Underwater camera worth it?

[lolas]

We're looking in to possibly getting an underwater camera for our cruise on the wonder in a October. What are your thoughts on this? Have you found you used them enough, and any recommendations for a specific brand?
We will be taking a trip to Jamaica in the new year, we have a pool and frequent Great Wolf Lodge quite a bit. I currently have a big SLR but we mostly just use our phone for taking pictures

Thanks

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We're looking in to possibly getting an underwater camera for our cruise on the wonder in a October. What are your thoughts on this? Have you found you used them enough, and any recommendations for a specific brand?
We will be taking a trip to Jamaica in the new year, we have a pool and frequent Great Wolf Lodge quite a bit. I currently have a big SLR but we mostly just use our phone for taking pictures

Thanks

We've always just purchased a one-time use waterproof camera from WalMart for our past cruises. Since my little point and shoot finally gave up the ghost this year, we went ahead and purchased a Panasonic Lumix waterproof point and shoot. It's good for regular pictures as well as underwater use. Got it for a good price on sale earlier this summer.

 

[firepuppy]

I have used an underwater camera for all of our cruises and will not leave home with out it. After looking at the cost of a one time use it paid for it's self the 1st year we had it.

 

[People Mover]

We bought an underwater camera for our November cruise. Been using it in the pool this summer, and we are beyond excited to use it.

We have a snorkeling excursion planned plus a stingray excursion at CC where we believe we'll get some good shots out of it!

Plus my wife uses it for my sons football games, rain or shine!

 

[Momof4DisneyLuvrs]

I just purchased an underwater camera yesterday from Groupon Goods. I got an extra 10% off for purchasing it on Labor Day. Fingers crossed that we like it! It was the best price I could find for it. I also like that it is supposed to "keep up with active lifestyles". My kids like to take pictures and they aren't the most gentle sometimes.


https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-panasonic-lumix-161-mpruggedwaterproofdigital-camera-dmc-ts25-1

 

[Capt_BJ]

first question: how 'underwater' are we talking?

Get wet w/out damage?

A couple of feet, just below the surface?

Snorkeling depths (with a free dive) .. say 30 feet?

SCUBA depths ... up to 100 feet?

And then question two is still or video?

++++++++++++

for the first two ... get wet and maybe just dunkable there are many digital point and shoots that meet the bill OR there ARE cell phone cases that fit the bill too. The LIFEPROOF case on my iPhone is good to 6 feet of water and comes with a warranty to that . . .

For 30 feet there ARE p&s that say 30 feet but as a diver my old school rule of thumb is to have equipment good for at least TWICE the expected depth

If you want 'real diving' waterproof then you are either looking at a housing for a land camera, or my preference is a dedicated dive camera like those from SeaLife which are good for 200 feet and have a full line of underwater accessories. We have a SeaLife mini ... which replaced my Hannimex 35mm.

If video is what you'd like I've been very impressed with the results from the latest HERO GoPro line. In fact, a 'diving' TV program seen on ESPN has stopped using fancy underwater video gear in big plastic boxes and now shoots their u/w video exclusively on GoPro ... dd is a PR rep and escorted the show folks to Curacao for filming and that's all they took underwater for the footage that makes up about 1/2 of the episode . . . {SCUBA Nation .. Caribbean Secret }

And the goPro also shoots stills .... and the SeaLife also shoots video . . . .

 

[EReyeSee]

as an alternative to buying an underwater camera, to save money I opted to buy a waterproof pouch for like $20 which did fine for snorkeling and taking pictures within 10 ft depth. Granted, I had an old Canon Powershot that I didn't mind if something happened to it, it did stay dry inside and served its purpose. The brand I bought was Dicapac and was basically a glorified ziplock bag that you roll up the ends with an extra velcro closure. I was very happy with my purchase.

 

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• how often are you need underwater features? Do you really want to spend that much money waterproof features to be used a few times? Would a disposable film model meet your needs
• gaskets dry out and leak water in over time. Pay attention to the warranty.
• most waterproof cameras don't offer much zoom. If it does... it's all digital.
• pay attention to the picture quality... waterproof cameras have tiny sensors and yield very poor images when looked at a computer screen.
• waterproof cameras are great in the tropics. Take your DSLR from an air conditioned room to outside? It's like taking a pop can out of the fridge and look at all the water!
• a waterproof camera is a good choice in a rainy situation when you don't want your DSLR to be damaged
• What about GoPro? With a waterproof case, these cameras does amazing videos in extreme wet conditions.

