Waterproof Digital Cameras

Featuring a 10-megapixel CCD sensor coupled with a Nikkor 3x optical zoom, the equivalent of 36 – 180 mm in a 35 mm formal camera, Nikon Coolpix assures you of high-resolution wide angle as well as close up photos. The camera uses Nikon’s EXPEED digital processor to faithfully reproduce captured images.

With a manual ISO setting of up to 2,000, you can shoot clear images even under low-light conditions. You can also freeze quick-moving subjects by increasing the shutter speed and compensating with a higher ISO. Auto ISO setting is available with a range of 64 – 800.

Apart from taking still photos, the camera also has three movie modes, complete with sound. Photo and video composition is done through a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with 230,000 dots. It has a 170° viewing angle, both horizontal and vertical, and an anti-reflection coating. It also has an acrylic panel that is scratch and fingerprint resistant. An electronic VR or vibration resistant feature compensates for camera shake resulting from slight hand movements. This guarantees sharp photos even when using a slow shutter in low-light situations or emphasizing the movement of the subject.

The Nikon Coolpix S550 can also be taken to 200 feet underwater to capture marine life and scenery. However, this is possible only when encased in a waterproof housing like the Ikelite 6281.55 Underwater Housing. This is a clear housing that gives you full view of your camera. All controls are accessible via levers and buttons on the housing.

It has an easy-to-open latch yet it provides a tight closing when locked, effectively sealing off the housing. After opening, you only need to drop the camera in, lock the housing and you can jump into the water. A flash diffuser comes with the unit to help improve lighting. If light from the built-in flash is insufficient, you can attach an underwater external strobe.

The housing measures 6″ W x 4.4″ H x 3.4″ D including the port. When loaded with the Nikon S550, the Ikelite 6281.55 Underwater Housing weighs 1.5 lbs under water, meaning it has an almost neutral buoyancy.

Cyber-shot is a line of Sony digital cameras which are known for their InfoLithium battery pack and Carl Zeiss lenses. There are actually 15 series of models of Cyber-shot cameras of which the W series is one. These cameras use wide angle lenses with special coating for panoramic shots. The W series, in turn, includes 20 different variations.

Of these, the DSC W210, DSC W220, and DSC W270 are of identical dimensions and thus all fit into the Sony MPK-WEB Marine Housing for Cyber-shot Digital Cameras. Although the DSC WX1 is slightly smaller, it is also compatible with the marine housing.

All of these Cyber-shot cameras except for the WX1, boast of a 12.1-megapixel CCD image sensor assuring high-resolution photos. For the W210 and W220, this is coupled with a Carl Zeiss 4x optical zoom which is the equivalent of a 30 – 120 mm lens in the 35 mm format. The W270 has a slightly wider range at 5x starting from 28 – 140 mm. With these zoom ranges, you can shoot wide landscape vistas as well as up close and personal portraits. The WX1, on the other hand, has a 10.2-megapixel image sensor, with a lens identical to that of the W270.

The Sony MPK-WEB Marine Housing for Cyber-shot Digital Cameras is the diving gear of the DSC W210, DSC W220, and DSC W270. It can take them to a depth of 40 m to shoot underwater landscapes and marine life. A special o-ring is supplied to resist water even under pressure.

A diffuser in front of the camera’s built-in flash can be used underwater. If, however, it proves insufficient to supply needed lighting, it can also be used to trigger an external slave strobe. It is compatible with the HVL-ML20M underwater light. This, however, requires the VCT-MP1K arm. An LCD hood is installed over the monitor to shade it from light that could affect the display.

The marine housing has dimensions of 148 W x 112 H x 89 D mm.

The D90 is one of the more affordable DSLRs in the Nikon lineup. With this model, excellent camera features are brought within the reach of more amateur photographers.

The camera boasts of a 12.3-megapixel CMOS imaging sensor in DX format. This, together with its EXPEED image processor and Nikkor lens, assures you of high-resolution images with minimum noise. One of its best features is that it is the first DSLR with an HD movie capability. It can capture 24 fps movie clips at 720p HD complete with sound.

