waterproof compact suggestions

Gill Catton · #1 (**permalink**) 18-06-2010, 04:26 PM

Hello!
Does anyone have experience with water-proof compact cameras?
I'm looking to spend only around £200 on it, I have been looking at the Lumix DMC FT1... Does anyone have any experience with it or can recommend another model perhaps less easily googled?

The Woodman · #2 (**permalink**) 18-06-2010, 04:32 PM

Hi Gill

The Panasonic DMC FT2 is way above your budget but it is better than the FT1 in some ways.

I used an Olympus Tough 8000 last year and it worked well even getting seriously wet. The Tough 3000 is much cheaper and below your budget.

I'm about to purchase a Pentax W90 which is the bigger brother to the nice W60 (£250), budget + £50.

Hope this helps a bit.

Gill Catton · #3 (**permalink**) 18-06-2010, 05:01 PM

Oooh I was just looking at an Olympus Tough 3000.. I want to use it snorkling so it would need to be able to withstand proper wetness!!

glsammy · #4 (**permalink**) 18-06-2010, 07:55 PM

Never mind £200! I've just bought a fully waterproof camera for £37.

The spec isn't brilliant, what would you expect for £37? It's a 5megapixel camera supplied with it's own waterproof housing. I'm going to do some pond video just for fun. It'll take a 2GB sd card, and with that you can do over 2 hours of video. I'm not bothered too much about absolute quality, as I said it's just for fun.
The set up is a Praktica Aquapix.
The spec:
5 megapixel. waterproof up to 10 mtrs.
16MB built in memory, expandable to 2GB with SD card.
Video with sound. two modes,30fps QVGA, and 20fps VGA. Records in standard AVI format.
Will focus down to 0.5m. Macro mode, 11cm-18cm.
Can be used as a web camera or audio recorder.
Built in flash.
Self Timer function.
TV output.
Runs on standard 2 x AAA batteries.
2" TFT screen which is surprisingly good.
Comes with some good easy to use software.
You can take the camera out of the housing and use as a normal camera, but I can't imagine why you would want to.

Comes with camera case, two straps, one for the camera and one for the housing, USB lead, TV lead.
All that for £37.0. From Canon you'd struggle to get a USB lead for that!

I got mine from Tesco, no doubt it's available at better prices, but as we had loads of Tesco vouchers I ended up only paying £20.

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 19-06-2010, 03:15 PM

I'd be very interested to see the results graham that's for sure because it sounds like a proper bargain!

artdemole · #6 (**permalink**) 19-06-2010, 05:06 PM

The camera glsammy purchased sounds like a good camera for our weather.

glsammy · #7 (**permalink**) 19-06-2010, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I'd be very interested to see the results graham that's for sure because it sounds like a proper bargain!

As soon as I've had a chance to test it I'll post some video somewhere, probably on my flickr account.

Ukwildlifeo · #8 (**permalink**) 19-06-2010, 08:10 PM

The purple compact I was using last week was the waterproof olympus tough mju 3000. It was about £170 at the airport. Olympus and Pentax have been making these sorts of waterproof compacts for the longest amount of time so I figured these 2 would be best. Ill put up some under + above water pics if you like.

Im currently looking at the Pentax w90 for myself (Sue has claimed the Oly!) as the LED lighting + macro mode look good, so I'd be interested in seeing some shots Woodman if you end up getting it

.

The Pentax W80 is meant to be a bit pants from what I hear so steer clear of that

Gill Catton · #9 (**permalink**) 19-06-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

The purple compact I was using last week was the waterproof olympus tough mju 3000. It was about £170 at the airport. Olympus and Pentax have been making these sorts of waterproof compacts for the longest amount of time so I figured these 2 would be best. Ill put up some under + above water pics if you like.

Im currently looking at the Pentax w90 for myself (Sue has claimed the Oly!) as the LED lighting + macro mode look good, so I'd be interested in seeing some shots Woodman if you end up getting it

.

The Pentax W80 is meant to be a bit pants from what I hear so steer clear of that

Yeah underwater ones I'm particularly interested in.

I am leaning towards the Panasonic FT2....More flippin money than I want to spend but hey ho...

The Woodman · #10 (**permalink**) 20-06-2010, 08:00 AM

It was the macro mode and integrated triple LED light that swung my vote from the highly regarded FT2.

Macro is restricted to 2 mp though.

The W90 was highlighted in yesterdays Telegraph weekend section.

If I buy the W90 (for a specific job) I'll post images.