Waterproof digital camera

[Lthouseprincess]

Fuji has a water proof (up to 10 feet) digital camera out for $199 however it is new and I can’t find any real reviews on it.

I will really be using it on the beach and in the water but was hoping that it would take decent enough pictures so i just need that one.

I was wondering:

Who has one? What do they like/dislike about it?

 

[WDW Princess 71]

I have the Olympus 770 SW (i think that is the model number, its definitely 7-something). I love it! I paid a little over $200 for it about 9 months ago including the 2GB XD card and camera case. It is waterproof to 33 ft and shockproof (meaning you can drop it/step on it) up to 5ft. I've used it in waterparks, at the beach, and in the pool on several trips so far and gotten GREAT pictures. My snorkeling pictures were a little dark but that was mostly because it was overcast when we went snorkeling on CC...you really need the sun to shine through to get brighter pictures underwater. But other than that I love the camera. I got it to use at the beach/pool without worry that i would ruin it, and to bring in the water too...not necessarily underwater pictures, but just for use in and around water areas, and I'm completely satisfied with my purchase. That said, I still use my Canon digital camera for its better zoom and quality for indoor/non-water area photos, so I always bring both on vacation. Good luck in your purchasing decision, whatever you get will completely be worth it...everytime I use it I say to myself how happy I am that I dont have to waste the money and crappy picture quality of those throw away water cameras anymore!!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I have a really nice camera.... I'd go disposable.

For not too much, you can get them at Walmart, Target, etc. They shoot about that far, and it just seems like a lot of money for a feature you wouldn't use too much if ever after vacation. IMHO.

Also, I'd like my family to have an underwater camera to take pictures. I took ALL of them, and in none of them. Which, if you saw my body that's really okay with me. But, sometimes, they might have had a better shot or unique shot I wouldn't have.

Ie....We went snorkeling with Manatees. My DS could find and get closer to the manatees before any of the rest of us could. If he had the camera or another camera, we would have gotten additional good shots.

 

[wdwwishes]

My kiddos (now 10 and 13) have the Olympus Stylus 850s and they were worth the investment. They've been very durable, take nice photos as well as movies both above and below the water. We bought them last year and they both picked up on all of the functions and how to use them very easily. Canon just came out with one too. I know that Target etc. sells a lot of these cameras but I'd go to a camera retailer so you can get all of your questions answered before you make or don't make the investment.

 

[disneycrazzzy]

I have used Canon SDS230, SD550, and SD880 IS cameras with a waterproof housing for years and love them. Canon is coming out in May with the same camera with a built in housing. It will be called the PowerShot D10. It is pricier (MSRP $329) than the Fuji, but I know that my other Canon Powershots take great underwater photos and video as well as great point-and-shoot abovewater shots and I have high hopes for this camera... I bought the Olympus underwater camera a year or so ago and it couldn't come close to the Canon. I returned it.

Here is a link to the information on this camera. As soon as I can, I'm buying one. It will be great not to have to pack the underwater housing anymore!

Here are some pictures I took in Hawaii last month with the SD880 IS camera with underwater housing which has fewer mega pixels than the new D10:

Green Parrotfish ^

Yellowtail ^

Christmas Wrasse ^

Green Sea Turtle ^

Ornate Butterflyfish ^

Saddleback Butterflyfish

Sleeping Hawaiian Monk Seal

I am not a professional photographer. These shots are just point the camera and shoot. No special settings or anything...I have no idea how to do any of that. Can you say a D10 for "Mother's Day"!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I've preordered the D10! I can not wait!! I have always had canons and loved them.

My friend brought a waterproof disposable one on our last cruise and the pictures were awful. Really awful.

I thought the D10 would be a great camera both for cruises, and for the kids to use. It's shockproof and waterproof, so I won't worry about them with it. I can give it to them in the pool or ocean to goof off with.

WITH the wrist strap on of course.

It's supposed to come out in May, and we cruise May 23. My fingers are crossed that it comes out in time!!

 

[Momof4girls]

I went disposable, too.

I have a nice Canon for land, but couldn't resist the kodak underwater.

When I went to Maui many moons ago, I used a kodak underwater when they first came out. The pictures were great!

 

[WDW Princess 71]

I have a really nice camera.... I'd go disposable.

For not too much, you can get them at Walmart, Target, etc. They shoot about that far, and it just seems like a lot of money for a feature you wouldn't use too much if ever after vacation. IMHO.

Also, I'd like my family to have an underwater camera to take pictures. I took ALL of them, and in none of them. Which, if you saw my body that's really okay with me. But, sometimes, they might have had a better shot or unique shot I wouldn't have.

Ie....We went snorkeling with Manatees. My DS could find and get closer to the manatees before any of the rest of us could. If he had the camera or another camera, we would have gotten additional good shots.

I have to respectfully disagree with this. I think the only ways to go are either investing in the underwater housing for your regular camera if you have a really good one like the above poster said, or invest in a digital underwater one for $200 or less and use that as your water/beach camera. The reasoning is that the disposable ones add up if you are buying one for every vacation that involves a pool, water, or beach...I guess if you only go away every few years that might be okay, but if you are even going to go to the beach or pool once a year, I don't see how the disposable is practical over the one-time digital investment. The disposables DO NOT have the quality of the digitals...they have no zoom! plus, there is no way to tell if your picture even turned out with a disposable film camera vs. a digital you can check to make sure you got the perfect shot instead of developing the pictures at home and being disappointed. The development is another thing- you risk the person at CVS or wherever you drop the disposable off messing up your film, ruining your vacation memories, whereas with the digital you can safely put them on your own computer to be worry-free. Lastly with the throwaway water camera you have to use all 24 exposures to get it developed...what happens if you just want to take a few shots from a day at the beach, and then you have 20 shots left? I've taken almost a year before to finish those things, whereas a digital you can get a print of just one picture at a time if you like.

