Best inexpensive underwater camera

[Traveleer]

Title says it all. Whose had what experience with what inexpensive underwater camera's? Im just prepping for our cruise and would like to know what people can suggest for the most bang for the buck (island? ) underwater cameras?


Toph

 

[markey]

It all depends on how many times you plan on using it. We bought a yellow Cannon for about $200 for our first cruise in 2000 and it takes great pictures. We go to the beach while at Florida, use it on the water rides in the parks and also at our pool at home, so we get quite a bit of usage out of it. However last year right before we cruised someone dropped the camera, won't mention names, and we could not remove the film. So I bought 3 disposable water cameras to take along. They took great pictures. So if you plan on using the camera, other then a once and done cruise I would spend the money on a Cannon or similar.
Other then that I would go with the disposable. I did get the camera fixed and we used it this year, something broke off on the film reel.

 

[carallard]

IMHO Fuji makes the best underwater camera!

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I buy the disposable ones from Kodak or Fuji and they work great...around $8 a piece!!

 

[ruvidu]

FUJI over the Kodak. We carried the Kodak on the Eastern and the Fuji on the Western. Blues, greens and skin tones were much better with the Fuji
This was discussed about a month ago and brought in a lot of discussion.

 

[LisaGoeke]

Haven't used it yet, but I just bought one of the disposable ones from Kodak. For me this was the best way to go since my vacations don't happen very often and don't know when I'd use one again if I bought one of the other ones.

 

[FFerret]

could y'all please let me know where you're finding the underwater disposable ones? Been searching and can't seem to come up with any; thanks

 

[chubbyjen]

You can get them at Walmart, Target, Kmart...and I think some supermarkets carry them as well.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

Keep in mind that you can also buy a kit for some regular film and digital cameras that allows them to go underwater. This might be an option if you already have a camera and want to use it this way.

 

[BeanoC]

I guess it's a matter of your definition of 'inexpensive'...

What did you have in mind, cost-wise??

As everyone has said, you can get the disposables for 8 or 9 bucks.

I have a Sony DSC-P10, with the Marine Pack. It's a 5 megapixel digital camera, and with the Marine Pack can go up to about 120 feet underwater. The camera and kit will run you about $850.00.








'Beano'

 

[Grumbo]

I have used Fujis on our last cruise and bought some for a trip to Niagara Falls for the Maid of the Mist and the trip behind the falls. I found the photo quality poor on both occassions.
I am goint to try the Kodak next time.
There is an underwater case for my Canon Sureshot digital but not going to spend a couple of hundred bucks Cdn for it.
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Wishing on a star]

I just bought the Vivitar Mariner camera, available only at Target... around $19.99. The big reason... Because it is the ONLY inexpensive underwater camera that has a flash... The level of light fades very quickly underwater, and that flash should make a big difference??? Also, it is not disposable... You can reload it with film and use again and again. ( I heard about this camera on the boards here... THANKS!!!!!) None of the disposable underwaters have a flash.

If I were buying a disposable, I would buy the Fuji... (hear nothing good about the Kodak Max film... including an article by a travel photographer in a recent travel magazine).

This camera at Target comes with a roll of the Kodak Max film... But I will be buying either Fuji film, or top of the line higher quality Kodak film.

Good luck! Hope you get some GREAT pictures!

 

[piglet33]

I bought the camera from Target too (thanks to these boards too). It's yellow and says Panaview on it. It is made exclusively for Target. I used it in the pool to take pictures of my daughter and they came good (both above and underwater). I'm bringing that now. Last time I used the Fuji ones and had no problems with them. I would use the Fuji ones again if I didn't have theone from Target. Good luck.

 

[mobetsy]

This board should get a kickback from Target; I bought one of the $19.99 ones there too! Only the cost of 2 disposables, has the flash, and lets you put whatever brand of film you prefer in it. My dh took it fishing in Mexico a few weeks ago and we took it on a beach vacation last week and it worked great. My aunt has one she's used successfully as well; her one warning was to try to keep the plastic case over the lens area unscratched and clean; I'm thinking I'll put mine in a ziploc or something when packing it or toting it around in a knapsack.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Great tip! I just took mine out of the package and can see that it is not really protected or 'recessed' there, and could easily be scratched or rubbed.

Also, with so many disposable cameras around, like at CC or on excursions... it would be a good idea to label your camera too.

 

[Traveleer]

Thanks guys. i'll be stopping by target and picking up a couple of those vivatars

If anyone is interested in the fuji underwater disposables I found them on the net for 7.99 a pop.



Toph