Rugged Underwater Cameras For Underwater Or Above
In the past underwater cameras have just appealed to divers, mostly recreational scuba divers and underwater photographers, and it’s likely this was due mostly to their high cost, not to mention the fact the equipment was awkward and bulky.
But today that’s all changed. Manufacturers of waterproof cameras have been able to bring down both the size and cost to where these devices are compact and affordable. This is of course great news for divers, but even more so for those of us tired of always having to “mind” the camera when enjoying outdoors sports and recreational activities, or just at the beach on family vacation.
The reality is that the places most of us want to take pictures are while on holiday or vacation which usually means outdoors, at the beach, on the water, in the mountains, on the trails, or involved in some recreational activity or sport that has some “rough and tumble” aspect to it. It’s these situations where the camera often won’t make it.
Of course we could leave it behind but that sort of misses the point. What’s really called for is a waterproof camera that can take a beating as well. A digital camera that’s rugged and won’t get upset at being dropped, banged around, or being left where the kids can get at it would be perfect.
As mentioned before, there are now a handful of rugged, compact, digital underwater cameras that are as affordable as some land-based models. There are also some that pretend to be up to the task but come up short in either the waterproof or shockproof department, so it pays to do some research to compare and get the features you need.
Basically, if you’re like me, you want something as close to indestructible as possible. The camera needs to be waterproof to at least 10 or 12 feet like to the bottom of a swimming pool. That will ensure it’s also impervious to mud, sand, dirt, dust, salt air, rain, splashes, and about anything else one can imagine. It should also survive being dropped like when it falls out of your pocket. It also must be able to survive a drop of several feet, like when slipping out of your hand. Those two features will make it likely to survive most types of abuse, including kids.
Today there are a couple producers leading the way with these underwater cameras that go beyond just diving. They are SeaLife, long known for their dive cameras, and the Olympus Stylus SW series. The 6 megapixel SeaLife Mini and ECOshot are compact, waterproof to 130 feet & 75 feet respectively, and are protected within a rugged polycarbonate case, that’s rubber-armored. The Olympus Stylus 770SW, 790SW, 850SW, and 1030SW have an image resolution ranging from 7 to 10 megapixels and are waterproof to either 10 feet or 33 feet.
This depth can be increased to 130 feet with an external housing but as is, the sub-compact Stylus SW models are perfect for snorkeling or any other outdoor activity. The SW stands for shockproof, waterproof, and the Stylus is certainly tough. It’s sensitive insides are suspended within a metal case that can survive 220 pounds of pressure, plus its freeze-proof as well.
Aside from very small size and slightly higher cost, the Olympus models differ in that they offer more features, but have shallower waterproof ratings. However they are plenty waterproof for use as an outdoor sports camera, and if you also want to scuba dive with it just get an external housing. The SeaLife Mini may appeal more to divers who can kill two birds at once since it’s rated to 130 feet with no additional housing.
Any of these digital underwater cameras mentioned here are excellent choices for an all-purpose sports camera. Features are similar with variations mostly in image resolution, depth rating, size, and price, so just choose the one that fits you best.
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