Underwater/waterproof cameras, cases and housings

[Zoesmama03]

One that comes to mind is the Pentex Optio I think it is. I think of it because someday I'd love to get one for the fully underwater option. But check out dpreview they might have some reviews on some.


http://www.h20camera.com/camera/w30

 

[dixie lolly]

I have an olympus stylus 790sw and it is a great camera for being waterproof. i originally had the same type but it was only splashproof and when we went on our cruise they had this one for the same price as the first one i had. Anway i bought it so we could take some pics while diving and it is great. They are around 300.00 but i thought it was a good deal considering the ones that arent waterproof are close to that price. i will be glad to answer any quesyions u have. hope this helps.

 

[Gdad]

I have a Petax W30- love it.

 

[dreamscometrue]

Thanks so much for all of your responses. I have been researching around and think I have decided to not go with a waterproof camera afterall. I don't even go under water so the truth is my DH and DD and DS would actually be using it for the under water shots. LOL I thought it would be nice to not worry about a camera getting wet when taking pictures of the kids by the ocean or splashing when I am near the pool, but for the most part I am looking for a small point and shoot with a decent zoom~~ Waterproof was a plus that I wouldn't be using. Granted it would be great for DH to take shots while snorkling at Castaway this summer, but..................... IT'S MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!!LOL LOL

My research currently has me between the Canon A720 which has a 6X zoom and a Canon SX100 which has a 10X zoom. The SX is a bit larger to tote around but I am dreaming of how great the larger zoom would be. (Still not as big as my DH's Panasonic DMC FZ30 which has a 12X zoom but doesn't just slip into a pocket) Any input on these 2 Canon's would be appreciated. I would love to go and get it this weekend!!!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I have a Petax W30- love it.

Gdad, how is the shutter lag on this camera? I was thinking about it for a possible WDW water park trip. Are the batteries proprietary? What kind of memory card does it use? Does it have any kind of backlighting type compensation for pictures in bright sun? Thanks!

 

[msr709]

Has anyone had any experience with these? I just bought one for my Sony Cybershot and was just curious if anyone here has used them and what the feedback would be? TIA

 

[Laxmom]

I am hoping you guys can help me with a question. We aren't serious photographers but we love taking walks on vacation just looking for shots. We currently use a Nikon D50 that we love.

We have always bought disposable underwater cameras for our diving or snorkeling with mixed results. We don't do it often enough to make a large investment. I found a 6 mp Vivitar with a 4x digital zoom that would probably fill the bill for us; Vivicam 6200W.

Since the disposables are film cameras, there isn't a way to guage the equivalent mp, right? Just curious if we can expect better pictures with the Vivitar or if you guys have another suggestion.

Thanks for you help

 

[My2Girls66]

I bought a Sealife Reefmaster Ecoshot not too long ago to take pictures while diving and snorkeling. It looks exactly the same as that Vivitar- down to the buttons! I thought it took some nice photos while snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos a few weeks ago. I got much better pictures with it than I did with the disposables I used at Discovery Cove a few years ago. It did well above water, too.
http://www.sealife-cameras.com/cameras/ecoshot.html
http://www.amazon.com/SeaLife-SL321...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211126504&sr=8-3

 

[My2Girls66]

Just an added note or 2. They don't have viewfinders and I did have a hard time seeing exactly what I was shooting thru the screen some of the time- between the bit of fog in my mask and the reflection off the screen. I just held it out in front of myself and snapped away hoping I was aiming at what I wanted in the photo. I seem to have done pretty well most of the time. Next time I'll practice ahead of time exactly where I should hold it to get what I want in the shot.
Also, look at the depth rating and what depth you may need. The Vivitar is rated to 30'- the Ecoshot to 75' and the Reefmaster Mini to 130'. I took the scuba course last month but haven't done the open water part yet for my certification(living in NH the ocean is cold and rough) but since I doubt I'll be going deeper than 30'-40' when I do, I decided on the Ecoshot. Since it looks like you dive, you may want to go beyond the 30' rating of the Vivitar- the Ecoshot might be a better one for you. Strictly snorkeling and very shallow diving the Vivitar would be fine. Good luck

 

[Laxmom]

Those are really great photos. Much better than the disposables. You're right, it does look just like the Vivitar. The same company must make both. I will compare the specs on both and decide from there; there is a pretty good price difference.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[My2Girls66]

It makes a great beach camera, also. You don't have to worry about sand, water, spray and the picture quality was very good. Its also shockproof from 6' if it gets dropped. Its pretty rugged. I have a D50 that rarely sees the beach. When we went to the islands I brought the D50 to the beach for family shots and scenic shots then ran it back to the condo. I carried the Ecoshot on beach walks- if I wanted to go in the water it came in with me. It was great. I got shots with it I never would have gotten with a regular camera. One was the rain bouncing off the water at water level- the beach from the water.

