Underwater camera solutions

[acole1]

The wife and I are planning another vacation, and I told myself I wouldn't use our 35mm underwater camera again, so I am looking for alternatives.

The uses will be snorkeling and the beach, probably no diving.

Case?
Right now we have a Canon A590IS and love the features and picture quality. I know Canon makes some underwater cases for the SD series, but after a quick search I only found an off-brand hard shell case for the A590IS, and it was $290 -- too much IMO.

I found some soft cases that say they will work. Are these worthwhile? I would hate to ruin the Canon just because I cheaped out.

Or new?
I am also open to the option of buying a new waterproof digital camera. I would like to spend less than $200 though. I am not a hard-core photographer, so the quality should be good for the price, but doesn't have to be great. Are there recommendations for requirements like this?

Thanks!

 

[dougp]

Big question is how deep do you plan on going?

 

[acole1]

Big question is how deep do you plan on going?

Probably no more than 10ft since I doubt I will be doing any diving.

 

[sswingle]

The Kodak Playsport is pretty decent... I have used the old model and didn't have any complaints besides no optical zoom. It takes very impressive looking HD video all things considered. They just came out with an updated model as well

 

[dougp]

The Kodak Playsport is pretty decent... I have used the old model and didn't have any complaints besides no optical zoom. It takes very impressive looking HD video all things considered. They just came out with an updated model as well

This is the camera I was going to recommend also.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Probably no more than 10ft since I doubt I will be doing any diving.

You'd be surprised. It's pretty easy to hold your breath and drop down to 15-20ft.

I've thought about the Kodak Playsport for an upcoming trip, but I'm just not sure 10ft is deep enough. I've also read still quality is OK, not great.

I've read good things about the Dicapac soft cases, though it seems a riskier proposition.

I'd like something like a Canon D10 or Pentax W90/WG1, etc...but don't have the $$$.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

The wife and I are planning another vacation, and I told myself I wouldn't use our 35mm underwater camera again, so I am looking for alternatives.

The uses will be snorkeling and the beach, probably no diving.

Case?
Right now we have a Canon A590IS and love the features and picture quality. I know Canon makes some underwater cases for the SD series, but after a quick search I only found an off-brand hard shell case for the A590IS, and it was $290 -- too much IMO.

I found some soft cases that say they will work. Are these worthwhile? I would hate to ruin the Canon just because I cheaped out.

Or new?
I am also open to the option of buying a new waterproof digital camera. I would like to spend less than $200 though. I am not a hard-core photographer, so the quality should be good for the price, but doesn't have to be great. Are there recommendations for requirements like this?

Thanks!

Go above budget and get the Canon D10. Rated for 33 feet, and so will probably go deeper. Six months same as cash @ Adorama.

http://www.adorama.com/ICAD10.html?u...e=rflAID021866

JR

 

[Texashiker]

I have the canon D10, and can not recommend it. The way the lanyard attaches makes a rattle noise in the video. Every time you move the camera with the lanyard attached while filming video, you have this "tap, tap, tap" in the audio.

Set at 12 megapixel, the images seem grainy. 8 megapixel look like they are better quality then the 12 megapixel.

The D10 does not film in HD format, its just standard 640X480 .mov.

The camera body of the D10 is bulky, its not the type of camera you can fit in your pocket very well.

The D10 does not have a lens cover - not ideal for taking to the beach.

My step son has a waterproof panasonic, and he seems happy with it - not sure of the exact model number though.

 

[Gooberlx2]

My step son has a waterproof panasonic, and he seems happy with it - not sure of the exact model number though.

Probably one of the TS1/2/3. I've read good things about those as well.

dpreview definitely needs to do another Waterproof group test. The last one they did was 2009.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

I have the canon D10, and can not recommend it. The way the lanyard attaches makes a rattle noise in the video. Every time you move the camera with the lanyard attached while filming video, you have this "tap, tap, tap" in the audio.

Set at 12 megapixel, the images seem grainy. 8 megapixel look like they are better quality then the 12 megapixel.

The D10 does not film in HD format, its just standard 640X480 .mov.

The camera body of the D10 is bulky, its not the type of camera you can fit in your pocket very well.

The D10 does not have a lens cover - not ideal for taking to the beach.

My step son has a waterproof panasonic, and he seems happy with it - not sure of the exact model number though.

Just looking at the wrist strap for the D10, I don't understand why would be tapping the camera. What is the issue?

JR

 

[Texashiker]

Just looking at the wrist strap for the D10, I don't understand why would be tapping the camera. What is the issue?

JR

The cap that the lanyard attaches to has slack in it. When the cap moves side to side - maybe 1/16 - 1/8 of an inch - it sends a sound / vibration through the waterproof housing that the mic picks up.

