Waterproof P&S Digital Cameras -- your input appreciated

FAOL Community Sound Off
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I would like to know if anyone has had experiences with pocket-sized digital cameras that are waterproof (so if I take a tumble in the stream it won’t die on me). I guess they’re called “point-and-shoot” (P&S) cameras. I’m looking for a well built one, with a very good lens, that can be equally used to take good pictures of landscapes or, up close, of a fly.

I’m not the kind of person who can spend $500 for a point-and-shoot, but neither do I want a poor quality camera, as I am the kind of person who will keep it as long as it works, for many years.

A couple of years ago someone recommended a Pentax Optio, but things seem to change quickly in electronics, so I thought I’d ask for your advice. Thank you.

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i would still recommend pentax optio cameras. i dont think theyve changed for the worse

take a look at other brands other than pentax and olympus. theres some new players in the waterproof camera market

canon

sony

vivitar

fuji

sealife

polaroid

panasonic

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I use a Pentax WS80 for my waterproof needs. I’ve been pleased with it, although its important to note the limitations of any P&S.

If you’re definitely going waterproof, Pentax, Olympus, and Panasonic are the big names.

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My top picks from left to right. you should be happy with any one of these. I prefer Pentax but that is just me.:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

You may find this utility to be of use in helping you to decide:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/

Be certain to check ebay, amazon, adorama, cameta camera, for new demos withe the factory warranty. Also new cameras should qualify for an extended warranty from square trade:

http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/

My personal experience with Squaretrade has been excellent.

drpeview shows that the Pentax products do not have shake reduction. That is not true. Here is the info from the Pentax web site:

W90 http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_W90_Pistachio_Green/

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… these days. I’m sure that a number of the makes listed by Normand would offer a good waterproof camera.

But Olympus and Pentax pretty much lead the way, and Olympus was first with the shockproof and freezeproof features. Having said that, Pentax has caught up with Olympus offering the same features, with some variation in the specs, particularly in the depth for waterproof and the drop distance for shockproof. Don’t know if the other makes suggested by Normand can compete on that level.

I’ve used an Olympus 850SW for over two and a half years. I’ve been very pleased with it in all regards. Olympus has moved on from that version, and has several newer models, some of which may produce better images and / or be easier to use. How easy a particular camera is for you to use is certainly a factor in which make you choose.

Before I got the Olympus, I checked out the Pentax Optio, back when it was an Optio10 or Optio 30. No question that Pentax makes a great camera, but for me, the functions were not as intuitive and that older model didn’t have the shockproof / freezeproof features that were important to me.

If you want to see what an older Olympus will do, got back on the Fishing Reports Forum and find the continuing fishing report threads I put up from early '08 through mid '10. There are probably 1500 plus pix taken with the Olympus 850SW posted in those threads, from long range scenery shots to arms length fish pix to macros of flies, both naturals and tied.

As much as I like the Olympus, I will say that if I were looking for a new camera today, I would seriously consider the current Pentax waterproof / shockproof / freezeproof model. More than anything, that is a tribute to BB members mgliss and kglissmeyer. The pix they get with their Pentax are really good. Good enough for a really brand loyal person like me to consider making a change when the time comes to get a new camera.

If you want to see what a Pentax will do, go to the Fishing Reports Forum and look up kglissmeyer’s “Dad and the Kid” continuing fishing reports threads for '09 and '10. I’m pretty sure that all the pix there were taken with a Pentax, whether taken by Kelly or Mike.

John

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Darned tough to beat this price:

$189.00 new

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PKOPTW90GN

They go used for over $200!

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209.00 on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-W90-Waterproof-Pistachio-Green/dp/B0039237H4

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Another satisfied Pentax Optio W80 user here. It’s controls were fairly intuitive and for a waterproof camera it has very good macro quality. Mine has taken a few pretty hard shots to the case and it hasn’t malfunctioned " Yet ".
If you can hold off on your purchase until the model year ends, often you can save a small bundle.

Dave

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In addition to the dpreview links that nighthawk posted, they actually did a waterproof camera group test: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/

It’s a little dated now, but it was very thorough and will give you plenty to consider.

As JohnScott said, the handling of the camera is very important. In contrast to him, I tried both the Pentax and Oly P&S and the Pentax just seemed to really suit me. Now that I’ve been using it for a year, I’ve got it set up to suit my needs and changing settings is like second nature.

