Waterproof / Water-Resistant Digital Cameras
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:05 am
OK so you’re looking for a camera that can hold up to the rigors of paddling and the occasional dunk in the brink. Fortunately manufacturers are listening to us and are releasing some great all-around water-resistant and water-proof cameras that can take a fairly good beating and still produce some excellent photos and films.
Right off the bat I want to give you a couple of useful links to help compare cameras – their specifications, costs, user reviews, etc. First is Steve’s Digicams – I know of no better place than Steve’s when it comes to nuts and bolts reviews. Check out Steve’s Digicam Reviews.
The other site I want to mention is Digideep – this site provides a market overview of the essential equipment for digital underwater photography and is the first place to look to when comparing “waterproof housings” for the various cameras out there that may not be fully waterproof – if you already have a great digital camera may be all you need is a “waterproof housing” so check out Digideep Underwater Photography.
And one last bit of information – how water-proof is water-proof? Well fortunately all manufacturers are suppose to comply with the following Universal Waterproof Gradings:
Grade 0 - Non-protected
Grade 1 - Protected against vertically falling water drops.
Grade 2 - Protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees.
Grade 3 - Protected against spraying water at an angle up to 60 degrees on either side of vertical.
Grade 4 - Protected against splashing water. Ten minutes of a light 360 degree spray.
Grade 5 - Protected against water jets from all practicable directions for 3 minutes.
Grade 6 - Protected against powerful water jets from any direction shall have no harmful effects for 3 minutes.
Grade 7 - Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water up to 1m deep for 30 minutes.
Grade 8 - Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.
CAMERAS
Sony DSCU60 – ** The camera that started it all – the first lightweight digital waterproof camera specifically developed for the water enthusiast. Uniquely designed for one hand use this camera has a fast start-up time and is waterproof up to 5 feet deep. Unfortuantely by current standards it’s a bit of an under-performer with a 2.0 megapixel effective resolution and 1x Optical Zoom – but that also means that there are some real bargains out there in the used market -- I've seen some for $50.00!! It has a 1.0 inch hybrid LCD monitor, built-in flash, 1-inch LCD monitor, MPEG movie mode (no audio) and uses rechargeable NiMH AAA batteries. Great little camera!
Pentax Optio WP -- **** My current favorite because the prices are falling way down into the $200.00 range for a truly easy-to-operate 5.1 megapixal camera with 3x optical zoom (4x digital zoom). Slim and thin this boy can get let lost in your PFD pocket; yet despite its compact dimensions, its well-designed grip ensures the camera remains safe and stable in the hands when shooting at all times. Waterproof performance enables approximately 30 minutes of continuous underwater swimming at a depth of up to 1.5m (Class 8 waterproof performance). The large, 2.0-inch LCD monitor works well except under the harshest direct sunlight and the LCD monitor also features a power saving mode that extends battery life by automatically reducing the intensity of the backlighting. Continuous AF and tracking AF keep moving subjects in focus. And I really like the camera’s ability to record movies (Quicktime) – using larger SD chips I can record over 30 mins of good quality 30 fps film and sound. If there was a weakness to this camera it would be 1) it doesn’t float, 2) there’s no lens cover and 3) it requires a special –and sometimes hard to find -- rechargeable lithium ion battery that is used specifically by Pentax. Although it is a great battery – light and strong -- and is good for about 150-200 shots (more if not using the flash) you best take an extra battery and/or the recharger with you if you’re going on a longer trip. Note: Look around for the camera's 4 megapixal predecessor -- great camera as well -- and if you can buy one for around $100-150.00 snap it up!
