Since the birth of digital camera man has advanced this know-how to allow every person to have one easily. The impermeable Camera is currently one of those things simply just like the wrist watch could be a necessity for someone living close to water.

More and more experts are buying these waterproof digital cameras to capture a world in that new discoveries are created everyday. In the past not so long ago these spectacles of recent design was so massive and heavy that it required extraordinary care to move them from place to place. Currently thanks to knowledge our engineers will build new Watertight Digital Camera with smaller parts to accommodate the electronics. In time the only thing that will stick out and be an eyesore would be the quality water proof lens used to capture the underwater world.

Everybody ought to own a Waterproof Camera not for showing off but solely to seize what your eyes see. Every camper who also goes camping in the hills nearby a running river or to the ocean out on a ship positively needs to own a waterproof digital camera. It is not only bad not to have one but silly if you have left home without one.

The opportunist always incorporates a recording medium to secure those moments for eternity and what better approach than with a waterproof digital camera digital. These marvels do not have to be high-priced. As a matter of fact they are not much more different then those that do not seem to be waterproof digital cameras. The prices of water-resistant cameras has come back down due to rivalry and purchaser purchase power.

Many folks are owning a unit or 2 now. Some of these beauties come with ten mega pixel capability and over. As I said they are almost the same value range as those that are not waterproof digital video camera. Most brands are of equal par since the technology advances at about the even rate for all manufacturers. My preference camera brand is the Olympus since they do have standardization in their expertise. But other brands have also nice waterproof digital cameras.

Always have one handy prepared and charged with further batteries to seize all those meaningful moments to hard disk, however make sure you create a backup version of your photos when you go back home so that in the event of a hard-disk crash you have got a safe copy of your cherished photos and films. One should conjointly remember that simply because something is rainproof does not mean that you ought to treat them with less protection. Though water is like a soft to touch structure the same cannot be said of mud or sand. Therefore do be sure to take care of your water-resistant digital camera.

Jon Dougan is an Internet Writer, Amateur photographer, explorer, scientist and above all a person who enjoys living. If you would like to read more tips, info and know-hows about waterproof digital cameras then come over to http://TheWaterproofCamera.com.

Waterproof Camera FAQ:

Question: What is the latest kind of waterproof camera?

Answer: It seems that the waterproof camera that really delivers quality images is the Canon D10. It looks really cool, one giant cyclops’ eye of a flash. But the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 is quite impressive as well.

Question: Is there such thing as a waterproof camera case?
Like one that I can trust to put my digital camera underwater and take pictures?

Answer: Most digital camera have their own or recommends a third party underwater case. Depending on the make, model, size of your digital camera and depth you are going down to, my suggestion is to first go to the manufacturer’s website and check out the accessories. Otherwise, you can select either a solid, hard underwater camera casing or a soft zip-lock type version. Of course, the hard body/cases are more expensive than the zip-lock versions.

If you are only going to water parks and or vacationing and going to pools and about 10 feet deep, I suggest the zip-lock versions by DryPak, DiCaPac or AquaPac or any similar manufacturer. For scuba diving, I suggest hard bodies which also works for more expensive DSLR cameras. Please take note that water pressure (depth you go down to) also needs to be factored in. Most camera’s shutter release button will react to water pressure in a given depth.

Question: What is a good underwater camera for under $175?
I am looking for a good waterproof digital camera 9+ mega pixels that is fairly durable and can go at least 10ft down. I want to use it to go snorkeling and other miscellaneous underwater activities. Also I do like to customize my pictures a little bit.

Answer: Both a friend of mine and I have Olympus. Hers is a bit different than mine but mine is the Stylus 1030W and I couldn’t be happier with it! It’s Waterproof up to 33ft. Shockproof, Freeze proof and 10.1MP but I think Olympus came out with one that’s a little better and more expensive. I have had mine for over a year and have dropped it many times and its a champ! I can’t remember how much it was. I think around $175 but I know if you get it on ebay it will be cheaper with a bunch of extras and can get a warranty (I did). And you can customize a bit to (back&white, Shopia, Frames, Red eye, Crop, label etc…)

Question: Have you ever used a underwater camera case? do they reduce picture quality?

Answer: I’m a scuba diver and I have proper rigid underwater housings for both my DSLR and compact cameras. I haven’t used these ‘plastic bag’ types before, but there’s no reason why they should affect image quality underwater – plenty of other things will. Make sure you don’t go deeper than the recommended depth with it or you’ll flood the camera and get close to your subject. Turn off the flash unless you are very close and the water is very clear otherwise you will get backscatter (white dots) over your image from the flash.

When you are out of the water, if there are water drops on the front of the case over the lens area you’ll get blurred areas in your image, so try to dry it off with a soft cloth. Avoid getting sand/grit on the lens area part of the pouch. Rinse it well in freshwater after use.

Question: What is the best camera to use in an harsh environment like the amazon forest?
Waterproof, dust proof, solid, versatile camera brand.

Answer: Olympus is the most durable. Second up is Nikon although you sacrifice waterproof. While Canon has great point n shoots their SLR’s were “NOT” made to be dragged through hell and water, Canon’s definition of durable is sports. A 5D can be hit with a baseball going 102mph and be fine but you put it in a damp environment… Get an Olympus.

Question: Which water proof digital camera is better?
I’m trying to decide which of these two waterproof digital cameras to pick from. I can’t afford more then $200 on one so if you know another one that’s better then these two under $200 please let me know. I’m between the olympus x560 or the Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP.

Answer: As for the X560 or the Z33WP its really a coin toss. Nothing in the specs makes one particularly stand out above the other and actual reviews are scarce for both. Overall Fuji and Olympus make decent products but like all camera makers they have great, average and lousy models. With the lack of substantial reviews its difficult to say which would be best over the other.

