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Anyone recommend me a decent waterproof camera?
Depth not a major issue couple of meters?
Price is an issue, don't want to spend more than £200.
My Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 has been brilliant for the past 3 years.
Lots of new versions of it now, but the concept is the same.
Very good quality camera, plus super robust - been dropped more times that I'd care to remember and used in the sea, in beer (don't ask), in jersey pocket covered in mud, all sorts.
Brilliant camera.
Dave
ive got an olympus sw 1030 had it for 4+ years, got stolen, got it back still working just fine been abused and thrown in the bottom of my camelbak from here to peru, via the alps and wales.
I'd recommend you read the specifications very carefully - my old pentax one was fine with depth, but was only capable of immersion for 30 minutes or something. Completely failed after I took it on a long swim*.
It is a bit like watches, where 'waterproof to 50 metres' is the only rating that is any good for swimming or anything where it'll get immersed, whereas if you read the small print on 'waterproof to 25 metres', they suggest that you don't swim with them.
Brilliant fun while it lasted. Used for all manner of things as well as purely outdoor stuff - filming canoe rolling practice, swimming stroke analysis.
Some of the newer ones look a bit more rugged than my one, which looked pretty much like a normal camera.
Joe
* this swim:
There's a new Olympus one out, might be more than £200 but it's a decent bridge camera that's also tough waterproof etc. The only one afaik. All the other toughened ones are cheap compacts inside and consequently perform like them.
Mrs midlife has the Pentax WG-2. The WG-1 is well in your budget. It survived monsoons, white water rafting and lots of swimming pool shenanigans so far.
Fujifilm do a couple. I've used the cheaper one (can't remember the model name) and it was pretty good. Keep thinking of getting one myself
I can recommend the Olympus µ Tough cameras too. 🙂
I just bought one of the new Olympus TG1 to replace an older 770SW waterproof that I killed.
Only had a quick play so far, but it seems to take very good pics and feels very burly. It has, I gather, "Tap control" whereby you can tap the edges to scroll through menus. Nice!
It also has a "Manometer"! Grrrr! (I know, I know)
Oh, and it can be eaten by a fish. In ice.
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It has, I gather, "Tap control" whereby you can tap the edges to scroll through menus
I want one of those, I have the tap system on my TG 810. It's intended for use with thick gloves.
Sony TX5, not as waterproof or as tough as some but qualitys better ime and more compact
you can also buy a case for it, if you really want to abuse it.
i've taken it in the sea on 3 holidays and up a couple of rivers no problems so far.
not cheap though 🙂
i've got a panasonic lumix TS1, had it for 2 years, can't fault it,
in the first year I carried it everyday (did the photo a day for a year challenge) it didnt have an easy life as I was labouring and doing general building tasks.
its not only tough but the picture quality is excellent,
I've have a Lumix FT3 for about a year, very pleased with it. HD video and nice still images, no faults, everything I haven't been happy with can be put down to operator error (taking vidoe into the sun, etc). Battery life is fair; I took 4 batteries on a 3 week trip and they lasted it out (you don't have to buy genuine Panasonic batteries).
However, I have no experience of using it underwater; I bought it as a camera I could use in any conditions in a sea kayak.
Marginally over £200, may get it for less?
I've tried several cheaper waterproof cameras and always been disappointed with the images in anything other than perfect lighting.
I got the Olympus TG 1 a month or so ago and it's a whole new world. I'm genuinely preferring the image quality to my DSLR in most cases and it is properly tough.
It is £300, but buy cheap, buy twice etc. I must have spent over £800 on cameras which left me unhappy before this one.
Boris, this is my third such camera (After a 770 and an earlier Pentax) and I'm hoping for the same!
Tap Control and the "quick" dial selection of modes were two of the biggest wins for me. Both looked great for use with gloves, when skiing or on/under water.
Olympus tough.
Another vote for the Panasonic lumix I have the ts4 seems bombproof