Bill Jense
I have a price range of no more than $450.
I don't have a camera, so I can't just buy an underwater housing.
When I say underwater camera, what I really mean is scuba diving camera, waterproof to at least 100 ft.
Answer
Latest waterproof cameras are quite good. On very rare occasions they come faulty, but the same is with regular digital cameras.
If you want camera, that makes good quality pictures on land or underwater, then I would suggest to look into these three cameras: Sony TX5, Panasonic Lumix TS2 and Olympus Rough 8010.
And all three of them cost less than $300 on Amazon.
You just need to decide which features you need more:
Sony TX5 is waterproof to 10 ft, when Panasonic TS2 and Olympus Rough 8010 are both waterproof to 33ft. And Sony TX5 has got the lowest resolution from these three. It's just 10.2 megapixels. Panasonic and Olympus have a resolution of 14MP, which is quite a great difference.
All cameras are shock-, dust-, sand- and freeze-proof. But Olympus 8010 is also a crushproof and designed to withstand a weight up to 220 pounds.
Sony TX5 gives you the opportunity to capture panoramic pictures with it's Sweep Panorama feature. Your images are automatically stitched together, which gives you the extra-wide view of the scenery.
Olympus 8010 has got the panoramic shooting option too. It also comes with a built-in 2GB memory, which is more than most cameras available on the market.
Panasonic TS2 has a good quality video recording. Although all these cameras record video in HD format. But Panasonic TS2 seems to be the most expensive out of them.
But if you do not need waterproof camera right now, Sony are releasing a new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10 in April 2011. It will have a resolution of impressing 16.2 megapixels. And it is going to be the first waterproof camera that can capture 3D still images. You can pre-order this camera and it costs $330.
Latest waterproof cameras are quite good. On very rare occasions they come faulty, but the same is with regular digital cameras.
If you want camera, that makes good quality pictures on land or underwater, then I would suggest to look into these three cameras: Sony TX5, Panasonic Lumix TS2 and Olympus Rough 8010.
And all three of them cost less than $300 on Amazon.
You just need to decide which features you need more:
Sony TX5 is waterproof to 10 ft, when Panasonic TS2 and Olympus Rough 8010 are both waterproof to 33ft. And Sony TX5 has got the lowest resolution from these three. It's just 10.2 megapixels. Panasonic and Olympus have a resolution of 14MP, which is quite a great difference.
All cameras are shock-, dust-, sand- and freeze-proof. But Olympus 8010 is also a crushproof and designed to withstand a weight up to 220 pounds.
Sony TX5 gives you the opportunity to capture panoramic pictures with it's Sweep Panorama feature. Your images are automatically stitched together, which gives you the extra-wide view of the scenery.
Olympus 8010 has got the panoramic shooting option too. It also comes with a built-in 2GB memory, which is more than most cameras available on the market.
Panasonic TS2 has a good quality video recording. Although all these cameras record video in HD format. But Panasonic TS2 seems to be the most expensive out of them.
But if you do not need waterproof camera right now, Sony are releasing a new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10 in April 2011. It will have a resolution of impressing 16.2 megapixels. And it is going to be the first waterproof camera that can capture 3D still images. You can pre-order this camera and it costs $330.
Underwater camera vs Waterproof housing?
james e
Someone please tell me which one to opt for? an underwater camera or a regular one inside waterproof housing? i want quality resolution for a depth of atleast 5 metres. and what brands do i opt for?
hey thank you very much Al.that was so informative and i wasn't expecting it so soon. you still haven't answered the resolution part. is there generally a difference in the resolution between a waterproof camera and a camera in casing? i vaguely remember reading somewhere that an encased regular camera underwater does not have as good a resolution as a waterproof one. which one performs better in that department (depth 5meters)? sorry if my question is too basic or not specific enough. my knowledge of cameras is rather poor. thanks once again for the helpful analysis.
Answer
I have owned both (Olympus Tough 8010 and a FantaSea housing for a NIkon Coolpix S200).
They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
1. A waterproof housing will have more depth, often 100 Meters. A waterproof camera is usually limited to 3 or 10 Meters, depending on brand and model.
2. When used in salt water, you have to rinse a waterproof camera off - it's up to you with a housing.
3. Waterproof cameras can leak - quality built housings almost never do.
4. Waterproof cameras usually have a max immersion time - 1 hour, etc. Housings do not.
5. Housings are bulky, waterproof cameras are less so.
6. Waterproof cameras are usually ruggedized, so they are also drop proof. Housings use standard cameras.
7. Housings are usually only available for select cameras. If the camera is no longer made, the housing cannot usually be adapted for a different camera.
8. Housings normally allow you to screw in a RED filter to take care of the underwater color balance shift - waterproof cameras usually do not. However, some waterproof cameras have a color balance setting for underwater use.
9. You must make sure to install the camera in your housing before use. A waterproof camera is always ready.
10. The controls on the housing are kind of stiff as they have o-rings that seal them. The controls on the cameras sometimes don't seem as responsive underwater.
11. A waterproof camera should be checked once a year by the manufacturer to ensure water tightness. A housing should be checked once a year by the manufacturer to ensure water tightness.
12. Price is about the same - a housing is usually $140 or so, and depending on the camera, you can get into one for $300 and up. A good waterproof camera is about the same cost.
Anyway, I see the two differences as convenience vs. depth capability. I went to a waterproof camera from the housing as I don't scuba, and the 10 Meter depth for my Olympus is enough for snorkeling, which is all that I do. So I sold the FantaSea/Nikon housing and bought the Olympus.
Here is a webpage where I go over the different waterproof camera options: http://www.althephoto.com/cameras/underwater.php
I have owned both (Olympus Tough 8010 and a FantaSea housing for a NIkon Coolpix S200).
They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
1. A waterproof housing will have more depth, often 100 Meters. A waterproof camera is usually limited to 3 or 10 Meters, depending on brand and model.
2. When used in salt water, you have to rinse a waterproof camera off - it's up to you with a housing.
3. Waterproof cameras can leak - quality built housings almost never do.
4. Waterproof cameras usually have a max immersion time - 1 hour, etc. Housings do not.
5. Housings are bulky, waterproof cameras are less so.
6. Waterproof cameras are usually ruggedized, so they are also drop proof. Housings use standard cameras.
7. Housings are usually only available for select cameras. If the camera is no longer made, the housing cannot usually be adapted for a different camera.
8. Housings normally allow you to screw in a RED filter to take care of the underwater color balance shift - waterproof cameras usually do not. However, some waterproof cameras have a color balance setting for underwater use.
9. You must make sure to install the camera in your housing before use. A waterproof camera is always ready.
10. The controls on the housing are kind of stiff as they have o-rings that seal them. The controls on the cameras sometimes don't seem as responsive underwater.
11. A waterproof camera should be checked once a year by the manufacturer to ensure water tightness. A housing should be checked once a year by the manufacturer to ensure water tightness.
12. Price is about the same - a housing is usually $140 or so, and depending on the camera, you can get into one for $300 and up. A good waterproof camera is about the same cost.
Anyway, I see the two differences as convenience vs. depth capability. I went to a waterproof camera from the housing as I don't scuba, and the 10 Meter depth for my Olympus is enough for snorkeling, which is all that I do. So I sold the FantaSea/Nikon housing and bought the Olympus.
Here is a webpage where I go over the different waterproof camera options: http://www.althephoto.com/cameras/underwater.php
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Title Post: What are some good underwater cameras?
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