bubblehead34

was looking for a small pocket camera that would replace my well worn Olympus SZ-16 iHS. this camera has served me very well for the last since 2013, now the night shots seem to lack the depth they once had,, i had had it serviced twice,, the front lens slide never gave me problems with it never fully retracting or closing,, it was never babied,, hunted , out in the bays, gulf of mexico, always in my pants pockets,, never have i left it out of my side always ready to capteur that one shot. well finally i had to decid to look for another and ended up with this sony 350,, while the size is great and the zoom is far reaching,, it get very granny stretching it out there, and at only 3 months the windows on the lens cover are already starting to not fully retract or close leaving me with pictures with angle black spaces where pictures should be,, sad for a 3 month old camera, batteries has very short life, even in ready mode, not liking this camera at all,, does anybody have any thing good to say about this camera out there ,, i thinking i made a mistake in this purchase,, but i need a small good pocket camera that would have a lens cover for the places i take them,, any help out there...first 2 shots olympus,, 3 last shots sony.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

It is a wonderful camera. Use it in good health.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Have you thought about looking for another Olympus on eBay, KEH, MPB, etc?

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Return it under warranty. If you're looking at replacing this camera (and aren't too upset with Sony) check out the Sony RX100.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

It sounds like you have experienced some possible saltwater (moisture) intrusion into the lens workings that have gummed up the works a bit. So look for a good bridge camera that is weather-sealed and perfect for photography at sea. I don't own such a camera and hopefully someone else on the forum might have a more precise solution and model or make that get it done for you,but you want something that goes in your pocket....even a really good cell phone would do the trick I would think.
Good luck.

bubblehead34

was looking at the rx100, but with this camera only being three months old and this happening already,, my olympus had been doing the same service for over what 16 years never did it fail to open fully, .. i'm worried that if its doing this so soon ,, what its going to be like in a year, three years from now,, this is why i want a pocket camera, with a shutting front. the 16, had zoom clear, this also but at a distance it started to look very granny , something i needed to also look into,, i know i am stretching the camera,, but that's what i did to the 16...thanks for you feed back first time on this sight,, looks like i can get some great feed backon my cameras and pictures.. thanks.

bubblehead34

on the water intrusion,, could be right,, after ever trip off shore i usually do an alcohol wipe with a qtip then follow with a dry one to make sure no salt spray stays on,, but that does not mean it could not have gotten in under. then this does become a problem, because i did the same thing to the 16, olympum, and it worked just fine for over 16 years never fully closing or opening like this really caught me off guard,lucky it was at the bass pro and not a wedding...i am sending it back but if it happen so soon after i bought it???

bsmith52 Loc: Northeast Alabama

You might look at the Olympus TG-6. It is a weather proof camera that usually ranks highest in that category. About $400

https://www.adorama.com/iomtg6bk.html

Hawkowl Loc: Ithaca, NY

I second the recommendation to consider the Olympus TG-6 (also the TG-5). I think it will suit your needs beautifully, and the picture quality is excellent.

bubblehead34

only 4 months and its already starting to show signs of the lens cover not fully retracting,, my sz-16 didn't do this for 10 years, doing the salt water , dust from west deserts , west texas, , to soon for my pictures to be lost because of this..

bubblehead34

not enough zoom, on either one,, i did look at them,, really long time,, but the zoom was the problem,,long shots at animals across hills and mountains valleys, concerts. ect..

bubblehead34

can't get my return from amazon,, 3 days late !!!!
right now ,, trying to figure ,,, do i just chuck this and go get another,, if i do,, i can't see another sony.. sure wish olympus kept a good thing going with the 16

bubblehead34

never a cell phone,, doesn't have the f stops , i can use, or change light,, no i like cameras for pictures , cellphones for talking , thats why i liked the sony it fits just right in the pocket,, great zoom ,, but granny at long range, but good at closer long range. still my oly s16 with only 24 zoom served me very well and though a little big in the pocket never had the problem with the lend cover doing this even after 10 years..