Question: Waterproof digital cameras? Personal likings to any brands?
I want to buy a waterproof digital camera, that is water/shock proof. Any brands that people have tried, and liked? And do all water proof cameras have digital zoom? Do they make any optical zoom digital water-proof cameras?

Answer: The Canon D10 is a very versatile camera. It is small and surprisingly light. The build quality is excellent; the camera is manufactured in Japan. The image quality is typical Canon… realistic colors, little noise, and the camera is fast. I wanted a camera that I could carry and use in inclement weather. Rain or snow, I wanted to be able to take pictures while I am hiking. This camera seems to fit the bill.

Question: Can all cameras have a waterproof case that it can be put in or is it only specific?

Answer: For many models there are dedicated cases with buttons perfectly positioned, but there are many for which there are no such compatible dedicated case. There are some more generic underwater housings that can fit a variety of cameras. Those require pushing the buttons through the clear, soft plastic, and are less user friendly than the dedicated cases.

Underwater digital cameras have become an essential part of scuba diving equipment for professional and amateur scuba divers. The underwater world of scuba diving offers so many opportunities to capture once-in-a-lifetime photos of undersea life, vivid colors of coral reefs or a remote shipwreck. With underwater digital cameras it is possible to capture these images in a life-like picture that can be shared with friends or sold professionally.

Popular underwater digital cameras:

Some of the most popular dive cameras are the Canon G10, Sea Life Dc 800, Sony A200 Digital SLR Camera and the Nikon D3. These revolutionary underwater digital cameras give clean and crisp pictures that truly reflect the images of marine and plant life and are diving scuba cameras that can withstand the depths and pressure of many feet underwater.

Advanced Compact Dive Cameras:

The Canon G10-WP DB28 housing is one of Canon’s most advanced compact cameras that sells for under $500. It is a well-rounded underwater digital camera package that gives richly detailed, high resolution images and has an excellent LCD that is large and crisp. With a superb wide-angle lens and lots of dedicated controls, it gives great performance for even the most serious photographers. The WP DC28 underwater dive camera housing enables you to take the Powershot G10 to depths of 130 feet.

Sony A200 Digital SLR Camera with Ikelite Housing is an entry level digital camera that captures enough detail for photo quality prints and offers an auto-focus system. It has a large view finder, wireless flash control and gives good detail at the lowest sensitivities. It has solid construction and offers all of the essentials in an affordable package. Teamed with an Ikelite housing, you get a compact, clear underwater housing that give corrosion-free performance up to 200 feet.

Better Performance, Professional Grade Dive Cameras:

The SeaLife DC800 diving scuba camera offers sleek, modern design with high-tech functionality. You can take colorful underwater pictures since this dive camera offers 5 new dive-specific color correction modes. By setting the camera to Sea mode, you can restore lost colors that happen with underwater pictures and dive up to 200 feet with this rubber armored underwater digital camera that is designed for shock protection. It has a quick shutter for fast action shots and has a long lasting battery for a full day of diving photography.

Nikon D3 underwater digital cameras are top line in technology and are pricier than some of its competitors. It is a popular dive camera for professional photographers and the auto exposure is dead-on perfect. It has a huge viewfinder and the auto focus is fast and accurate. The Sea MDX-D3 housing is ergonomically built that makes shooting pictures easy with one finger while still holding the handle. The new line of Sea underwater dive camera housings is impressive.

To capture your underwater memories, you need to look at the advanced, underwater digital cameras on the market and find one to fit your budget.

Edward Price has had a keen interest in scuba diving for many years. For more practical tips and information on the appropriate underwater digital camera, visit his scuba diving resource site now.

Underwater Camera FAQ:

Question: LumixDMC-ZS3 or Canon d10 underwater digital camera?
I think I want to get the LumixDMC-ZS3, but I am also considering the underwater canon digital camera. I think I like the LumixDMC-ZS3 as a camera better though, is there an underwater case that I can put it in? The canon seems so bulky and it doesn’t have an amazing zoom like the LumixDMC-ZS3. Which is more worth it?

Answer: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is a good camera but not a real waterproof/underwater camera, but you can buy a Underwater housing camera case for panasonic lumix DMC-ZS3 (now underwater housing camera case for panasonic lumix DMC-ZS3 is difficult to find) or you can select a real waterproof/underwater camera. Other good waterproof/underwater cameras to consider are: the Canon PowerShot D10, Olympus Stylus Tough-6000 and Pentax Optio W60.

Question: Can an Olympus x-560WP Compact Digital waterproof camera be used underwater?
I know this sounds like a stupid question, it has waterproof in the description. I was just wondering if anyone knew how deep it could go or would that mean that the camera is just splash proof?

Answer: You can go down to 10 feet. Any deeper than that and the pressure is too high and will push through the seal.

Question: Underwater Digital Camera help?
I want to get an amazing underwater digital camera, I love photography and don’t want to have to worry about the camera getting wet. I also would love it to have as good a zoom and picture quality possible. I really like the Canon Powershot d10, but it is so bulky and I’m scared that if I buy it, a new, better camera will come out.

Answer: I recommend the Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD.

Question: Can you dip the pentax optio 33w camera on water? Can I use it to take picture underwater?
I just bought this old model from a friend. I’m just curious of the “can be submerged in water” description on it and I was hoping that I could take pictures underwater in it (My friend never dared because of fear of breaking it).

