HELP on chosing a Waterproof Digital Camera

[Schachteles]

Ok, so I convinced my DH right before our trip in October that we needed a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera, we LOVE it and cannot imagine life without it.

Now we are getting ready to head on the Disney Cruise in November and I am concerned about bring that camera out on excursions, like Castaway Cay, because it could be stolen or get wet.

So now I have approached my DH for another camera...LOL ...he seemed ok when I told him about these really cool waterproof digital cameras. We could use it at the beach, IN the water, snorkling and all that fun stuff. He seems really keen now on getting one.

Can anyone give me a suggestion on which one to get?!? THANKS!!

 

[PeterandTink]

we bought the Olypmus Stylus 770 and love it. We've taken it snorkeling on Castaway Cay and also to St John and BVI"s.and use it at home as well with the kids I would truly be lost without it. No leaving it on the beach to get stolen..just take it in the water with you..
we have a few underwater pics you can see posted at..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnjshaw/sets/

 

[Schachteles]

we bought the Olypmus Stylus 770 and love it. We've taken it snorkeling on Castaway Cay and also to St John and BVI"s.and use it at home as well with the kids I would truly be lost without it. No leaving it on the beach to get stolen..just take it in the water with you..
we have a few underwater pics you can see posted at..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnjshaw/sets/

Of course my company has a block on that site so I will look tonight...does it take good pictures out of water too??

 

[PeterandTink]

yes it does...alot of the disney pics were taken with it as well as some of the others we posted there...there is a place on the side of each pic that will tell you what type of camera was used under additional information..we have a Canon Rebel and use it to but you can tell the difference by looking at that...it is 7.1 Megapixels...so the pics are very good

 

[wdwscout]

we bought the Olypmus Stylus 770 and love it. We've taken it snorkeling on Castaway Cay and also to St John and BVI"s.and use it at home as well with the kids

Do you also have to use a waterproof housing to take it UNDER water?

 

[PeterandTink]

Do you also have to use a waterproof housing to take it UNDER water?

No..they do make one..but we havent purchased it. The only down side to it that I have found. is that most of the underwater pics are blue. I guess from the water color. Hubby uses a program (not sure what it is) to get the light right in those that need it. Its very handy and I love the fact that its easy to use if the kids drop it its safe...after a day of being in the ocean just drop it in a sink or bowl of water with the lens open for afew to rinse the salt out and your good to go. Also it actully works better as far as color if you dont use the flash. We found that out after alot of trial and error. LOL

 

[ericamanda01]

we bought the Olypmus Stylus 770 and love it. We've taken it snorkeling on Castaway Cay and also to St John and BVI"s.and use it at home as well with the kids I would truly be lost without it. No leaving it on the beach to get stolen..just take it in the water with you..
we have a few underwater pics you can see posted at..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnjshaw/sets/

Thanks so much for posting this. DH and I spent hours online yesterday trying to find a good underwater camera, but we couldn't find any pictures taken with them. Now I know just what to buy.

 

[PeterandTink]

Thanks so much for posting this. DH and I spent hours online yesterday trying to find a good underwater camera, but we couldn't find any pictures taken with them. Now I know just what to buy.

Your Very Welcome, I dont think you will be dissapointed, just remember some of the pics will need the color adjusted. This is common for most underwater pics from what we have read some needed no adjustment at all.. First ones we took had spots all in them..re read the directions..lol..figured out we should have not used the flash for those..LOL We love to snorkel and use it everytime as well as in and by the pool here at home

 

[nikkistevej]

We also have a Rebel, and just got an Olympus 790SW last week. I agree with OP that when we went on our last cruise and to WDW I was nervous the rebel would get sand in it, or water. I haven't used it in the water yet, but it does seem to take good regular pictures. It doesn't need the waterproof housing either, you get in the water with it.

 

[Schachteles]

PeterandTink-those are GREAT pictures...I am assuming the underwater ones at St Johns are on that Olympus 770?? Those are beautiful...I think that you have my DH sold!

THANKS

 

[PeterandTink]

yes the ones labeled Underwater ones were on St John..the underwater ones at Castaway Cay are in the disney cruise folder... Glad you enjoyed them...

 

[Oihane]

could you get an underwater housing for the camera? I got one for my sony cybershot and it worked pretty well on our last cruise. Might be a cheaper route anyway...

 

[PeterandTink]

you can get them for the Cannon and Olympus...not sure which one you are meaning...

 

[Schachteles]

yes the ones labeled Underwater ones were on St John..the underwater ones at Castaway Cay are in the disney cruise folder... Glad you enjoyed them...

GREAT...you have us sold!! Thank you for sharing...BTW very cute baby!!

 

[elgerber]

I have a Canon Rebel and we bought the Olympus 770sw last summer to take to Mexico. It does not take pictures like the Rebel, but it works great for it's purpose. The thing feels almost indestructible. Here are a few shots...

I ended up on my butt under the wave after I clicked the shutter on this one, wouldn't want to do that with the Rebel...

Of course my Olympus is blue, but now they make a lime green one (boy did that tick me off LOL)!!!

 

[PeterandTink]

GREAT...you have us sold!! Thank you for sharing...BTW very cute baby!!

Thank you...My first grandbaby....

 

[JimV]

I agree! We purchased the Stylus 790 for DD18 for a Christmas present before our NYE cruise on the Magic. The pictures turned out great. Two things that are important -- make sure you set the picture mode to underwater. That helps the color balance as well as depth of field. Secondly, I recommend purchasing the Olympus floating wristband. If you take the camera underwater, and drop it, it will sink. The strap is only $12 on Amazon and was very handy when snorkeling, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Floating-Strap-Stylus-720/dp/B000VHDBDK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200971470&sr=8-7

 

[KathleenlovesMickey]

I love my camera it takes amazing underwater pics and video. You can buy from their web site a floating strap that is red. I have not had any problems but my son has the same camera and he had to exchange his once. We both bought the protection plan.

 

[m&m's mom]

Have you thought of a non-waterproof camera?
If you use one of these bags it makes your regular camera waterproof.

http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/obcameracase.html

 

[PeterandTink]

We looked at those...but werent sure it would fit our camera and for what we paid for the Canon. we werent ready to take a chance on it leaking..