Waterproof cameras for under 300?

[bad karma]

Hello :)

My boss came to me and asked me about waterproof cameras that she could take to the waterpark for under $300.

I found this one as the best deal

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0011EAA0O?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1221153468&sr=8-1

Any thoughts? I am not sure what others are available.

[cdifoto]

Canon makes one that looks like a bar of soap from a girlie store. I forget what model its called though.

[Skrim17]

I have an older version of the Olympus camera and it has served me very well for water photography with fun snaps and video in the pool and such. There is the 1050 which has more megapixels too.

[dan j]

I didn't trust the D10 (Canon's new waterproof camera) and it's not even out ;)
I read about failures from the other manufacturers and figured why chance it? So, I'm going to be adding the Canon waterproof case to my SD780. It makes the SD780 waterproof to over 100' instead of the 10' the D10 is rated at.

If your boss can still find a SD1100 she can get it and a Canon waterproof case for $300 ($150 + $150). And, when she's done at the water park she has a camera that's the size of a credit card.

dan

[thomasro3]

I didn't trust the D10 (Canon's new waterproof camera) and it's not even out ;)
I read about failures from the other manufacturers and figured why chance it? So, I'm going to be adding the Canon waterproof case to my SD780. It makes the SD780 waterproof to over 100' instead of the 10' the D10 is rated at.

If your boss can still find a SD1100 she can get it and a Canon waterproof case for $300 ($150 + $150). And, when she's done at the water park she has a camera that's the size of a credit card.

dan

That is cheaper than the D10 and will probably take better pictures out of the water also. However I think the D10 is rated to 10 meters or 33ft.

[bomzai]

I read about failures from the other manufacturers and figured why chance it? So, I'm going to be adding the Canon waterproof case to my SD780. It makes the SD780 waterproof to over 100' instead of the 10' the D10 is rated at.


Not gonna argue a lot, but your combo is over $400 and D10 is $265 right now. Plus the hussle of putting it to the case and out every time.

But you definitely get space and some style points on the land ;)

My personal reasoning for D10 was that if I am firmly on the land - I'll use my 5D2 anyway, if I'm in more questionable environment I'll prefer D10 as shockproof, (water/dust)proof solution which I can wash in sink afterwards too :).

[CustomMinds]

i have tried a few and i have never been happy with them. they might work well, but i can never get them to.

[dan j]

That is cheaper than the D10 and will probably take better pictures out of the water also. However I think the D10 is rated to 10 meters or 33ft.
Yeah, I don't know where I got that from. Good catch.

dan

[dan j]

Not gonna argue a lot, but your combo is over $400 and D10 is $265 right now. Plus the hussle of putting it to the case and out every time.

But you definitely get space and some style points on the land ;)

My personal reasoning for D10 was that if I am firmly on the land - I'll use my 5D2 anyway, if I'm in more questionable environment I'll prefer D10 as shockproof, (water/dust)proof solution which I can wash in sink afterwards too :).
My example for the SD1100 was much less. What I bought doesn't really compare to the D10. I have the smallest camera Canon makes, HD video, and a WP case that's rated to 130' and is a design that's been around for years. The case isn't much of a hassle, I'd say it takes about a minute.

I have nothing against the D10. I probably would have bought it if it had been out for a while and the reviews were good.

If the 5D2 was actually WP I would have one. I don't think it would survive my kids swim lesson.

dan

[bomzai]

My example for the SD1100 was much less. What I bought doesn't really compare to the D10. I have the smallest camera Canon makes, HD video, and a WP case that's rated to 130' and is a design that's been around for years. The case isn't much of a hassle, I'd say it takes about a minute.


Yes, and that's cool. My problem with that approach would be that I would've bought SD780 and would be absolutely happy with it. The case for "playing around under water" for close to $200 on the other hand could stick on the wish list for a long while :lol:. Anyhow we'll see if D10 will live up to my expectations... plus maybe they'll add that HD video to it via firmware :rolleyes: :lol:.

[dan j]

plus maybe they'll add that HD video to it via firmware :rolleyes: :lol:.ROFL, I gotcha :D

dan

[Darr247]

Used A640's are $100-$150 on auction sites; the WP-DC8 (http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&partNumber=14102) case has been on sale for $99 straight from canon's web site for over a month (and through 01 July 2009).

I'm ambivalent about the weights... I kinda like the fact it has positive buoyancy without them. That leaves $50-$100 for a set of 2500mAh NiMH AA's and a 4GB class 6 SDHC card, which should give 1000 or so 10MP pics before you need to surface and change the card... I'm thinking your air will run out before you take 1000 shots, anyway.

You *might* be able to get a used A650IS for $200, and the WP-DC18 (http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&productId=170780) is on sale for the same $99... that combo would fit the price criterium, too (barely). A 4GB card would only hold about 750 12MP pics from that, though.

[tkbslc]

pentax w60 is pretty well rated and under $250.

I don't think a waterpark merits real waterproof housing as it makes the camera kinda clunky to use.

[jbgeach]

I have a pentax W60 and it is great. Has great video ability and takes great pictures. They only thing I don't like is having no lens cover. However, I usually just rub off the plastic cover with a lens cloth for dry shooting, in the water just put it under water.

Anyway, I vote W60, it is an impressive littlle camera.

Oh, one more con, the HD video looks great, but you cannot hear anything the AF is really loud and creeky. You can do optical zoom in video mode.