Answer: The full name of that camera is a Optio 33WR. The WR meaning water resistant. If it rains it’ll be ok. If it gets dropped in a pool all bets are off. It may survive alright, it may not. Not much different than the case with watches. If it says water resistant you can usually be ok with having it on in the shower but you’re stretching your luck taking it swimming. If it says water proof with a depth rating, then it’s good to just about that depth. The data sheet I found for the optio 33wr doesn’t even mention a depth rating so it’s safe to assume they don’t expect you to take it under as is.

Question: Underwater digital camera?
I want the fujifilm x33 water proof camera. Since it is water proof can it go in a chlorine pool?

Answer: If it says that it is waterproof, not water resistant then yes it can.

Question: Underwater cameras vs. regular cameras.
Do regular cameras take significantly better pictures than underwater cameras because I want an underwater one but at the same time I want a camera that takes good pictures. The underwater camera I was looking at is the Fujifilm Fine Pix.

Answer: This is a waterproof camera and should take just as good pics as a ‘normal’ camera – the lens/sensor etc is all the same. The only difference is that this one has waterproof seals to stop water getting in.

Just a word of warning – this type of camera is ok in a pool (shallow water) but is only waterproof to 3m for a max time of 2 hours. If you push it beyond its limits, it may leak.

Question: Will this protect my camera?
Will an underwater case for my camera protect it from paintball hits? If not, what is a way I can protect my video camera so I can record some games at my field.

Answer: If there is damage from paintball hits, the warranty may not cover the camera. Paint is not water, and hits are not covered because hitting is like abusing it. If the camera or the case is damaged, you may need to go and buy another one, because you were negligent.

You can put it on the top of something where you can see the whole field.

Question: Is The Canon coolpix black 12.1 mega pixel digital camera waterproof?
I’m in Jamaica and was wondering if it can go underwater cause it has an underwater function but I highly doubt it can go all the way under.

Answer: Canon doesn’t make “coolpix”, Nikon makes them. Canon makes “powershot”. Only the Canon Powershot D10 is waterproof. If this is the camera you have it is waterproof to only 10 meters deep. If your unsure then I wouldn’t test it.

There are a variety of different cameras that have been specifically designed for use underwater, or in environments where they are likely to get wet. Choosing which one to buy is a matter of considering your requirements, as well as the cost of the different types.

Some disposable cameras can be used in the water. These are very cheap and usually take twenty to thirty photos. Once full, the camera is handed over to be developed and cannot be used again. These camera are usually suitable for use in wet conditions, such as rain, snow or when splashing around at the beach. They can generally cope with being taken underwater to a depth of 20-30 feet, which makes them ideal for a snorkeling or diving trip.

Reusable cameras are also available for underwater use, and they will be a more sensible option for those who often require a waterproof camera. They can usually be taken into more deeper water than their disposable counterparts. Film cameras that are designed for underwater use can be found at quite low prices.

A range of underwater digital camera is also available, with many different models offering various levels of quality and cost. Many have excellent resolutions that will ensure a detailed, high quality photo. They are designed to be simple to use when underwater, and can usually be switched between land and sea modes with a one-button click.

Many cameras offer additional options, such as a range of flash modes specifically tailored for different undersea conditions; each intended for use with different types of subjects at different distances from the photographer. The more advanced users will be able to find cameras that offer a selection of manual controls for resolution, exposure and other settings.

In order to get a true picture of the bright underwater colors found in many dive sites, it is possible to add an external flash to the camera, which will provide much more light than the camera’s inbuilt flash, and can allow the subject to be lit from different angles. Digital cameras have a specific mode for use with a different flash.

When taking photographs underwater it is important to be aware of the differences in the light, as opposed to above water photography. The light grows dimmer with increasing depth, but many cameras will be able to compensate for this automatically by changing the aperture and shutter speed.

Choosing a model with a large, clear picture-viewing screen will make it easier to set up your underwater pictures; although some photographers prefer to use a Sports Finder mounted on top of the camera. If you will be underwater for quite a long time, and need to conserve power, then shutting the screen off may be necessary. Having a large one mounted on top of the camera can make this easier.

For more tips and advice on choosing the best digital camera for you underwater use, visit us at GuidesToCameras.com. Be sure to check out our holiday photograph tips!

Underwater Camera FAQ:

Question: Ice fishing underwater camera vs portable sonar?
What is better an underwater camera or a portable sonar?

Answer: Both would be ideal, use the sonar to locate depth, structure and fish. Once you find the fish use your camera to see what the fish are and to select fish by pulling your bait away from smaller fish and jigging it right in front of the bigger ones.
If you can only have one then get the sonar if you can afford it get both you will get a lot of use out of your sonar and it will increase your success but you will enjoy the camera a lot more once the sonar puts you on the fish.

Question: What good quality underwater video camera should I get?
In need of a good quality, not badly priced water proof video camera that I can use underwater and as a regular video camera. Suggestions would be great.

Answer: Depends on depth. The Olympus Stylus 8000 “Rugged” is a good all-around camera with movie mode. For depths to 10 feet, the Stylus 550 is an economical choice. Since you plan to use this in the water, I suggest you get the optional bouyant strap because otherwise the camera will sink.

Question: What is the BEST underwater camera for Real scuba diving for a pretty cheap price?
I’m going to Hawaii next year and I’m going scuba diving when I’m there. I want to catch that on film, but I want one for cheap.

Answer: The problem with cheap is that you get what you pay for.

The cheapest ‘dive’ housing is little more than a ziplock bag, rated to 5m and completely pointless for diving.

If you already have a semi decent digital camera than you can probably get a housing for it. You can get ‘proper’ dive housings for most well known brands of digital camera, cannon, nikon, fuji, sony etc. They replicate all of the functions and are usually rated to between 10m and 50m with some rated to 100m. The deeper rated camera’s generally have single or dual o-ring protection and are worth the extra over a non o-ring variety. Expect to pay as much if not more for the housing than you did for the camera.