In order for recreational divers and water adventurers not to miss out on the opportunity to record their exploits with the Nikon D90, Aquatica introduced the AD90 Underwater Housing that is dedicated to the D90, and which is equally affordable.

Known formally as the Aquatica AD90 Underwater Housing for Nikon D90, it is constructed from a solid piece of machined aluminum that resists twisting and warping. This is a necessary feature as twisted or warped controls could fail to function especially when subjected to high water pressures. The aluminum is anodized and coated with polyurethane for extra protection against corrosion resulting from exposure to salt water.

All controls for taking stills and videos are accessible through its buttons and levers. Both the on/off/info and shutter release levers are extended for an easier operation even when wearing gloves. Its bayonet port system accommodates various ports, extensions, and gears. It also has a lens release button allowing you to change lenses through the port aperture.

Picture composition can be done either through Aquatica’s Aqua View Finder which magnifies the image from the camera viewfinder, or through its LCD monitor which is visible through a window in the back of the housing.

The housing has a depth rating of 300 feet or 90 meters.

Built with an aluminum body, the Seatool Housing for Canon EOS 40D is light compared to other underwater camera housings. It weighs 1.7 kg on air, but when mated with the camera and taken underwater, this is reduced to 170 g making it negatively buoyant but only slightly.

The Seatool housing has a depth rating of 60 m. It features a design that is compact and ergonomic, which makes shooting comfortable. Camera installation is easy. Ports are interchangeable, allowing you to mount different lens types, from macro through wide angle to zoom. These lenses can be changed through the port.

A diffuser in front of the camera’s built-in flash allows its use underwater. Large ports, however, may obstruct light from it.To remedy this, an accessory shoe for macro flash is incorporated at the top of the housing. A single 5-pin Nikonos bulkhead is included with the housing for attachment to the flash.

The Seatool Housing for Canon EOS 40D measures 210 mm W x 123 mm D x 164 mm H. With these dimensions, there is plenty of room inside it for the Canon EOS 40 as it only measures 146 mm W x 74 mm D x 108 mm H.

The EOS 40D boasts of 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor that guarantees high-resolution photos suitable for enlargement or cropping. In addition to its viewfinder with a magnification of 0.95x, it also has a 3.0-inch LCD with Live View mode. This allows the taking of photos from all angles, from bird’s- to worm’s-eye views.

The camera is equipped with a DIGIC III processor which enables the EOS 40D to respond and operate quickly as well as to assure authentic color reproduction. It also has a low power consumption thus extending battery life.

Plenty of other features are incorporated in the Canon EOS 40D that advanced amateurs and novice professionals would appreciate. Although on its own it is a landlubber, mating it with the Seatool Housing will allow it to dive into the vast underwater world for more shooting opportunities.

There are not too many differences between the Olympus D-575 and D-580 digital cameras and their cases are not one of them. For this reason, they can both fit into the Olympus PT021 Underwater Housing.

Although officially called an Underwater Housing because it is capable of bringing these two fine Olympus digital cameras underwater, its area of protection is wider than that. On land, it also shields the camera from dust and snow as well as bumps, falls, and knocks.

The housing is made of clear polycarbonate with red highlights in front of the lens, the hinges and clamps, and on some of the levers and buttons that access camera functions. There is also a diffuser in front of the built-in flash, and a detachable hood for the LCD monitor. Since polycarbonate has good optical qualities, the camera’s 1.8-inch LCD monitor is clearly visible through the housing.

As far as underwater protection is concerned, the Olympus PT021 can withstand water pressures up to depths of 130 feet. A rubber o-ring seal runs the full length of the shell’s joints to prevent water seepage. When on terra firma, the impact-resistant polycarbonate shell absorbs the shock of falls and bumps keeping the camera untouched.

A mounting for converter lenses and filters are incorporated in the PT021 for more creative photography. Should the internal flash prove insufficient to provide proper lighting under the water, it can be used to trigger a slave flash. All camera controls are fully accessible.

One of the differences between the D-575 and D-580 is their image sensors. The D-575 sports a 3.2-megapixel sensor while the D-580 boasts of 4 megapixels. Both have 3x optical zoom lenses. As for their digital zoom, however, the D-575’s is less at 3.3x to the D-580’s 4x.

