Waterproof Cameras - Taking the worry out of capturing boating memories
Whether alone or in a crowd, boating can be one of the most memorable outdoor activities. Mix in great scenery and you have a wonderful recipe for beatiful photography. Unfortunately, carrying a camera on a boat (even a larger one) is always fraught with danger. Besides the ever present opportunity to loose a camera overboard, the marine environment is filled with spray, sand, and wet surfaces. All of these can drastically reduce the service life of film and digital cameras.
Traditionally, you had a choice of a low-quality disposable waterproof or you could choose an expensive custom enclosure for a digital or film SLR body. Recently, Olympus and Pentax have released a mature line of waterproof, point and shoot digital cameras which fill the middle ground - providing the features and quality you expect in current consumer digitals at a price-point very competative with similar non-waterproof cameras.
Olympus Stylus 720 SW 7.1 MP Shock Resistant & Waterproof Digital Camera
The most featured of the waterproof point and shoots on the market today, the Olympus 720 SW offers a 7.1 megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom. Measuring in at 2.3 x 0.8 x 3.6 inches it easily fits in about any pocket. Besides being waterproof to 10ft for up to 30 minutes, the 720 SW is also “shockproof” against a 5ft drop onto hard surface. We haven’t found anyone who’s actually tested this feature, but it is good piece of mind.
The 720 SW is powered by a lithium-ion battery for easy recharging and uses xD memory cards for storage.
Steve’s Digicams provides a comprehensive review with sample photos. The primary weakness of this camera is an outdated movie mode which only supports 15 frame-per-second video vs. the current standard of 30 frames per second. User reports from various sources support overall good image quality for outdoor photos and general satisfaction with the waterproof performance. Street price is normally around $300, but plan to buy a high-capacity memory card (we recommend 1GB given the low price these days).
Pentax Optio W10 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
The Pentax W10 offers a slightly shallower depth rating (5ft) than the Olympus, but otherwise offers similar performance at a lower price point (~$250 street). The W10 offers 6.0 megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom, and a 640×480 30 frame per second video mode. Power is provided by a removable lithium-ion battery and the Pentax uses SD memory cards for storage.
As with the Olympus, we recommend you get a 1GB SD card and consider a spare battery with your purchase. Steve’s Digicams offers a full review with sample pictures.
Pentax Optio W20 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
Pentax recently announced the W20 which will upgrade the W10 to 7 megapixels to more directly compete with the 720SW. The camera should begin shipping in September.
The Disposable Alternative
For certain situations, the disposable waterproof film camera may still be your best option. It is hard to argue with the low cost. Expect to need good light and close ranges for acceptable pictures.
Deep Diving Cameras
For those looking for something suitable for scuba diving, Canon and other OEMs offer custom designed waterproof enclosures for various models. We just took delivery of the Canon WP-DC20 and will be posting a review with sample pictures in the coming weeks.