Any depth rating is a static rating, i.e. it is a measure of just the depth that the camera can be taken to and expect to survive without flooding. But if you accidentally knock the housing against something then you can easily exceed the rating and cause it to flood. This is why they tell you to never jump in while holding your camera and to always get someone to hand it to you.

Question: How much would a basic, digital, underwater camera cost?
And where should I look to find one? I’m going on a cruise, and they sell disposable cameras on the ship…but I would like a digital one so I can put the pictures on facebook and myspace

Answer: I would suggest Canon D10. It takes good picture quality for both in and out of the pool. Waterproof to 33 feet, cold resistant from 14-104 degrees (F) and shockproof up to 4 feet. Or another good one Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1. Waterproof to a depth of 10 feet, shockproof from falls up to 5 feet, and dustproof. Good picture quality and also takes HD video.

Question: Will an infrared heat camera work underwater?
Will an infrared heat camera work underwater? (given that it is waterproof)

Answer: The camera will work, however, thermal IR energy will not travel through water. Thus, trying to image a whale will not work.

Question: Do I need to buy underwater housing for my camera?
So I have this camera, Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD. It says its waterproof up to 33 feet. My mother said that I need to buy a case for it to go underwater since I might ruin it. But, I don’t think so because its made to go underwater. But, I don’t want to risk it.

Answer: No, it doesn’t need the underwater housing. It is a “Waterproof” camera.

Question: I need to find underwater housing for my camera.
I have the Panasonic Lumix LX3. I really want to use this camera underwater because of its raw modes and because I love it! But I can’t find underwater housing for it.

Answer: The only place to actually buy a underwater case would be from the manufacturer itself. Go to the panasonic website.

Question: Can this camera take pictures underwater?
I bought the SONY DSC-TX1 for Christmas and I read the instruction manual and there’s settings on the camera that allow you to take pictures underwater. I’m not sure if you can, though because the salesperson where I got it from never mentioned anything about it, and I haven’t tried putting it in water myself for obvious reasons.

Answer: Yes it can but you would need to purchase the Sony Marine Pack to house your camera. The pack is roughly $200. You can go to the Sony site to purchase the Marine Pack.

Are you the kind of person that hangs out in a lot of cold, wet, and sandy places? Apparently the good folks at Olympus think some of us do. So much so, that they’d like to convince you how much you need to buy the Olympus Stylus 790SW Waterproof Digital Camera. My first reaction upon reading about the waterproof, shockproof, freeze-proof (really?) and sand-proof features of the 790SW, was hey that’s a nice idea. My second reaction was what’s so special about that, and shouldn’t all cameras be built like that to start with?

Shouldn’t all cameras be able to take a little abuse? All digital cameras should be able to be dropped from four or five feet without damage. All digital cameras should be sealed well enough that sand or water won’t find a way in. It’s just a question of good build quality. Olympus however thinks this is a big revelation and a major marketing point for the Stylus 790SW. The bigger question though is, does it take good pictures?

Being a waterproof camera shouldn’t just mean you can hold the camera underwater, and it won’t leak. It still needs to take good pictures. While the 790SW can be held underwater (up to 33 feet according to Olympus), the pictures it takes are not so great. In fact, if you do take it underwater, plan on taking a lot of pictures. Most will turn out quite distorted and blurry, but the more pictures you take the better your chances of getting a few good ones. In addition, the LCD is pretty much unusable underwater, as it’s just too hard to see. You’ll have to just point, click and hope for the best.

Meanwhile, back on dry land, it appears the Olympus Stylus 790SW is really out of it’s element. If you decide to buy a 790SW, you need to be aware, that you are sacrificing image quality for durability. There are other cameras that will take better pictures for the same price. Lower ISOs are fine, but anything over 200 and your going to see noticeable image noise. Color saturation and sharpness are also below standard when compared to other cameras in this price range.

If your favorite game is “let’s bury the camera in the sand”, then the Stylus 790SW is the camera for you. If however it’s not, here’s a few other detracting factors in mind when considering the 790SW:

- non standard XD memory cards

- grainy picture quality

- LCD is hard to read due to overly reflective coating

- automatic setting defaults are calibrated poorly

- menus slow down manual tweaking efforts

For the right person (Indiana Jones, Laura Croft, Edmund Hillary) in the right place (Antarctica, Great Coral Reef, Sahara), this Olympus Stylus is the perfect camera. If you don’t fall into one of those categories at least part of the time, then spend your money elsewhere. While the 790SW sets a good example for other camera manufacturers in terms of durability, you’ll get significantly nicer images from a number of other digital cameras.

Olympus Stylus 790 SW FAQ:

Question: I need help viewing the pictures on my Olympus Stylus 790 SW and on my computer.?
I recently purchased an Olympus Stylus 790 SW with Olympus Master 2. I uploaded a lot of pictures to my computer, but they’ve all disappeared! They’ve disappeared from both my camera and my computer, even though I didn’t delete anything. I need the pictures, so I would greatly appreciate anyone who could help me. I’ve searched my entire computer and I have no clue as to where they could have disappeared to.

Answer: Depending upon the “program” you used to transfer the images to your computer, there should be two things to look for: 1) the default file folder that the program sends your image files to and 2) the option to delete the files automatically from your cameras memory card needs to be unchecked.

That said, buy yourself a nice little under $10 card reader and copy your image files using your computer skills to a file folder you name yourself and can find again.

IF after finding the default image file folder, you find that your images are not there, you will need to get an image recovery program and a second memory card. You can use the second card until you recover the images from the first. Using the old card, will assure that you will never recover any of the old image files, because you will have “written” over them with the new photos you take.

