Waterproof Digital Cameras

With a 12.2-megapixel CCD image sensor and a 5x optical zoom, the Samsung AQ100 Waterproof Digital Camera delivers high-resolution photos with excellent detail even when taken at a distance.

The camera is fitted with special rubber sealants effectively keeping water out up to a depth of about 10 feet. It also has an anti-dust system preventing the entry of small particles and ruining the camera. With these two features, you can shoot underwater images in swimming pools and open seas, as well as on the beach or desert sand dunes. The camera features an Aqua Scene mode dedicated to the capture of properly exposed photos taken underwater with balanced lighting, color, and image sharpness.

In addition to the Aqua Scene mode, the camera also features a list of other shooting modes including Smart Auto, Program, DIS, Night Scene, Portrait, Fireworks, and Sunset among others. It also has an Object Tracking feature that follows and locks on to moving subjects.

Equipped with Samsung’s Optical Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization mechanisms that counter camera shake, you are assured of clear and sharp images. With an ISO equivalent ranging from 80 to 3,200, you can use the camera in both bright sunlight or in dark candlelight dinner settings.

Photo composition is facilitated by a 2.7-inch LCD display. It has a 230,000-dot resolution with outstanding brightness, contrast, and color reproduction.

Life is always moving. And it is for this reason that the Samsung AQ100 is designed to capture not just still photos, but action videos as well. You can create short movies with a resolution of 720p HD at 30 fps. You can view these videos on any HDTV or HD monitor with an HDMI connector.

Measuring only 3.75″ W x 2.13″ H x 0.83″ D, it easily fits into the palm of your hands. Its slanted shutter button provides a more natural surface for your index finger which helps reduce camera shake when depressing it.

The Samsung AQ100 is available in black, blue, red, and yellow.

Concerns about health have led plenty of people to a more active lifestyle. If they are not out running or in the gym working out, they are having fun snorkeling, skiing, hiking, or sandboarding.

Such adventurers can record their exploits with an Olympus Stylus 790SW Digital Camera without fear of annihilating it in the ocean water, freezing snow, rocky mountain, or rough sands.

Constructed out of lightweight aluminum whose joints are sealed with rubber gaskets and O-rings, the camera interior is protected from water up to a depth of 10 feet. The lens is likewise protected with a special water-repellent coating which prevents the formation of water droplets that blur your photos. To simplify underwater photography, the camera is equipped with four preset underwater modes.

Frozen water and snow are not enough reason for the camera to go into hiding. It can continue shooting images even at -10°C. You can even drop it on the snow, and it will just keep on going.

Although its aluminum casing its lightweight, it is durable and, along with the camera’s shock absorption technology, can withstand drops on solid surfaces up to five feet without damaging the lens and circuitry.

The camera is also impervious to the penetration of dust and sand. The same seals that keep water out also bar dust and sand. Some cameras have lenses that extend from the body when shooting. This could result in sand getting caught in the lens while extended and eventually jamming its movement. Since the 790SW’s lens does not move out of the body, this possibility is eliminated.

The Olympus Stylus 790SW boasts of a 7.1 megapixel CCD sensor which can capture rich details that are sufficiently good for a 15 x 20 prints. It features Digital Image Stabilization assuring clear images and a high ISO sensitivity allowing you to capture photos even in low-light conditions. Shutter speed is boosted so you can freeze your subjects even when they are moving quickly.

The camera measures 3.2 x 7.4 x 5.5, all in inches, and is available in five colors –black, orange, blue, lime, and silver.

Multi-tasking and hands-free are two of the new words that have recently entered English vocabulary. Multi-tasking refers to the possibility of doing two different things at the same time, while hands-free means performing a task without using your hands.

An example of multi-tasking is when you are recording a video of your children in the pool while at the same time tossing beach balls with them. Hands-free is when you continue to capture video images without using your hands.

With the Liquid Image Scuba Series HD Wide Angle, you can do both. It is a dive mask that incorporates a digital video camera. It is capable of recording HD 720p video at 30 fps as well as capturing still photos with its 5.0 megapixel CMOS sensor.