They also have seven shooting modes you can choose from that would cover most shooting situations. These include landscape, portrait, night scene, and a movie mode with audio.

When joined, the Olympus PT021 and D-575 or D-580assure you of great photos while playing in the rivers, lakes, and oceans, whether on or below their surfaces.

Featuring a 7-megapixel CCD sensor with a Nikkor 3x optical zoom, the Nikon Coolpix L12 captures high-resolution photos and pulls distant subjects closer to the camera. Optical Vibration Reduction and Image Stabilization functions guarantee sharp and distinct photos even when shooting from a moving vehicle. A 2.5-inch LCD-TFT monitor with a resolution of 115,000 dots makes picture composition and playback possible even under bright sunlight.

Shooting in low light conditions is also possible with its high ISO sensitivity of up to 1,600. Its Face-Priority AF detects faces and adjusts aperture and shutter speed for their proper exposure. It also has an automatic In-Camera Red-Eye Fix. In addition to still pictures, the Coolpix can also record videos, including their sounds.

This excellent camera’s capabilities are expanded further by the Fantasea FL-12 Underwater Housing. With the housing, the Coolpix L12 can take a dive up to depths of 200 feet and capture underwater life and sceneries.

The Fantasea FL-12 is made of injection-molded clear polycarbonate which gives you a full view of the camera inside. It is lightweight yet it is highly resistant to impact and to extreme temperatures.

The housing’s main seal is a radial o-ring. This, along with four stainless steel buckles assuring a tight clamping of the shell, effectively keeps water from seeping through the joints. The command control buttons on the housing that access those on the camera are also fitted with double o-ring seals.

All controls of the Coolpix L12 are accessible through the housing’s buttons. These are made of coated brass that resist corrosion even after exposure to salt water. A removable diffuser is mounted in front of the built-in flash for low-light underwater photography. For the installation of different filters and accessory lenses, the Fantasea FL-12 accepts a 46 mm thread on its port ring.

The Canon EOS 7D is the company’s answer to rival Nikon’s D300s. Both of these cameras are intended for advanced amateurs and budding professionals who demand features necessary to create spectacular photos with excellent color reproduction and sharp images.

The EOS 7D boasts of an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor. With this level of resolution, you can crop your pictures and enlarge them without any significant loss of detail. Apart from capturing still photos, the camera is also capable of recording 1080p HD videos. Exposure control can be adjusted manually, and you can even choose the frame rate.

In addition to an Intelligent Viewfinder, you can also use the 3.0-inch Clear View II LCD monitor for picture composition. It has 920,000 dots guaranteeing sharp images during both composition and playback.

Although the body of the EOS 7D is made of magnesium alloy that is dust and weather-resistant, it is not equipped to deal with a more radical exposure to the elements. It cannot resist water and therefore is unable to capture images from under the seas. In order not to miss out on this opportunity, it has to be encased in an underwater housing. One possibility is the Aquatica Underwater Housing that is dedicated to the EOS 7D.

Aquatica housings are machined from solid aluminum, after which they are treated and anodized to a level on par with military specifications. The housing is finished with a polyurethane powder coating that is electrostatically applied and heat-treated. This provides a robust protection against wear and the effects of exposure to adverse weather conditions.

Being made of aluminum, the Aquatica housing is lightweight. In spite of this, it is strong enough to have a depth rating of 300 feet. The port mount is bayonet-type making it easy to install or uninstall ports. The port is wide enough to allow changing camera lenses without having to take it out of the housing. All camera controls are accessible including video controls. And in case you want to record dolphin sounds along with the video, you can install an optional hydrophone.

Bulkheads and connectors for external flashes are also provided on the housing.

Built for advanced amateurs and new professionals, the Nikon D300s packs plenty of features that can, in the right hands, create outstanding high-resolution, low-noise images with excellent color reproduction.

It has a 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor in DX-format and is compatible with all DX AF and most AF Nikkor lenses. For picture composition, it has both an optical viewfinder and a 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with 921,000 dots.

Apart from capturing breathtaking still photos, the D300s can also record 720p HD videos at 24 fps along with the sounds that may come with them with its external stereo microphone.