Question: Should I get the Nikon S51 or Olympus Stylus 790 SW?
I really can’t decide! Does anyone have either of these cameras?

Answer: I have the Olympus. It is outstanding. I can take it swimming in the local swimming pool. I would definitely recommend it. Go for the Olympus.

Question: Is the Olympus Stylus 790 SW a good camera? Why do they sell $300 underwater housing for it…?
I think it looks cool and it would be one I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking but is it worth $300 and do you have to buy the underwater housing for another $300? I thought it was waterproof on its own?

Answer: Waterproof housings allow you to go *deeper* underwater.

Question: Can you change the Olympus Stylus 790 SW so it takes black and white photos?

Answer: Don’t waste your time. Direct black and white images made in cameras are inferior to converted RGB image files. Two steps: 1. set the saturation on the file to -100. Save the imge as a different name so you do not overwrite the original file. 2. Set the black threshold, white threshold and then adjust the mid-tones until the image look’s better.

Question: Do olympus stylus 790 sw’s charge with the usb cable?

Answer: No, it does not. You need to use the battery charger.

Question: Do the pictures come out grainy with the Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera?
I want to buy an Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom but I’m afraid that the pictures will come out grainy or the quality of the camera and pictures won’t be that great.

Answer: It depends on the settings you are using on the camera. You should use “Auto” mode rather than manual mode.

Also if you use the camera in low light (indoor pictures), then most of them will be noisy unless you are using a camera which can take good low light pictures (like Nikon S700 , Fujifilm F40fd).

Question: Is the Olympus Stylus 790SW really as good as it sounds?
Anyone own this? Can you stand on it? How about dip it in water and take a picture? Which version is best?

Answer: Honestly, no its not as good as Olympus hoped. Most of the time you can go underwater to take pictures the first and maybe the second time but usually on the third, it leaks and ruins the camera. I can say that half the time they will cover the warranty, but they don’t have to if they don’t feel it was a manufacturing problem. Believe it or not the warranty does not cover liquid damage. The seals are suggested to be changed once a year and it costs over $100. These are just some things I wanted you to know.

Question: Could I use the olympus stylus 790SW to go scuba diving?
or would that just be good for more shallow water? Obviously the olympus 770sw goes 33ft and the 790 only 10ft, but would it damage the 790 if I brought the camera more than 10 ft down?

Answer: It could damage the camera if you take it deeper than 10ft. If you want to go deeper Olympus has an underwater housing that will let you take the camera deeper.

A different sort of camera from the good folks at Canon, is the Canon Powershot D10. Meant to obviously compete with the successful Olympus line of waterproof cameras, the D10 is also waterproof. Our family owns one of the Olympus waterproof, and I can attest to the fact, that the kids really enjoy it around the pool. Similarly to the Olympus Stylus lineup, the Canon D10 is freeze-proof, dust-proof, and shockproof. Personally, I don’t understand why all digital cameras aren’t made up to the exacting standards of the D10, and the Stylus.

Not only is the D10 and very durable camera in hostile environments, but it also has a distinctive look about it. It has a two tone color scheme. One half is silver, and the other half is usually blue, but can also be gold, or gray with interchangeable face plates. This camera certainly stands out from the crowd. Hearkening back to the older days of cameras, the lens on the D10 stays extended at all times. Even when powered off.

The user interface of the D10 gets a bit of a mixed reaction from most. Once you get used to it, it’s no big deal.

When it comes right down to doing what a camera should do, there’s not a lot of difference between this PowerShot, and the hundreds of other cameras on the market. It takes pictures, it takes movies, and provides some handy features, like a 2.5 inch LCD, image stabilization, zoom lens, and 12 megapixels of digital goodness. As with many of the smaller digital cameras, shooting movies and using the zoom lens can detract from the quality of the pictures you shoot.

Like most Canon cameras, the D10 does an admirable job at taking good quality digital pictures. The added bonus of being able to take pictures underwater is just really cool. I remember the first time I took a digital camera into the pool, it seemed like such a bad idea. I was sure that the second I took the camera underwater I would at the least destroy the camera, and at the worst electrocute myself. But, have faith, the D10 is more than capable at taking fun underwater pictures and movies in the pool environment.

This is the perfect camera for taking on vacation, or a multitude of outdoor adventure type stuff. It can handle the abuse, while at the same time capturing images of your more memorable adventures. Be sure to check out the Olympus Stylus lineup as well. They were the first into the this particular niche, and may have other features you need.

Getting the perfect waterproof camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.

Canon Powershot D10 FAQ:

Question: Is the Canon PowerShot D10 safe in salt water or not?
I’ve lost several digital cameras due to water damage and now I am looking into investing in this camera. Just want to know if this camera would be safe in salt water or not? Most of the camera tests I have seen have been in swimming pools with regular water.

Answer: Yes it is safe.

Question: Is the canon powershot d10 a good underwater camera and in general?
I want to purchase the canon powershot d10 camera soon. I heard it takes really good underwater pictures and regular as well. however, I don;t know if it has the same features as the regular canons (taking a picture of something and only making one color show up). I really want that feature and checked the canon website and can’t find out if that camera has that.

Answer: Canon D10 have Photo Effects My Colors (Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom) like regular canons and it takes good pictures for both in & out of the pool.

Question: Does the Canon powershot D10 waterproof camera have the digital macro feature?

Answer: Yes it does.

Question: Which camera is better, the canon powershot D10 or the canon sd970 IS?
I need a new camera and I don’t know which one takes better pictures.

Answer: Canon PowerShot SD970IS takes better pictures but if you want a waterproof camera Canon PowerShot D10 is a good camera that has good picture quality.