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Forgot…here’s a few example shots from my Pentax WS80:

A little bit of everything there…DoF, landscape, macro…

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I use a Panasonic Lumix waterproof, it has a very good lens and I am very pleased with it, it has enough functions to do just about anything manualy, but if just leave it on Auto it takes a great picture. I have also used an Olympus 850sw and it is not as good on Auto, it is my mates and he realy strugles to get a good shot. He has got to the stage where he always takes 3 shots, one after the other with no change to the settings and he never gets the same result twice!
Anyway I hope you find one to suit you.
All the best.
Mike

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I can’t let this one get away. Last Christmas we bought a Pentax Optio WS80 for my son and it has seen a lot of use and continues to produce stellar photos. I currently shoot an Olympus wp710 which is not waterproof. I’m hoping for a new Pentax Optio W90 this winter which not only has waterproof, dust-proof and freeze-proof features, but it also has a light ring around the lens for superb macro photography. Since I photograph a lot of flies, this feature is really attractive. Currently you can compare quite a few places and their prices at thefind.com. Make sure you type in Pentax Optio W90 just as I’ve typed it here or it won’t show all of the selections. I’ve seen it as low as $129 from overseas, but with around $40 for shipping. In the U.S. the cheapest I’ve seen is $189 with many for sale at $199. Anyway, something to look at. As mentioned by John Scott, go look at my Dad and the Kid 2010 thread under Fishing Reports and you will see a variety of photos we’ve taken this past year; most with the WS80.

Here are some pics from my son’s Pentax Optio WS80:

Good luck in your search.

Kelly.

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Did I mention that the battery lasts quite a while ?? The original is still going strong after two and a half years.

John

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it only has 3 led lights, not a ring

the digital microscope mode wouldn not be my major reason to buy the w90

from a CNET review

“If you like to take a lot of close-ups, the W90’s macro settings allow you to shoot as near as 0.4 of an inch from the camera and captures plenty of fine detail. One of the hyped features on this model is the Digital Microscope mode, which uses the three LEDs around the lens to brighten tiny subjects for macro shooting. The benefit of this mode over the regular macro options is that you can use the zoom lens to enlarge the subject before you shoot. The downside is the images are only 2 megapixels.”

not too sure the 2 megapixel photo in the “digital microscope” mode is a greater benefit over a 12.1 megapixel photo in the “macro mode”.

would the 3 led’s cast a blue light on your subject??

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I’ve been using a Pentax Optio W90 since September, and have taken a LOT of pictures with it since then. Its a great little camera. Overall I like the picture quality of my previous camera (which I ended up getting repaired under warranty, so I still have it), but the W90 does take very good pictures, plus the added bonus of water-/dust-proof and cold-/shock-resistance. ALL of these things help make it just about PERFECT for use as a fishing camera. I haven’t taken any underwater pictures yet.

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Nice shots and great illustration of the macro capabilities of the Pentax brands!

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I use an Olympus 1050. I like it but I’m not good at uploading photos onto sites that limit the sizes to less than 2 MBs. So I just keep the pics for myself and don’t share them anymore.

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…I think the lights are arranged in a ring about the lens.

the digital microscope mode wouldn not be my major reason to buy the w90

from a CNET review

“If you like to take a lot of close-ups, the W90’s macro settings allow you to shoot as near as 0.4 of an inch from the camera and captures plenty of fine detail. One of the hyped features on this model is the Digital Microscope mode, which uses the three LEDs around the lens to brighten tiny subjects for macro shooting. The benefit of this mode over the regular macro options is that you can use the zoom lens to enlarge the subject before you shoot. The downside is the images are only 2 megapixels.”

not too sure the 2 megapixel photo in the “digital microscope” mode is a greater benefit over a 12.1 megapixel photo in the “macro mode”.

Agreed that the digital microscope mode is fairly gimmicky, however, the reviewer got their lines crossed. You can still zoom in regular macro, and in super macro, the zoom is indeed locked into place, however, at these distances, physically moving the camera will have the same effect. Digital microscope is a mode separate from macro and super macro.

would the 3 led’s cast a blue light on your subject??

It might have a touch of a blue cast, but if your shots come out blue, that’s your fault, not the camera. Set your white balance and you shouldn’t have any problems.

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I have had the Pentax Optio W20 for the past several years, and although it takes reasonably nice pictures for a duffer like me, the one BIG drawback from my perspective is that you have to compose your shots by looking in the LCD screen, which is often VERY hard to see in summer daylight conditions (where many of my fish pictures are taken), and it is next to impossible to see anything on the LCD screen if I have my sunglasses on (which I invariably have on). Since I like to take a quick picture or 2 of fish and release them quickly, it sure would be better if there was a direct, through-the-camera viewer.

Are the newer Pentax Optio cameras like mine? – Perhaps thesy have improved the LCD screens in the newer versions.

John

p.s. I might also add that I often have my camera in my drift boat where I keep it in a Pelican 1020 waterproof, dustproof carrying case. Not only does the case provide extra protection for the camera, but I believe it will float if I happen to drop the camera and case in the river. I haven’t done that yet, but I know I will sooner or later.

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Why do you keep a waterproof camera in a waterproof case?

The new ones, (and nearly all compact point & shoots) do not feature TTL optical viewfinders, though the screens have gotten bigger and brighter.