Olympus Stylus 800/mju Digital 800 -- **** Well Olympus is not to be outdone and although their Stylus cameras have disappointed critics in the past due to relatively poor image quality, Olympus is out to move ahead with this new 8 megapixal water-proof camera at a very reasonable price ($375.00). The image quality is far superior to previous models of the Stylus cameras!! And like its predecessors – the Stylus 300 and 400 – this camera is stylish, ultra-compact, weather resistant and very easy to use. You can expect all the standard bell and whistles – 3x optical zoom, 5 x digital zoom, 2.5 inch LCD monitor, built-in flash – but this also a “near-prosumer camera” in which users can also satisfy their more demanding creative urges using the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. Similarly Macro and Super Macro modes provide plenty of opportunities for capturing subjects in fine detail from as little as only 3cm away. The camera is also equipped with a movie recording function that can capture action, with sound, in near-VGA quality (Quicktime). This is an exceptional camera for those movie buffs out there who don’t want to carry heavy and/or more expensive equipment. Negatives include the need to use proprietary memory cards -- Olympus xD-Picture Cards – and the using a rechargeable battery that may not be readily accessible in the backwoods of Arkansas. Haven’t used this camera yet but it has a lot going for it.
Nikon D2X Digital Camera -- ***** So you want the best water-resistant camera available on the market – then you’ll have to take a look at this $5000.00 model from Nikon. Or wait a year or so as prices tumble and pick one up similar to it for half the cost. With a resolution of nearly 13 megapixals and every feature a professional would ever need – this is THE camera. Even though it is a true SLR (look through the lens) camera it still have a nice 2.5 inch LCD monitor. Nikon has applied numerous rubber gaskets between body portions, controls and compartment doors to improve the camera's environmental sealing. They aren't claiming the camera to be waterproof – moreover remember that the camera is only as weather proof as its weakest link, this is includes the lens mount and only a few of the more recent Nikkor lenses have rubber seals around the mount ring. Thus if you lay out $5000.00 for this camera you still might consider buying an underwater housing if you’ll be in the water with the camera. Not a whole lot of negatives outside of price, no built-in flash and inability to record movies – it does use a proprietary battery however so you might want to buy a couple of extras. And of course there are all kinds of accessories and lenses you can purchase to fulfill every photography passion that you have ever wanted to express.
Right off the bat I want to give you a couple of useful links to help compare cameras – their specifications, costs, user reviews, etc. First is Steve’s Digicams – I know of no better place than Steve’s when it comes to nuts and bolts reviews. Check out Steve’s Digicam Reviews.
The other site I want to mention is Digideep – this site provides a market overview of the essential equipment for digital underwater photography and is the first place to look to when comparing “waterproof housings” for the various cameras out there that may not be fully waterproof – if you already have a great digital camera may be all you need is a “waterproof housing” so check out Digideep Underwater Photography.
And one last bit of information – how water-proof is water-proof? Well fortunately all manufacturers are suppose to comply with the following Universal Waterproof Gradings:
Grade 0 - Non-protected
Grade 1 - Protected against vertically falling water drops.
Grade 2 - Protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees.
Grade 3 - Protected against spraying water at an angle up to 60 degrees on either side of vertical.
Grade 4 - Protected against splashing water. Ten minutes of a light 360 degree spray.
Grade 5 - Protected against water jets from all practicable directions for 3 minutes.
Grade 6 - Protected against powerful water jets from any direction shall have no harmful effects for 3 minutes.
Grade 7 - Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water up to 1m deep for 30 minutes.
Grade 8 - Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.
CAMERAS
Sony DSCU60 – ** The camera that started it all – the first lightweight digital waterproof camera specifically developed for the water enthusiast. Uniquely designed for one hand use this camera has a fast start-up time and is waterproof up to 5 feet deep. Unfortuantely by current standards it’s a bit of an under-performer with a 2.0 megapixel effective resolution and 1x Optical Zoom – but that also means that there are some real bargains out there in the used market -- I've seen some for $50.00!! It has a 1.0 inch hybrid LCD monitor, built-in flash, 1-inch LCD monitor, MPEG movie mode (no audio) and uses rechargeable NiMH AAA batteries. Great little camera!