It has a 2G2P fixed lens with a wide angle of view at 135°. It can focus on a subject from 0.5 to 3.0 meters away. Shutter speed for stills begin at 1/16 to 1/1000 seconds, allowing the freezing of moving subjects. Although sensitivity is automatic, it only adjusts from ISO 100 to 200. An integrated microphone captures audio along with the video images.

Images are stored in JPEG format for your still pictures, and H.264 with Audio for your movies. Although the unit comes with a 2GB micro SD card, memory can be expanded to 32GB for the storage of 36,800 photos or 960 minutes worth of videos. These data are easily uploaded to your PC using the supplied USB cable.

The dive mask has a depth rating of 130 feet, deep enough to meet a few stingrays or sharks. Lever type buttons that can be manipulated even when you are wearing gloves operate the camera. They are mounted at the top of the mask. To align your shots, you can use the integrated crosshairs in the tempered glass lenses.

The Pentax Optio W series are all waterproof cameras at varying depths. The latest in the series is the Pentax Optio W90, which is actually the 11th generation, and it comes in either black or pistachio green.

The W90 is designed to work in extreme conditions, including 20 feet underwater, in sub-freezing temperatures, and in dry and dusty deserts. It is meant for sportsmen who enjoy pushing the limits. The camera can be taken when scuba diving, skiing, or sand boarding. You can even drop it from four feet high and then go on snapping photos. It’ll simply absorb the shock.

With a 12.1 megapixel sensor, you are assured of high resolution images even when your prints are enlarged. A 5X optical zoom, which is equivalent to 28-140 mm in a 35 mm format, allows both wide angle and telephoto shots. An innovative feature is the Digital Microscope mode that can capture extremely small macro subjects even at a distance of only 1 cm from the camera. Three LED Macro Lights mounted on the lens barrel illuminate the small subject for proper exposure.

Photo composition is facilitated with a 2.7-inch LCD display. It features 230,000 dots with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Treated with an Anti-Reflection (AR) coating, glare and reflections are substantially minimized even under very bright conditions such as on snow-covered mountaintops or sand dunes in the desert.

In addition to stills, Pentax Optio W90 also records movies in 720p HD video at 30 fps. These, including the stills, can be viewed on your HDTV via an HDMI port.

To eliminate blurry pictures, the camera boasts of three anti-shake systems. One is the Pixel Track SR which compensates for camera shake when recording still pictures. The High-Sensitivity Anti-Shake mode, on the other hand, automatically adjusts ISO Sensitivity to as high as 6400 if the camera detects low-light conditions. This increases shutter speed, and thus minimize the effects of camera shake. A third system is Movie SR. This is used when shooting videos employing an exclusive software.

Only slightly bigger than a Blackberry Bold 9700, the Kodak PlaySport Waterproof Pocket HD Video Camera can be likened to a Goliath in David’s body. It is a tough little camera that packs plenty of features.

Equipped with special seals and rings, it is capable of swimming up to a depth of 10 feet. You can take it whitewater rafting, snorkeling, or just playing on the beach or in the pool. If you drop it while playing, don’t worry about it. The PlaySport can take a few blows. It was designed not only to swim but also to ride on trails and scale mountains.

The camera records 1080p HD videos at 30 fps. It can also capture still photos at 5 megapixels. An electronic image stabilization system is built into the camera to compensate for camera shake. This is especially useful when taking action videos or photos with the shooter being part of the action. A smart face tracking technology enables the camera to maintain sharp focus and proper lighting on the faces of the subjects. If you are up a snow-covered mountain and you can’t find your subject on the display screen because it is too bright, you can use the LCD Glare Shield. This provides you with a choice of two filters to keep you from squinting into the display screen.

Although the PlaySport’s internal memory is only 128 MB, an SD/SDHC card of up to 32 GB can be installed into the camera to allow the recording of 10-hour long videos. With the camera’s own software and a supplied USB cable, these can be edited and uploaded to your computer with ease. You can even add a voice-over or music to your videos. And if you like an image from the video, you can freeze and edit it as a still photo. An HDMI cable allows linking the camera to your HDTV for a wide-screen view of your shots.

The Kodak PlaySport Waterproof Pocket HD Video Camera comes in four colors –purple, black, blue, and white.