 

[PnkRockPrincess]

My very very favorite picture of our whole cruise was a picture that I took with my son's (kinda cheap-y) panasonic waterproof camera of him snorkeling with the stingrays on Castaway Cay.

That one picture alone was worth the $89ish dollars the camera cost, to me. So I'd say, go for it!

 

[mhconley]

I bought a reconditioned Olympus TG-2 iHS camera with a floating strap before our cruise last year and it takes such great pictures I use it as my primary travel camera now.

Martin

 

[jrabbit]

Another vote for Panasonic LUMIX TS cameras.

Mines drop proof up to 6 feet 6 inches (NEVER want to test this out)
Sand Proof
Water Proof down to 40 feet.

It IS MY Camera - it fits in my pocket and takes pretty good pictures.

Takes good pictures underwater. the Newer models (mine 2 over years old) does better in low light situations than mine. 12 mega pixels - so able to grab a small section of a picture and still have it reasonable. Downside is the 3x optical - the digital zoom is pretty good - just don't over zoom because that still makes for a crappy picture (crop it down later)

I don't know if the Osborn Lights at DHS count's a Low Light ...

Here its overcast on Grand Cayman

Ice burg on Tracy Arm

Underwater Picture

Christmas @ WDW
<img src="http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/P1030950.JPG" />

 

[fnrsgrl]

DH uses a Nikon AW100, which cost about $150, and he loves it! He takes anytime we go somewhere and uses it for regular pictures. I am the main picture-taker in our house, so when we are spending the day in the water, he loans It to me. We have also let his mom take it on a couple of cruises. As a cool little bonus, it takes 1080p video.

 

[mareed]

Another vote for the Panasonic Lumix that has become my regular camera as well as my waterproof one.

 

[sennister]

We picked up a Nikon Coolpix AW110 which is freezeproof, shockproof and waterproof when they went on clearance this summer as a new model came out. It is waterproof to 59 feet underwater, 6'6" drops, 16MP still and 1080p camera. It has built in wifi, GPS, compass and altimeter. The GPS tags all your photos if you want along with the other info. Then it will tag your photos with Point of Interest info. It does this based on your GPS location and the direction you are looking.

It is by no means a replacement for our Canon DSLR but it is nice to have a camera that we don't have to worry about getting caught out in the rain with, playing on the beach or taking it out in the water.

The problems are as mentioned. The seals are only good for so long. Also I have read that if it is dropped, you should send it in for inspection before taking it underwater.

 

[marciemouse]

We picked up the Panasonic Lumix tonight at Target. It's on sale (in stores, not online) until the 6th for $129. Used my Target card to get the extra 5% off. (Making it even cheaper than through the Groupon deal listed above.) We also opted to get the 2 year warranty for $21. It covers EVERYTHING, including shipping both ways in the event of a claim. I thought that was a pretty great deal to ensure myself at least 2 years worth of use for that price.

 

[jburge12000]

Fuji Xp from Target. We got it about 1 1/2 years ago for our daughter, 7 at that time. Wanted a camera that could take a little bit of rough handling and its held up really well. We have been very happy with the picture quality. We have a GoPro as well but when snorkeling, if I am taking still shots I prefer the display on the Fuji to see what I am shooting, even though the quality is not as good as the HD on the GoPro.

 

[disneymath]

Yet another Panasonic Lumix fan ... Use it all the time in home pool, on waterslides, even at the beach. ALSO USE IT FOR regular non water activity shots too. Video is great as far as our needs are concerned, even underwater. Low light situations can be tricky, but like a Pp, I have ab older model.

 

[2disneycruzrs]

I bought the Panasonic Lumix on our DCL last year but I've been too scared to test the water function! Great camera - thx for the confidence!

 

[tnx97]

Been happy with our GoPro. Takes fantastic pictures and videos. Different mountings you can use to go hand free, which is perfect for the Aquaduck and Pelicans Plunge.

 

[dryvithome]

I picked up a used Nikon Coolpix AW100 at a pawn shop. It has been great so far. Takes good photos out of water as well as in water. Has a bunch of features that we don't use. Been a solid camera and fits in the pockets. Good to 33 feet, it says, but I just used it for snorkeling. 5 feet of drop and it's survived a few drops and been good in the water afterwards as well.