Its so noticeable, that when I film video with my D10, I have to remove the lanyard first.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

The cap that the lanyard attaches to has slack in it. When the cap moves side to side - maybe 1/16 - 1/8 of an inch - it sends a sound / vibration through the waterproof housing that the mic picks up.

Its so noticeable, that when I film video with my D10, I have to remove the lanyard first.

What a HUGE fail.

JR

Edit: I googled a bit and was unable to find many others with the same complaint. Makes me wonder if it's a defect. Canon has had many QC issues these last couple of years, especially with the powershots.

 

[Nintendesert]

When I was in St. Croix I just used a $40 soft case that had a hard lens protector that worked well for snorkeling and being around and in the water at the beach. There are different ones based on the type of camera. I was just using a little point and shoot so not sure how crazy with underwater photography you'll get. The pictures turned out great once I figured out how to aim without being able to actually look at what the camera was seeing. Hard to do with a mask and without sucking down water.

 

[acole1]

Are there any opinions on the Olympus Stylus Tough series? A friend has the 8010 and really likes it.

 

[tdawg]

Are there any opinions on the Olympus Stylus Tough series? A friend has the 8010 and really likes it.

I've got the 6020 that I'll be putting through its paces in Hawaii next week! It'll be my first use of an underwater camera since the waterproof disposables from way back.

 

[pm]

I bought a Dipac soft case for a Canon SD1200 point-n-shoot for a Hawaii trip a few weeks ago.
It was this one:
http://www.amazon.com/DicaPac-WP110-.../dp/B001CMB66W

So the good part was that it worked. The camera never had any water in it, it took good pictures and I got some great movies of swimming with turtles, and some great photos. A couple of times I dove while snorkeling down to ~25ft. down or so... I saw a white-tipped reef shark under a ledge and dove down but the photo didn't come at all (too dark)... I went down a long way... I had to equalize twice... it was a bit stupid all things considered But the camera stayed dry through all the messing around 20ft. down. I never saw any water in the camera case, and I was able to use the case to hold my cell phone when we went sea kayaking and it kept that dry even when we rolled a couple of times. I thought it was great value for money.

I gave it to my mother who is in the Galapagos this week snorkeling with it. I haven't heard how it's going with her.

The bad part was that the case was too big for the camera. so there's a ring around all of the photos because you can see the black part of the lens cover. This isn't that big a deal for the photos - just crop it out - but for the movies it was a bit of a bummer.

After the trip, I bought a GoPro HD for a ski trip and those are waterproof to 180ft. I paid $250 for the camera + case. I am really impressed with the GoPro camera - the videos are super sharp and the photos are really good. You can set it to take photos automatically - like one a second, or set it to record videos and the battery life is very good. I personally enjoyed watching the underwater videos taken with my Canon SD1200 in the case more than I like looking at the photos... so I wish that I'd bought the GoPro before the trip rather than afterwards. If the GoPro HD is too expensive, there's a 720p version for around $150 with the same case and just lower resolution.
http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-HD-Motor.../dp/B002VA57XC

 

[acole1]

After reading reviews and testing cameras in person I went ahead and placed an order for the new Olympus Tough TG-610.

It appears that they fixed the old problems with slowness and image quality on the Tough series. Although it cost more than I was originally wanting to spend, I think it will be worth it.

 

[gsellis]

I have ordered a Kodak Playsport ZX3 after reading the review at dpreviews that says the ZX5 is not worth the extra $50. I will give an after action report some time in June.

 

[gsellis]

Quick notes on the ZX3 - the Dry Land edition

1080p mode - Don't use zoom as it is max resolution. Any zoom moves the video into a grainy video, in full sun. Also, at 1080p, EIS tends to cause the video to be 'warpy' with motion. The same effect you get with heavy stabilization done in post production. With this form factor, EIS off is hard to do hand held without practice (just like using a stabilizer such as a Steadicam or Glidecam).

720p, 720p60 - More room for using the zoom, but at max, it is definitely grainy. The EIS works better too. I think I will leave it in 720p60.

Color - it will need some definite post production work on color. I have some deep red snapdragons in the front yard. On the sample shot, they were decidely orange.

Edit - if you do get one, practice with it first before you start using it for stuff you want to record - I will use my Sony HC-7 for anything important. I just did not want to take the housing with me as it is about the size of a number 4 soccer ball.

 

[NutBucket]

I've got the 6020 that I'll be putting through its paces in Hawaii next week! It'll be my first use of an underwater camera since the waterproof disposables from way back.

I have the older model 6000 and it worked reasonably well. Just remember that your biggest factor for underwater image quality is light. The built-in flash is basically useless underwater.