Pentax Optio WP -- **** My current favorite because the prices are falling way down into the $200.00 range for a truly easy-to-operate 5.1 megapixal camera with 3x optical zoom (4x digital zoom). Slim and thin this boy can get let lost in your PFD pocket; yet despite its compact dimensions, its well-designed grip ensures the camera remains safe and stable in the hands when shooting at all times. Waterproof performance enables approximately 30 minutes of continuous underwater swimming at a depth of up to 1.5m (Class 8 waterproof performance). The large, 2.0-inch LCD monitor works well except under the harshest direct sunlight and the LCD monitor also features a power saving mode that extends battery life by automatically reducing the intensity of the backlighting. Continuous AF and tracking AF keep moving subjects in focus. And I really like the camera’s ability to record movies (Quicktime) – using larger SD chips I can record over 30 mins of good quality 30 fps film and sound. If there was a weakness to this camera it would be 1) it doesn’t float, 2) there’s no lens cover and 3) it requires a special –and sometimes hard to find -- rechargeable lithium ion battery that is used specifically by Pentax. Although it is a great battery – light and strong -- and is good for about 150-200 shots (more if not using the flash) you best take an extra battery and/or the recharger with you if you’re going on a longer trip. Note: Look around for the camera's 4 megapixal predecessor -- great camera as well -- and if you can buy one for around $100-150.00 snap it up!
Olympus Stylus 800/mju Digital 800 -- **** Well Olympus is not to be outdone and although their Stylus cameras have disappointed critics in the past due to relatively poor image quality, Olympus is out to move ahead with this new 8 megapixal water-proof camera at a very reasonable price ($375.00). The image quality is far superior to previous models of the Stylus cameras!! And like its predecessors – the Stylus 300 and 400 – this camera is stylish, ultra-compact, weather resistant and very easy to use. You can expect all the standard bell and whistles – 3x optical zoom, 5 x digital zoom, 2.5 inch LCD monitor, built-in flash – but this also a “near-prosumer camera” in which users can also satisfy their more demanding creative urges using the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. Similarly Macro and Super Macro modes provide plenty of opportunities for capturing subjects in fine detail from as little as only 3cm away. The camera is also equipped with a movie recording function that can capture action, with sound, in near-VGA quality (Quicktime). This is an exceptional camera for those movie buffs out there who don’t want to carry heavy and/or more expensive equipment. Negatives include the need to use proprietary memory cards -- Olympus xD-Picture Cards – and the using a rechargeable battery that may not be readily accessible in the backwoods of Arkansas. Haven’t used this camera yet but it has a lot going for it.
Nikon D2X Digital Camera -- ***** So you want the best water-resistant camera available on the market – then you’ll have to take a look at this $5000.00 model from Nikon. Or wait a year or so as prices tumble and pick one up similar to it for half the cost. With a resolution of nearly 13 megapixals and every feature a professional would ever need – this is THE camera. Even though it is a true SLR (look through the lens) camera it still have a nice 2.5 inch LCD monitor. Nikon has applied numerous rubber gaskets between body portions, controls and compartment doors to improve the camera's environmental sealing. They aren't claiming the camera to be waterproof – moreover remember that the camera is only as weather proof as its weakest link, this is includes the lens mount and only a few of the more recent Nikkor lenses have rubber seals around the mount ring. Thus if you lay out $5000.00 for this camera you still might consider buying an underwater housing if you’ll be in the water with the camera. Not a whole lot of negatives outside of price, no built-in flash and inability to record movies – it does use a proprietary battery however so you might want to buy a couple of extras. And of course there are all kinds of accessories and lenses you can purchase to fulfill every photography passion that you have ever wanted to express.
Picked up an ultraspeed 2 gig SD card for $50 too. So far it's worked flawlessly. The W10 has a lot of different modes to choose from. I've gotta put my nose in the book at some point and figure all that stuff out.