The D300s, though rugged and durable with its magnesium-alloy body, cannot by itself exploit the virtually unlimited opportunities for spectacular photos beneath the waves. To be able to do this, it must be encased in a protective housing, like the Sea & Sea MDX-D300s underwater housing.

The body of the MDX-300s is made of lightweight yet tough aircraft-grade aluminum alloy that resists corrosion and rust even after prolonged immersion in salt water. It is coated with hard alumite which makes it extremely rigid even under tremendous pressures at depths of 200 feet.

With the quick shoe as a guide, inserting the camera into the housing is quick and easy. The housing is designed in a way that the camera fits snugly into it, with minimal space between them. This means a less bulky housing which makes it is easier to reach the controls while holding its hand grips.

The housing is equipped with a leak sensor, while locking latches prevent unintentional opening. The port, too, has a locking mechanism.

Equipped with an iA or Intelligent Auto Mode, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX40 (DMC-FX48 in Europe) has six functions that automatically adjusts camera settings to capture excellent shots. It has a Mega Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) guaranteeing sharp photos, ISO control adjusting to different shutter or aperture settings and lighting conditions, Scene Selector that evaluates the total picture, Exposure that analyzes the optimum combination of camera settings, AF Tracking that adjusts focus even as the subject is moving, and Face Detection that prioritizes optimum exposure on the face of your subjects and remembers them the next time it will see those faces.

The DMC-FX40 has a 12.1-megapixel sensor. Its lens is a Leica DC Vario Elmarit 5x optical zoom which is a 35 mm equivalent of 25 – 125 mm lens. This very wide angle is perfect for underwater shooting because it means that you can reduce the volume of water between the camera and subject resulting to better photos.

For underwater shooting, however, the DMC-FX40 needs to be encased in the Panasonic DMW-MCFX40. This housing is made of clear polycarbonate that is resistant to rust and corrosion even with constant exposure to seawater. It is also resistant to extreme temperatures, impacts, and pressure. In fact, it can resist water pressure up to a depth of 130 feet. A special o-ring effectively seals the joints of the polycarbonate shell.

The camera’s 2.5-inch LCD monitor with a 230k-dot resolution is visible through the casing allowing you not only to compose images but also to read relevant data. The built-in flash can be used underwater and, if it proves to be insufficient, it can be used to trigger a slave flash. Knobs and buttons on the housing match those on the camera giving you full access to them so that, apart from the bulk, shooting underwater is very much like shooting on terra firma.

Sony’s DSC-W150 and DSC-W170 digital cameras share exactly the same housing except for two markings. On the front lower left side of the W150, you’ll see “8.1 mega pixels” while on the W170, the numbers and letters read “10.1 mega pixels”. These stand for the cameras’ sensors. Also, on the upper section of the back, above the LCD monitor, the camera proudly proclaims which of the two units it is.

Although both are equipped with Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 5x optical zoom lenses, the W150’s has a focal length of the equivalent of 30 to 150 mm lens, while that of the W170 has 28 to 140 mm.

Both cameras feature a 2.7-inch LCD display for image composition and playback. In addition to this, they also have an optical viewfinder, a useful feature when the LCD is overpowered by bright sunlight, or when conserving power. They are also equipped with a face detection technology that recognizes the faces of children and adults allowing you to prioritize either of them. An intelligent scene recognition (iSCN) capability is incorporated which, while taking a photo based on your settings, will take a second photo based on settings which it deems more appropriate.

These cameras have a number of shooting modes. Among them is an underwater mode. They couldn’t go underwater on their own though. They need a protective housing such as the Ikelite 6210-15 underwater housing.

This housing is made of injection molded polycarbonate. This material is corrosion-proof and is strong enough to withstand water pressure up to a depth of 200 feet. As it is clear, it provides an unrestricted view of the camera and its LCD monitor.

All camera controls are accessible through the housing via dials, knobs, and levers. These are all sealed with Ikelite’s Quad-Ring seals to prevent the seepage of water through them.

The built-in flash can be used underwater but, even with the diffuser on the housing, it may not be sufficient for proper illumination. The lens port accepts wide angle conversion lenses which allow you to eliminate as much water as possible between you and your subject resulting in a better photo.