Question: Is there a better waterproof camera than the Canon powershot D10?

Answer: The competitor is the Olympus Stylus 1050 SW, but I would put my money on the Canon.

Question: Canon Powershot D10 or Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1?
Looking at getting an outdoor/waterproof camera. Looking at the Canon Powershot D10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera. Which would you take?

Answer: I would go for the Canon D10.

Question: Have you experienced any problems with a canon powershot d10?
I just bought one from ebay last week, used it underwater and now its not working. Do you have any problems with it? What should I do?

Answer: I would contact Canon directly to see if they can help you.

Question: Canon Powershot D10 or Pentax Optio W60?

Answer: D10 is better. It takes good pictures for both in the pool and out.

Have you ever washed your digital camera? Left it in the car on a hot day? Knocked it off a table? Put it in the refrigerator instead of the beer? Well for those who are a little forgetful or accident prone, the rugged Pentax Optio W80 is just what you need. It’s rugged and tough, just like an old-time cowboy – rain, dust, cold and heat won’t stop it.

Here are some of the W80’s features:

• 2.5 inch LCD monitor with anti-reflective coating
• Can be submerged to a depth of 16 feet for two hours
• Functions in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius and as high as 40 degrees Celsius.
• Record HD movies at 30 frames per second even underwater
• Optical 5X zoom lens allowing for shots from 28mm wide angle to 140mm telephoto.
• Close-ups as near as 1 cm.
• Triple anti-shake protection
• New D-Range setting helps prevent under-exposed and over-exposed images.
• Fast Face Detection with Smile Capture mode, and Blink Detection function.
• Pixel Track Shake Reduction
• 20 digital filters to vary visual effects
• Storage on SD or SDHC cards
• Auto Picture mode for automatic selection of eight different shooting modes

For those who are a little careless or just a little too adventurous, The Pentax Optio W80 gives you the chance to pursue those hard-to-get pictures you always missed before. With anti-shake, auto-focus and a rugged go-anywhere attitude, the Pentax Optio W80 will get the job done wherever and however you need it. Pick which color you prefer: Azure Blue, Cardinal Red or Gunmetal Gray.

Now the only decision you’ll need to make is whether to go on safari, scuba dive, or ski.

visit Pentax Optio W80

Pentax Optio FAQ:

Question: Does the pentax optio w30 make a clicking sound in video mode?
I have read a many reviews for the Pentax Optio w30 digital camera and one of the reviews stated that there was a clicking noise during video mode. This is the only reason that I am hesitant to buy this camera

Answer: It could be the microphone picking up the noise of the auto-focus mechanism.

Question: Can a Pentax Optio MX 4 camera take SDHC cards?
I have a Pentax Optio MX 4 camera and would like to use a card with a capacity higher than 2 GB. Is this possible?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How can I create my own Frames for the Pentax Optio M20?
I would like to use some selfmade frames on my Pentax Optio M20.
But always when I try to use them it tells me that it can’t read the Picture.I’ve even tried to make the Frames similar to the Original(size and colors) but it still doesn’t work.What should I do?

Answer: Electronic cameras don’t like frames. It’s really hard to jam them into the card slots. I’ve broken cameras trying to insert chrome frames. I think next time I’ll just use an imaging program to add frames after I take the pictures. Why I was so stupid to try and put frames into the camera I don’t know. I guess I didn’t realize that the camera is for taking pictures not framing them.

Question: What are the most common problems with the Pentax Optio A30?

Answer: The three most common complaints about this camera are, in this order:

- Noise (ISO performance)
- Battery life
- Video quality

Question: How can I stop my Pentax Optio S7 camera taking blurry photos?
No matter what I do most of my photos come out blurry. When I press the button half down the screen goes blurry and even when I release the button the pictures stays blurry. Its a new camera so I can’t see why it would be doing this! Its the same if I have it on normal or green mode.

Answer: My usual suggestion involves pre-focusing with the “half down” position, so you have some other problem.

Take the camera back where you bought it and tell them about your problem. You may have a defective camera or if not, they will be able to see what’s going on.

Question: Has anyone taken their pentax optio w10 underwater?
I have had this camera for 2 years and I’m still too chicken to take it underwater. Does anyone have this pentax or similar and have taking it snorkeling or just underwater?

Answer: In other forums I found several happy underwater users but also a lot of complaints about the W10 leaking. Even in situations where users stayed well within the guidelines (max. depth 1.5 meters and submerged for less than 30 minutes).

All it takes is one grain of sand in the rubber seal. The W10’s design seems to be considerably more vulnerable than Olympus SW models and dedicated underwater housings. I wouldn’t risk it.

Question: Why does my pentax optio keeps turning off?
I have a pentax optio a30 digital camera and 5 seconds after turning it on it turns it self off for no reason, the battery is charged and last time I used it it worked. It has been looked after so there is no real reason why this should happen, does any body have any ideas?

Answer: It really does sound like a battery problem to me. The battery indicator always shows full when you first turn it on, after a second or two it will show the correct state once it has actually measured it, and your camera is not giving the camera enough time to do that.

If possible try a battery that you know to be good. Clean the battery contacts with an eraser, may be the contacts are just oxidized, you may have accidentally touched the contacts, this always leaves an oily deposit on them.

Question: I have a pentax optio s7 is it possible to charge the battery with a USB cord or not?
I bought a USB cord at wal-mart and the clerk assured me that it would charge the battery in my pentax optio s7 however, when I plugged it into the computer, nothing happened. I am not sure if my battery is just worn out and can’t charge anymore, or if it can’t be charged with a USB cord.

Answer: You really need to call the Pentax help line. Usually none of the good P&S cameras can charge using the small output from a USB port.