 

[Laxmom]

We have the D50 also. DS plays lacrosse and it was a wet season. We didn't get many shots this year. This would be great for that too.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I am hoping you guys can help me with a question. We aren't serious photographers but we love taking walks on vacation just looking for shots. We currently use a Nikon D50 that we love.

We have always bought disposable underwater cameras for our diving or snorkeling with mixed results. We don't do it often enough to make a large investment. I found a 6 mp Vivitar with a 4x digital zoom that would probably fill the bill for us; Vivicam 6200W.

Since the disposables are film cameras, there isn't a way to guage the equivalent mp, right? Just curious if we can expect better pictures with the Vivitar or if you guys have another suggestion.

Thanks for you help

It's hard to equate film to megapixels. Megapixels are arranged in an orderly pattern and are all the same size. Film is composed of grains that very in size and pattern. There is great variation between films as well. A piece of 35mm film has somewhere between 3 and 24 megapixels (I've seen estimates that low and that high).

For underwater shooting, I think you have 5 major choices these days:

1) Underwater disposables
2) Underwater point & shoots (Pentax W30, Olympus 790SW)
3) Regular point & shoot with underwater housing
4) DSLR with EWA Marine type bag
5) DSLR with underwater housing

The last is ideal except that the price is outrageous. I've used an EWA Marine bag with decent results on my DSLR (see here), but I don't really trust the bag. I wouldn't use one far from shore or with a camera that I valued.

Our current solutions are an underwater point & shoot (Pentax W30), which gives marginally acceptable results (see here) and a regular point and shoot (Canon G9) with an underwater housing. The housing was only $170, so it wasn't a huge commitment.

If you are going to go diving, you'll want something that is weighted so that it is neutrally buoyant.

 

[Laxmom]

Yea, there is no way I would take my D50 in the water. I just couldn't relax and trust the housing. I do have an G9 that I could look for a housing for also. I just am tired of the disposables. I am spoiled with digital. The last 2 times we have used a disposable, we ended up with a couple decent shots out of 24, hardly worth it.

Thanks for the info guys. Exactly what I was looking for.

 

[alan]

Just in case anybody here who is UK-based is is interested, I have some sample snaps from a cheap digital camera I bought at Asda.

The camera is a Vivtar Vivicam 5399; it has a fixed focal-length lens and comes with a waterproof case that claims 15m waterproofness (!) It is a 5Mpxel fellow, and takes SD cards. There is no built-in flash. It claims to do video too, 640x480 at 30fps. The price is £39.00!

The picture quality obviously is not as good as a "real" digital camera. But I can take it to the beach and not really care if it gets dropped, covered in sand or taken into the pool. And if I have to leave it unattended at the beach, it's not a £250 camera in a £150 housing.

Anyway, on to the pictures. Not terribly inspiring, just snaps taken outside my office.

1. A tree


2. A bit of building


3. My feet!


Clciking the links takes you to a Flickr page where you can download the full-size originals to see what you think; I'll add some video when I get a chance.

regards,
/alan

 

[nicurn]

hey guys, I bought the intova with underwater housing because I figure how often will I really use it. anyhow, took it to key largo, it works well, but the case tended to fog up? how do you prevent that? maggie

ps: my favourite picture from the weekend

 

[The Grays]

There is some glass cleaner for optics that is a fog resistant. The other way is to try and give it some time to get to the same temp or get a few of that silics jell packs and put in the housing and see if that would help.

 

[DixieDolphin]

Spit always works for the inside of your mask, so why not your housing! JUST KIDDING (please don't do this).

Silica gel packs are a big help. I used to get them free at my local music store, as they came by the hundreds in boxes of instruments they'd receive.

Be careful about any anti-fog juice you put on the housing, as some types of plastic will corrode or haze when in contact with certain chemicals. Always be sure that your defog solution is compatible with your housing.

Definitely acclimate it slowly to a new temperature. Fogging generally occurs when taking a camera from one temperature extreme to the other. (This can also occur inside your camera lenses, actually... I've had my camera lenses fog up when walking into summer heat from an A/C room.)

And that's a lovely image of an eagle ray! Good stuff. =)

 

[alanapapa]

Hi,
I need help and so I come to the one place I am sure of getting people to help, THE DIS.

We have a Kodak C615 digital and we love it except that there is no viewfinder, just a LCD screen, which when out in sunlight you can't see anything. We are going on the EB REPO cruise in August, plus both DD are in Girls Scouts and we canoe, kayak and camp. We are looking for a camera we can use while onboard ship and while canoeing/kayaking that has a veiwfinder. We don't want to spend more than $250.00 (175.00 if possible). Any suggestions?

 

[ukcatfan]

Have you considered getting a camera you like and an Aquapac? It does not sound like you have that many needs for a true waterproof model.