For all of these reasons, an underwater camera housing or an waterproof digital camera are the only options that make sense to me. I guess the only reasoning to have any waterproof disposable would be for like you said, for your kids to have their own if they want. But my family and I just use our one digital underwater and take pictures of each other or have others take ones of all of us, so we're fine with that.

 

[luv2cruisedisney]

DW and I purchased a 720 after seeing one Stingray City in Grand Cayman.

We have had it for 3 cruises now and think it is a great camera. We are not pros by any means but for the few pics that we actually print-out it is great. Th largest p/o we have done is an 8x10.

We paid $200 for it.

 

[CO Lacrosse Mom]

DW and I purchased a 720 after seeing one Stingray City in Grand Cayman.

We have had it for 3 cruises now and think it is a great camera. We are not pros by any means but for the few pics that we actually print-out it is great. Th largest p/o we have done is an 8x10.

We paid $200 for it.

Off topic- where did you get your signature? I would love to make those for the kids' names for our cruise!

 

[biggdawg67]

Fuji has a water proof (up to 10 feet) digital camera out for $199 however it is new and I can’t find any real reviews on it.

I will really be using it on the beach and in the water but was hoping that it would take decent enough pictures so i just need that one.

I was wondering:

Who has one? What do they like/dislike about it?

i pick up an olympus 850 at sams club for $160.00 recently water proof to 10 ft as well. i have taken some photos around the house and are great photo's we well be going to aquatica water park tommorow to try out it water proof abilities then hopefully will be good to go on my may 23rd cruise too tortula......and from what i have seen and heard about this model it seems pretty good...

 

[disneycrazzzy]

I've preordered the D10! I can not wait!! I have always had canons and loved them.

I gave my DH orders (subtley of course) for he and DS15 and DS11 to get one for me for Mother's Day. We've always had two cameras for snorkeling. One for me and one for my DH. We go to Hawaii every year so we use them a lot. After one of our two got waterlogged and died, we haven't replaced it. So the D10 it will be. Should be perfect for cruising. Thank goodness we don't cruise until August....hopefully I don't have to wait that long.

 

[brucechase]

This is an underwater digital I got from Walmart.com. It was $50 and it is an 5 megapixel. It does come out of the case to be just like a regular camera.

here are some pics

Taken thru the case

 

[dinahfig]

I have this one too and I love it!! We got some great shots during our Snuba excursion last year. They have it at our Sam's club for only $158.68 + tax. It includes the strap that floats and a camera case and a coupon for 60 free prints at Sam's.

Link

I posted some pics in this thread:
Link

My kiddos (now 10 and 13) have the Olympus Stylus 850s and they were worth the investment. They've been very durable, take nice photos as well as movies both above and below the water. We bought them last year and they both picked up on all of the functions and how to use them very easily. Canon just came out with one too. I know that Target etc. sells a lot of these cameras but I'd go to a camera retailer so you can get all of your questions answered before you make or don't make the investment.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I gave my DH orders (subtley of course) for he and DS15 and DS11 to get one for me for Mother's Day. We've always had two cameras for snorkeling. One for me and one for my DH. We go to Hawaii every year so we use them a lot. After one of our two got waterlogged and died, we haven't replaced it. So the D10 it will be. Should be perfect for cruising. Thank goodness we don't cruise until August....hopefully I don't have to wait that long.

You have plenty of time!! I hope you get it on Mother's Day though!! I hope I have mine on Mother's Day too!!

 

[BobandLee]

This is an underwater digital I got from Walmart.com. It was $50 and it is an 5 megapixel. It does come out of the case to be just like a regular camera.
.....

I have one that looks just like that. Different brand.
I found that it takes great still pictures. Videos are a bit choppy.

 

[wmjivey]

After wasting lots money on developing film in one of those cheap underwater cameras with only one or two pictures really any good, I figured the price of film and developing just buy a real digital underwater camera. we went with the Olympus SW850 and if you go their site store you will see a Ebay ad, they sell all their refurb's on Ebay. You can save the bucks to upgrade to a better model.

The Man

 

[laura001]

Another vote for the Olympus 850 SW ....great camera and you can keep using it if you want. Not just for your trip!

 

[tampabrat22]

I too am considering the Olympus camera. Every yr I take my canon 20D on vacation but last fall I upgraded to the 40D and I dont want to risk getting it ruined.

On our last cruise I bought the kids a cheap 35mm film camera with a waterproof housing for $15 in a gift shop. The pics came out about as good as you can expect from a cheap plastic camera, so I want something a bit better this time.

Here's the the link where you can find the ebay store that wmjivey recommended above: https://emporium.olympus.com/

 

[justmestace]

I had used the Pentax Optio underwater camera for quite a few years. Two years ago when we were in Turks & Caicos, both of my batteries died completely, wouldn't hold a charge at all. So I bought a few of the disposibles and have never been so irritated and disgusted with my pictures.
I'll never use a disposible again.

Last month I bought the Olympus 1010 SW at Costco and so far the pictures around the house are fantastic. I can't wait for our pool to get warm enough to test it, and for my May cruise. I think I'll be really happy with this camera.

For "land" pics I use the Nikon D40X, so I'm picky about my pictures, but the Olympus has been taking some pretty darn good pics so far!