Let’s face it, kids love to do whatever they see us doing. They want to be able to take pictures of their friends, pets, and life around them, but do we really want them using our expensive digital cameras? Just think of all the damage they could do in a very short amount of time! This is where the Fisher Price Kid Tough Camera comes in. It’s built to withstand children and that’s saying something. Your child can drop the camera down a flight of stairs or into the swimming pool and it will be fine.

Just like a regular digital camera, the Kid Tough camera has a 1.6-inch color LCD screen so that your child can see what picture he has just taken. There are sturdy, dual hand grips so that your child can easily hold the camera steady for picture taking. The big buttons are easy to find and press. The controls are simple enough that even if your child cannot yet read, he will be able to use this camera. The viewfinder has two-eye viewing since most children have not yet mastered “winking.” The camera is even waterproof!

The fisher price kid tough camera stores over 60 pictures (8 MB built-in memory, 640 x 480 resolution) and has a built-in auto flash. There is also a SD memory card slot if you wish to store additional pictures. (The memory card is sold separately.) The camera does come with a USB cord for computer connection, a wrist strap, and a lithium battery. The camera also requires 4 AA alkaline batteries that are not included. The camera is compatible with Windows 2000 or higher and Macintosh. It is recommended for children over 3 years of age. The Fisher Price Kid Tough Camera also comes in a variety of colors.

Your child can take pictures underwater, on the beach, outdoors (rain or shine), of their friends, of animals, at school, at the zoo, on field trips, anywhere and everywhere he goes. What a great way to see the world from your child’s point of view.

For all of the latest products and news see Fisher Price Kid Tough Camera

Fisher Price Camera FAQ:

Question: Fisher Price Kid-tough waterproof camera?
My 4 year old has recently become fascinated with taking pictures and I was thinking of buying him his own camera. But he’s very brutal with toys sometimes. Does anyone have it? Do you like it? How is the battery life for it?

Answer: My son got this camera for xmas. I’m not sure if his is waterproof though? It is very durable. It takes not bad pictures for a toy too. Comes with a cord that you can download the photos to the tv to see. Battery life I think is fine. Haven’t changed the batteries yet that I know of. I think its pretty cool!

Question: How do I download photos from a Fisher Price Digital Camera via USB?
I have a kids FP camera which I’ve connected to my PC via the USB cable provided. The screen shows ‘USB’ but nothing comes up on my computer to allow me to download photos. Can’t find the instructions!

Answer: Just connect the usb from your camera to your computer. If a screen comes up close it out. Open My Computer and look for a removable drive. That’s your camera. Open it and drag and drop the pictures to your computer.

Question: Does anyone have the Fisher Price digital camera?
We’ve had one for a few months, but it no longer makes sounds. We have tried new batteries but still no luck. I have lost the manual, so I’m not sure if the problem is covered in there.

Answer: Could be problems with humidity. Try to dry it.

Question: Fisher price camera?
I got my daughter a fisher-price digital camera. Is it normal that the pictures come out dark? I know its not the best digital camera but it seems to be dark about 4-5 feet away and bright when she’s only 2-3 feet away.

I’m curious because I read the ratings on walmart.com and it all says it’s great. The manual doesn’t help much.

Answer: I got one for my daughter, and although it is excellent for durability, the pictures do come out dark if taken inside. The flash isn’t really much use either. You get much better result outdoors in daylight.
However, you can upload the pictures to your PC and use software to improve the images.

The best things about the camera are the indestructibility and the point of view of a four year old! Adults look at children differently and you get great expressions and poses!

Also a good tip is to stick a 1GB SD card in it and because the resolution is low, you get hundreds of pics on it, and it saves having to unscrew the camera to change the card all the time!

Question: My son received a Fisher Price digital camera for Christmas but the manual was missing. How do I get one?

Answer: You can access the manual as a pdf file from the Fisher Price website.

A second possibility is if the camera came with a CD ROM, the manual might be on it also. Many manufacturers choose to skip printed manuals, and leave it on a bundled CD ROM instead.

Question: I want to get a Fisher Price digital camera for my son, but so expensive! Any other kid friendly options?
He’s 3. I know it’s going to get lost, broken, etc. and its $70-$80. MY digital camera cost $120!

Are there any other options that cost less, and that are good quality? Maybe $20-$40.

Answer: We got A Kidz Cam for our daughter when she was about 6 & also gave one to a friend for a birthday gift. We got ours at Target in the toy section (not electronics), where they have things hanging from pegs on the wall. It’s not the greatest, but comes with some fun software that allow the child to play some games, make puzzles or import the picture into some pages for writing stories or drawing. There are a few on e-bay for about $15.00.

She also has a Polaroid i-zone instant camera that she got as a gift from a cinematographer friend. I believe they found it at Costco & it came with interchangeable faceplates, so she could change the color. The hassle was when we needed to buy more film, so I’d probably stick with a digital.

Question: Which is better the Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera or the Vtech Kidizoom Digital Camera?
The reviews I’ve read are about the same so I’m split 50/50 on this one. I’m leaning more towards the Vtech though because I love their toys. However, I just wanted to get other opinions from those that may have experience with either camera.

Answer: The Fisher Price one is great! Easy to use and durable.

Canon and Panasonic has announced their first shock and water-proof compact camera early this year. If you are still confused which camera is best for you, here you will find some useful information and comparison between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 and Canon PowerShot D10.

Both the cameras are waterproof, but if you want a camera that can work around 10 meters underwater, then Powershot D10 would be your best shot. The submarine shaped D10 with its porthole-like screws and bulbous shell expresses that this digital camera is purely made for underwater. But on ground, you won’t like its bulky form. D10 has easy-to-press buttons and a large LCD screen where icons are big and nice, you still can see it quite clear even underwater. Additionally, it contains bigger screw-mouths on every corner for mounting the camera in various underwater grips.

