Looking for a waterproof, shockproof camera

[chewbacca]

I am looking to purchase a digital camera that is waterproof and shockproof. I know of the Olympus Stylus cameras and was wondering what are your opinions of these cameras. Do they have a good picture quality? Are there other suggestions?

I also posted this question on the photography board but thought I would try here also.

TIA!

 

[Longsx3]

We have an Olympus 720SW and love it, it is an older model but I would definitely buy another Olympus.

 

[irky416]

We have an Olympus Stylus (the 1030sw) and I love it!

It takes excellent pictures both above and below water.

Here's a few above water: (Of course, I'm no photographer, but you can see it takes nice, non-blurry photos)

And here's a couple underwater:

If you have any questions, let me know!

 

[pyrxtc]

I ahve an Olympus SW and love it. I also bought my DD a newer version than mine for this past x-mas. I get the weirdest looks jumping into a pool wiht camera in hand and swimming like it was nothing but I always get some fun shots. I've had mine about 2 yrs, maybe 3 and LOVE IT !

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

ABSOLUTELY!!!
I LOVE my Olympus Stylus!!!
I actually have 2 of them. One is mine and one (identical... like it so much I bought a second) is my son's.

Here's my over-researched 2 cents.

Almost water proof. (but not quite)
COMPLETELY waterproof if you buy the scuba set-up (bought cheaper on ebay now that these are older cameras.)
COMPLETELY water resistent:
If you drop it in a swimming pool (as it is with no extra scuba kit) it will be OK as long as you grab it REALLY fast! and as long as it dont sink far.

DISNEY!:
It has some really cool features that make it perfect for WDW vacations:
If the cover is closed, it is OFF. PERIOD! It can NOT be accidentally cut on in your pocket like 99% of the cameras on the market! That means you'll probably never pull a dead camera out of your pocket.
If it rains on it it is still OK.
It has an AMAZING night photo selection. Takes GREAT night photos!
The case shuts, it's OFF and the lens is PROTECTED!!! No scratched lens! No flemsy "eyelids" to get packed full of sand (scratched lens at beach) like other digital cameras. No "eyelid" to stop working.
CHEAP!!! My last one I got off Craigslist for $35!!!! It has sufficient memory as is. I have upgrades in both mine... my son's takes 250+ high resolution pics, and mine takes 500+ high resolution pics.
It has a cool sounding noise when you cut it on (defeatable... but why would you???)
It has a decent sized LCD, and it's enough. Basically put. It's not some giant, easily broken, super bright LCD that pisses everyone off on a dark ride when you open it. (Please don't get me started on that one, we just got back. It was the pits with all the D@&% blackberrys and photo flashes on the dark rides. People are SOOOOO rude!!! I had to all but scream at a few people before they had the decency to shut the cameras off so we could enjoy the ride.)

The only real drawback is that the memory card is only available as an Olympus, and it isn't useable on many LCD TVs and such. I wish it used a standard Sd card. I use my Olypus Stylus 410 daily on Craigslist, on average it's cut on 5 times a day, and on heavy days I may take over 100 pictures of items to sell. I also use it 3-4 times a year for Disney vacations. I have used it this frequently for 6+ years and never a seconds trouble! Back when ebay was a good place to sell stuff (another pet peeve) I took hundreds of pictures a day with this camera. I would kill the battery daily. It's still on the first battery! It still lasts 3-4 days of vacation use on a single change!!!
I honestly think the other cameras out there should shy in envy of these. They are very well thought out, and I'm surprised they aren't more popular than they are.

I still want a higher end camera for extra professional pictures, but this one will do for now. I like the ruggedness of it a LOT! Here's a few pictures I took this week with my Stylus 410.
(Give me a few minutes to upload and sort them)

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

These were taken this week with mine.

Night mode... remember... it's a slower picture, which means it blurs any movement. Which is why they recommend a tripod for night photos. Water night photos are especially hard since the water is moving, and lights reflecting. The long lines of blue and white are the tail lights of the pyrotechnic boats on the lagoon.

And here's one of my "Mickey Van" outside it's second home at the Pop Century!

To clear up any confusion... we visited the Grand Floridian (hence the pool pictures), we didn't stay there. To be honest I wouldn't stay there even IF I could afford it. It's just not my style.

 

[pyrxtc]

just to re-iterate, you need an SW series of the Sylus to get the water-proofing not just the Stylus series.

 

[manning]

Canon launches one this month

The powershot D10

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/c...ategoryid=2590&modelid=18332#ModelFeaturesAct

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

just to re-iterate, you need an SW series of the Sylus to get the water-proofing not just the Stylus series.

Mine isn't waterproof, but it IS water resistant. Just that little extra takes the stress off of rides such as Kali River Rapids. I can't imagine dropping any other digital camera (aside from the other ones like you mentioned) in that center area of the "raft". Sure it is supposed to keep your stuff dry, but it don't always work. It's wet when you open it, and it's wet when you get it out.

You can add a scuba set to mine to make it waterproof. That's what I was referring to. I wasn't aware that Olympus even made a completely waterproof camera!!!!

 

[pyrxtc]

I ahve the water-resistant one too, gave it to my DH when I bought the waterproof kind.

Check to see if a Ritz near you is closing, they might have some left.

Also, Olympus has their own store on Ebay The prices are right and have never had a problem. I ahve bought from their Ebay site before and the camera still works great 4 + years later.

 

[DawnCt1]

Another Olympus fan. I have the "water resistant" one, which I use on days when it may only rain, get splashed, etc. I use the shock proof, water proof SW when it will definitely get wet, go underwater, etc. The difference in the two are not only its attributes but the 720SW is HEAVY! It looks small, but around your neck, it does get heavy after a while.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I bought this camera last year for our trip to Disney and Discovery Cove:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QCI65I

I'll post pics if I can figure out how.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Here are a few we took with the above-mentioned camera