A new (to me) camera

I've used a few cameras on my runs and walks. I started digital photography with a Nikon Coolpix 2500 which was OK for 2002 but in reality generated rather indifferent images. I upgraded to a Lumix LX5 which was a vast improvement apart from not being quite as smooth in a pocket. Its images still look good to me although the rear dial has become faulty which makes it very difficult to alter parameters. I do like to believe that I can make adjustments better than 'iAuto'. With its telescoping lens it isn't especially dust resistant and I've had it cleaned by the Panasonic agent once. As my running became more serious I bought a waterproof Lumix FT25 which I was initially very happy with. Unfortunately the lens is fogged internally making all images misty. I did treat it as if waterproof and I don't believe it really was! I also tried a generic 4k action camera, it was small but the white balance and hence colour was terrible and the buttons almost unusable in the waterproof case. Ultimately its battery swelled which gave me a good excuse to dispose of it into WEEE.

My old iPhone SE that I use for navigation takes pleasant photographs and I use it in a fairly well sealed case so it ticks a few boxes. In use it doesn't feel to be really taking a photograph and the camera unit can't really be controlled.

The LX5 is a great camera but I couldn't bring myself to pay the nearly £200 quoted for a repair. After a lot of YouTube browsing I've bought a lightly used Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. It is 10 years old so there is a risk that switches are worn but in view of its very low shutter count I hope that is unlikely. This model is nominally weather resistant but perhaps 10 year-old gaskets are perished and the cheaper micro four thirds lenses aren't sealed!

I'm hoping that if I look after it I'll be able to sell it on without much of a financial loss if I don't like it as this model is currently sought after. It is larger than the LX5 in every dimension, especially weight and I haven't found a good way of carrying it yet. All of the switches to appear to work and despite its age it is clearly far more advanced than the LX5, with many, perhaps too many, operations.

There is another problem, that opening the Pandora's box of camera reviews and specifications can lead to GAS.

So far most of my pictures have been in the garden or local woods, trying to understand exposure modes, IBIS and custom set-ups. However, today I did do a real trail run which covered some rights-of-way for my mapping project and took me over the lovely Eyam Moor.

There is something, almost romantic, about derelict buildings and the red hose pipe caught my eye.

My search couldn't find a perfect trail running camera but I'll see how well this one serves me over the coming months. I'll probably keep an eye on other options which include:

• Sony RX100 (no attempt to be weather sealed but pocketable)
• Lumix GM1 (too small to be usable) and its cheaper relatives 
• Fuji X100 (too expensive and unobtainable)
• Insta360 Ace Pro (at heart it's an action camera)
• Lumix LX100 (a new weather sealed version would probably be perfect!)
• IP68 sealed mobile phone (I don't like the style of heavily processed images)