While other waterproof digicam, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 can be used up to 3 meters only underwater with a completely different approach. The sleek rectangular slab outline has made it hard to distinguish from usual non-tough cams. Compare to Canon D10, the buttons are smaller and shooting modes can be selected by a thumb dial rather than a dedicated button. Even So, you will lose usability underwater with TS1, it will perform better on land and you must consider that.

Another big difference is that the Panasonic TS1 shoots in the AVCHD format at 720p, where D10 only does VGA videos of 640×480. But the video recording mode of TS1 is not the most polished one, there is a two to three seconds of delay from hitting the dedicated video button to starting and stopping the video and its quite unclear when exactly everything does start. If you are ok with that delay, you will surely love the outstanding HD video mode. Lumix DMC-TS1 is currently seeing a big bug when importing the taken video into iMovie. The featured AVCHD format of TS1 is quite annoying and you might require installing particular codec to import video into your preferred video editing software and then convert it into friendly formats.

Both toughcams are featuring 12-megapixel shooting and have the same CCD sensor size. But the ISO of TS1 goes up to 6400 when it is only 1600 for D10. A difference that really matters is the wider-angle lense of TS1, which is an effective focal length zoom of 28mm-128mm f/3.3-f/5.9, where D10 is only 35mm-105mm f/2.8-f/4.9. Color reproduction through the Leica lens of TS1 is far better than that of D10. Moreover, the TS1 lean to autofocus underwater with greater ease in comparison with D10.

Just In Case you are not a professional scuba photo shooter, the benefits of toughcams can also be figured when you are making your kid’s bath time photos without worrying about getting your camera wet or shooting with unclean hands while you are in the middle of a barbecue, or anything like that. Whatever happens, you will always can wipe your digital camera clean from water. So the conclusion is, if you care about form factor, you should go with Panasonic Lumix TS1, Powershot D10 will be tough to fit it into a pants pocket without some serious bulging. But if you usually go deeper than 3 meters underwater, you should go with Canon D10.

Kelly is a freelance writer for multiple niches on the internet. Her website http://www.mitub.com is about product reviews. To find more information about both waterproof digital cameras, you can find it here: Canon D10 vs Lumix DMC-TS1

Waterproof Digital Cameras FAQ:

Question: What are some good waterproof digital cameras?
I’ve always thought it was a really cool idea, and lately I’ve been looking into getting one. I’ve looked at some from Canon and Olympus. I’m leaning towards Canon’s D10 because it gets good reviews, is slightly cheaper than Olympus models, and because I really like Canon cameras.

Answer: I recommend Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD.

Question: What kind of digital cameras do you recommend for a teen? ( I’d like it to be waterproof)?
I want the Olympus Stylus 850 sw but it is so pricey that I’m pretty sure my parents wont buy it for me. Are there any other cool digital cameras for teens? Any other waterproof cameras that are less expensive?

Answer: Well it depends on what your definition of pricey is. The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is water proof (up to 33 ft) shockproof (up to 6 ft) freezeproof (14 degrees) and crushproof (220 lbf).

Question: Are there any other waterproof digital cameras other than the Olympus ones?

Answer: Yes, Pentax makes waterproof digital cameras. Their current version is the Pentax Optio W60.

Also, you might also consider a waterproof housing for regular point and shoot cameras. For example, I have a Canon A570 IS and use a Canon waterproof housing (cost, about $125) for that camera. The advantage is that you can take the camera deeper than an Olympus or Pentax. However, it does make the camera considerably larger.

Question: Is there a digital camera which is waterproof and has optical zoom?

Answer: Both Pentax and Olympus make underwater cameras with optical zoom. Try the Pentax Optio W30 or Olympus 1030 SW (or the older 790 SW).

Question: What would be the best waterproof digital camera for me?
I definatly want a small point and shoot one, I don’t want it to stand out above the water. I would like it to be no more than $250. I have been looking at the Olympus 1030 SW , the Pentax W60, and the Fujifilm Z33wp, out of those which would give me the least problems?

Answer: The June issue of Popular Photography reviews 5 waterproof compact cameras. They give the best review to the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. If you can squeeze your budget to $400, it would probably be a good way to go.

These cameras are rated as to the depth they will go. Figure out what depth you want to go and make sure the camera will support that depth. For instance the Fujifilm is only rated to 10 feet.

Question: Who has a really good waterproof digital camera?
I’m looking to buy a waterproof digital camera. I was wondering what brand has a good digital camera. I prefer one that also has a video mode.

Answer: Vivitar has a point and shoot with video for $99.00.

Question: The Best Brand For Waterproof Digital Cameras?
I would like a camera that can sustain weather-related obstacles like rain, snow, etc. I want a camera that is 10 Mega Pixels or higher, can capture video, and is between the range of $100 – $250. (Image Stabilization is a plus)

Answer: Dpreview recently tested waterproof cameras. The Canon D10 came out on top, but it is over your budget. Pentax W60 was second, and within budget, but it lacks image stabilization.

Question: Can anyone recommend a waterproof digital camera? How does the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 compare to Olympus?
I’ve heard of far too many cases of people saying that their Olympus waterproof camera had leaking seals.

Answer: A Panasonic Lumix TS1 series camera is the best waterproof camera you can get (it might also be the most expensive one).

A lot of people have had problems with the image results when they took pictures with the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000, so it’s probably a good thing that you didn’t buy it. The Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP and the Canon D10 cameras are your other options. The most affordable you could get is the Fuifilm FinePix Z33WP.