cheap and easy to find. I have one....a Canon something or other. It works fine in downpours (I'm in western Oregon, we know rain here). For digital: I saw the Oly tough was mentioned. A fellow XC skier had one and it seemed nice to me. It worked great in wet snow, my skis didn't.

Also, I think there's a huge difference between rain and snow (unless its that wet snow when the temp is hovering around 32F). When its truly cold, snow is dry. I've used some very non-weather resistant cameras in Montana snow (sometimes serious snow) without problem. Just make sure to dust off fully before putting the camera back in the bag/pocket. Those were film cameras....digital in Montana winter can be a bit of a hassle. I had a digital camera stop working in a matter of seconds when its 40 below but my little Zorki-C worked fine for as long as I kept it out -- usually several minutes. Still, at 40 below I start to worry about mechanical failure too. For example, I dropped my car key once and it shattered at my feet. The metal hinges on my truck canopy snapped when I opened it. My little Zorki is made of small metal pieces.....so I limit "exposure time" to intervals of minutes. Its always something, eh?
Click to expand...

My Kiev 4 is very reliable in snow and /or very cold weather. I usually just carry it around in a coat pocket and that seems to be adequate protection for it.

dI have never dared to take one of my Contax II s out when it gets that cold but the Kiev has never been a problem.

Anything with batteries is not a great idea. 20 or more below Fahrenheit is not very good for them unless you can keep them warm somehow. Around the fire in the lodge works great, outside...not so much.
 
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