Photographs showing you braving whitewater rapids or trying to flash a smile behind your underwater mask and snorkel are great conversation pieces. They also tell your friends of your adventurous spirit. And of course when you grow old you can show them to your grandchildren and boast of the things you did as a young man. The Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 allows you to capture these kinds of pictures.

With special seals and gaskets incorporated into the casing’s joints and control buttons, water is effectively held at bay even up to depths of 16 feet. And if you drop it on solid ground while jumping from one boulder to another trying to cross a stream, you needn’t worry because it is shockproof. Its metal body incorporates shock-absorbing capabilities that can withstand drops from five feet high. If you are a winter sports kind of guy, the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 is perfect for you. You can have your photo taken while on a slalom even in freezing temperatures. The camera can operate at 14°F.

The camera has a 14-megapixel CCD sensor guaranteeing high resolution photos suitable for enlargement without loss of detail. A 5x optical zoom can get your subjects up close and personal even from a distance. It has a 2.7-inch LCD monitor for picture composition and playback. An anti-glare feature allows a clear image even under bright sunlight.

In addition to taking still images, it can also capture 720p HD videos with a single touch. These images are stored in an internal memory with a capacity of 1GB. A Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization working together with high ISO sensitivity enables the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 to record sharp photos even when the subject is moving, a feature very well suited for sports and adventure photos. Tap Control allows the operation of certain functions just by tapping the camera. When you are wearing gloves or mittens, this capability is fully appreciated.

The camera is compact, easily slipping into your pocket or purse. It measures only 3.8″ W x 2.5″ H x 1.0″ D. It is available in four colors –blue, green, black, and pink.

Launched only in this month of February 2010, the Fujifilm FinePix XP10 Digital Camera is the company’s first compact digicam designed for the great outdoors. Its contour is similar to the waterproof Z33WP, but it goes much farther in terms of toughness. Apart from being waterproof, it is also shockproof, dustproof, and freeze-proof.

During summer you can take the XP10 to the beach to capture all the volleyball matches you want, and not worry if it gets hit by an astray ball, drops from three feet high, or gets buried in the sand. If you are tired of volleyball, you can go snorkeling with it to capture underwater life and sceneries at depths of 10 feet. When the snow starts falling, you can get out there to take photos of your kids at play without worrying about the freezing temperature. The XP10 will operate flawlessly even at 14°F.

In spite of all this tough talk, the camera is small, almost petite, which easily fits into your pocket. It measures a mere 3.8″ W x 2.5″ H x 0.9″ D. The metal body is colored either in glossy pink, blue, green, silver, and black further softening the tough exterior.

Underneath the sturdy metal casing is a 12-megapixel CCD sensor which, along with Digital Image Stabilization and ISO settings of 1600, guarantees clear and sharp photos. A 5x vertical zoom lens that does not protrude out of the case allows both wide angle (36mm) and telephoto (180mm) shots.

In addition to taking exceptional still photos, the XP10 can also record 720p HD videos complete with sound. An optional HD Player allows you to view both stills and videos on your HDTV.

Technologies incorporated into the XP10 include SR Auto which analyzes shooting conditions and adjusts aperture, shutter speed, and exposure accordingly for best results. Face Detection and auto red-eye removal are also featured.

Launched in January 2010 the Olympus Stylus Tough 3000 joins the ranks of the other Stylus Tough digital cameras from Olympus that are known for their rugged and heavy-duty performance. Like its older siblings, the Tough 3000 is waterproof, shockproof, and freeze-proof.

What is new in the Tough 3000 is its capability to shoot 720p HD videos. With a one-touch button, you can record clear and sharp movies and view them on your HDTV by simply connecting it to the camera using an HDMI cable. You can even use the HDTV’s remote to navigate the camera’s menus and control playback functions.

A thoughtful addition is the 1GB internal memory which stores plenty of still photos and videos. If you’re still not satisfied with it, an SD card slot is just waiting to be filled. Another innovation is Photo Surfing which allows you to skim over captured photos, but if you want to quickly locate a particular photo, you can use the camera’s [ib] software. This software tags your photos and organizes them using GPS, face-detection, or dates. Charging via USB is also included.

