How can I find a point & shoot camera which will not be dust-cursed?

Question

All my "point and shoot" cameras always end with noticeable dust in the lens (usually just after the warranty expiration), and although they otherwise work fine, I'm forced to buy another one.

I think that the dust enters inside the moving zoom elements, so searching on the web I've read about the so called "beach cameras" that are made to prevent the sand to enter inside, but the picture quality is ugly compared to other point & shoot cameras.

Are there "beach cameras" with acceptable quality?

I do need an handy point & shoot; I'm not interested in a "cleanable" dSLR. The last one lasted just one year, and having bought it in Japan, the warranty is out of question.

Answer

First, any waterproof camera will do. Those are completely sealed against dust, moisture, water, snow, etc.

The constraint on the lens they use means limited flexibility and certainly lower quality than standard cameras of a similar size. Among those, the best one I've seen so far is the Nikon Coolpix AW100 which I reviewed here. Do look at the sample gallery because for small prints, the quality is certainly acceptable in decent light.

You have to compromise somewhere, if the quality of any of those is not good enough. I suggest you learn to be more careful with your cameras. Store it in a well-sealed bag, clean it often, etc. I have owned some cameras for years and never seen more than a few specs of dust inside a fixed-lens camera. The DSLRs on the other hand get their share but it depends on the climate.

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