The Tough 3000 uses the same 3.6x optical zoom, which is equivalent to 28 – 102mm in a 35mm camera, found in the Tough 8000 model allowing both panoramic and close up shots. Also like in the 8000, the lens does not extend beyond the camera body. A 12-megapixel image sensor assures you of high resolution photos both on screen and in print. A 2.7-inch LCD monitor equipped with anti-glare and a wide viewing angle makes composition and shooting possible even when under direct sunlight.

A Dual Image Stabilization feature that eliminates blur by speeding up shutter speeds, and an AF Tracking that keeps your subjects in sharp focus even when they are moving guarantee vivid images regardless of shooting conditions.

All these features come in a package that is waterproof up to three meters, can be dropped from a height of 1.5 meters, and can operate without a hitch at temperatures as low as 14°F.

Following the footsteps of its older sibling, the Lumix TS1, the newly-introduced Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Digital Camera is another rugged camera. It is designed both for adventurers who might want to take photos underwater or in freezing conditions, and for children who might clumsily drop them.

The TS2, unveiled on the last week of January 2010, builds on the features of its predecessor. By improving on its rubber padding and further strengthening the reinforced glass and carbon within the camera body, it can go swimming up to a depth of 33 feet. To protect the LCD monitor from increased water pressure, its cover panel is thickened by 1.3x compared to the TS1.

Shock-resistant material reinforces the camera body. This, combined with the camera’s folded optics and a supplementary damper acting as a shock absorber for the lens unit, enables the TS2 to withstand drops from heights of two meters.

The same features that keep water out of the camera also prevent the entry of airborne dust that could damage it. Also, it has been designed to operate even in temperatures as low as 14°F. Thus, you can have all the photos you want while scuba diving, snorkeling, getting buried in sand at the beach, or skiing and bobsledding on snow.

And you can be sure of clear and crisp still photos with its 14.1-megapixel sensor coupled with a Leica DC Vario Elmar 28-mm lens. This lens has a 4.6x optical zoom, which is the equivalent of 28 to 128 mm on a 35 mm-format camera, allowing you to shoot both wide angle and close up pictures.

The TS2 can also shoot HD videos in Motion JPEG and AVCHD Lite. Recording with the latter format doubles recording time compared to using Motion JPEG. A Dolby Digital Stereo Creator recording high quality audio complements the high definition videos.

The LCD monitor is 2.7-inches with 230,000 dots. It has an automatic brightness control that allows recording and viewing even in low-light conditions. In fact, it has a built-in LED light which is especially useful when shooting in deep waters.

Snorkeling in the clear blue waters of the ocean offers plenty of opportunities for taking breathtaking images. Corals, underwater plants and weeds, fishes, and of course your family and friends frolicking in the water make great photo subjects. The various water sports in theme parks, rivers, and lakes also offer spectacular sights. A great camera to capture these images is the Pentax Optio W20 Waterproof Digital Camera.

While the W20 is not exactly the kind that professionals take into the deepest parts of the ocean, it is quite capable of resisting water at a depth of five feet for 30 minutes, quite sufficient for the regular Joe who is out on vacation with his family. It is also dustproof, so you neither have to worry about the water nor the sand when playing on the beach.

Its 7-megapixel image sensor, complemented by a 3x optical zoom lens, assures clear and crisp pictures. To keep the camera truly compact, its lens does not protrude outside the body even in zoom mode. A 2.5-inch LCD color monitor with 115k pixels serves as the camera’s viewfinder and playback display. Its high ISO speed of 1600 helps in reducing, if not eliminating, blurring by enabling a faster shutter speed. It also includes a built-in flash, as well as fill and redeye reduction modes.

In addition to taking still pictures, the W20 can also take videos, including audio, at a resolution of 640 x 480 and speed of 30 fps. An anti-shake function is incorporated to compensate for camera movements while following a moving subject.

Images are stored in a 21.9 MB internal memory or in an optional SD or SDHC memory card. It is compatible with PictBridge thus eliminating the need to download photos to a computer for printing. It is powered by a Lithium-ion LI8 battery.