Waterproof Digital Cameras

Following in the footsteps of earlier Tough Series compacts, the Olympus TG-310 Digital Camera comes with its own brawn beneath its beauty. It is waterproof, shockproof, freeze-proof, and, perhaps best of all, it won’t bust your budget.

This camera will go with you wherever you go. Even to the pool and the beach and not just on the surface. It will go as deep as 10 feet where you can take photos of your kids as they try to find out who among them can hold their breath underwater the longest. You can also take it beneath the ocean waves to capture colorful fishes swimming around undulating seaweeds and hiding among the crevices in the coral reefs.

If you are more into winter sports, the TG-310 can also come in handy to capture your freestyle skiing maneuvers. It continues clicking and capturing photos even in freezing temperatures. Indeed, it can handle temperatures of 14°F.

And if occasionally it slips through your hands, you need not worry. It has a body that is rugged enough to take a fall from up to five feet, and a construction that is designed to absorb drops, bumps, and other shocks.

Apart from being tough, the Olympus TG-310 Digital Camera is also beautiful outside and inside. There are five attractive colors you can choose from to suit your style –blue, orange, red, silver, and white.

Inside the tough casing is a 14-megapixel CCD sensor for excellent image reproduction. With its 3.6x optical zoom, the equivalent of 28 mm in a 35 mm format camera, you can capture wide landscapes and seascapes. In addition to the stills, the camera’s One-Touch HD Movie allows you to record 720p HD movies.

New with the TG series is the 3D Photo Mode, which shoots a scene from two different angles that, when viewed from a 3D-enabled screen, are combined to create a three-dimensional image reaching out to you.

Boasting of an image sensor with 12.2 megapixels, the Bell & Howell Splash WP5 Waterproof Camera captures high-resolution still images that can be enlarged or cropped yet remain vivid and sharp. It features a 5x digital zoom allowing you to get close to your subject without taking a single step towards it. With 12 scene modes, it is easy to take excellent photos. You only need to adjust the camera to the appropriate conditions and it will automatically choose the best aperture, shutter speed, and ISO setting for you. It also incorporates Face Detection and Smile Shutter settings, which automatically takes a picture once it detects a smiling face. When shooting in low light conditions, the built-in flash will supply sufficient light to illuminate your subject.

In addition to taking stills, the Splash WP5 can also record videos at 30 frames per second (FPS) with a resolution of 740 x 480. You won’t just be taking silent movies, as the camera is able to record sounds.

A 2.7-inch LCD screen helps your compose your photos without squinting and straining your eyes. Your photos and videos are stored in an included 2GB SD card. You can, however, use a card of up to 16GB if you like to take loads and loads of photos. And if you want to print them, you can link the camera directly to your printer because it is PictBridge enabled. If you would rather upload the photos to your laptop or PC, you can use the built-in USB interface.

Best of all, though, is that the Bell & Howell Splash WP5 Waterproof Camera will not only take photos while you are out walking in the rain or frolicking on snow, but also when diving into the pool, lake, or the sea. You can take it down ten feet deep and not worry about water seeping into the camera. You can shoot still photos of your kids as they dive underwater or videos of fish swimming just above the seabed.

Speedo International Ltd. evolved from the MacRae and Company Hosiery that was founded by Alexander MacRae in 1914. Thirteen years later, the company came up with the racer-back costume, its first line of swimwear. The rest, as the well-worn cliché goes, is history. Speedo has gone even beyond swimwear. It now offers swim-related accessories including goggles, swim caps, hand paddles, training fins, as well as waterproof wristwatches and MP3 players, and the Speedo 7410066-315 Waterproof Digital Camera.

The Speedo camera features a 5.0 megapixel sensor with an 8x digital zoom. It can capture both still photos as well as videos, with the former in JPEG and the latter in AVI formats. These can be stored in an internal memory with a capacity of 32MB. However, if this proves insufficient, a slot is provided for an SDHC card for additional storage.

As with other Speedo products, the camera is designed to go swimming. It can dive down to three meters underwater where you can shoot schools of fish, a sea turtle, or even a shark, or perhaps colorful sea weeds and plants undulating with the water current.

If, in spite of its rubberized grip that is intended to provide a secure hold, you accidentally let go of the camera while in the water, there is no need to dive deeper to catch it as it floats on water. If you do this on land, there is also no need to worry as it is shock resistant up to a height of one meter.

At the back of the camera is a 2.4-inch LCD screen for ease in the composition of your photos. It also has a built-in flash for shooting in low-light conditions. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

The Speedo 7410066-315 Waterproof Digital Camera measures 4.4″ W x 1.6″ D x 3.1″ H, and weighs approximately 13 ounces. It is available in green, pink, and white.

Pentax has a list of waterproof digital cameras that are designed to expand your photography options by breaking the barriers to taking pictures underwater. Among them is the Pentax Optio WP Waterproof Digital Camera.

The Optio WP is a compact digital camera with dimensions of only 4″ W x 2″ H x 0.8″ D and a weight of 1.5 pounds. At this size, the camera can easily fit into your shirt pocket allowing you to easily retrieve it should a picture-perfect image suddenly emerge. In spite of its small size, the camera can be grasped securely and firmly as its grip is designed for a solid and secure hold.

The fixed lens together with the rubber gaskets on the battery and memory card door prevent the entry of water into the internal chambers of the camera. Indeed, this is effective enough to seal off water even at five feet deep. You can dunk the camera for as long as 30 minutes and not worry about it. This makes the Optio WP a great companion when you are out on the beach, lakes, or rivers.

Featuring a 5-megapixel CCD sensor, photos taken by the Optio WP can be printed on 8 x 10 paper without any loss of detail. You can shoot panoramic landscapes as well as close-ups with the camera’s 3x optical zoom. In the 35mm format, this is equivalent to a 38 to 114mm zoom lens. A 4x digital zoom further enlarges captured images.

Photo composition is made easy with the 2.0-inch LCD monitor. With low-reflection technology and backlighting, images on the monitor remain clear even when used under the sun.

In spite of its small body, the Sony Cyber-shot TX5 Digital Camera is big on features and performance. It is less than ¾ inch thick, 3¾ inches wide, and 2¼ inches tall. Along with its battery and memory stick media, it weighs approximately 5 ounces. You can keep it in your shirt pocket for a quick access in case you want to shoot a scene fast.

If, in your rush to pull it out of your pocket, you accidentally drop it, don’t worry. It is shockproof, and it can take a fall from up to five feet. You can even drop it on sand while sandboarding, into the water while wading in the pool, or on snow while skiing. The TX5 will not miss a beat. It is dustproof, waterproof, and freeze-proof. It has an airtight construction that seals off dust and water. It can also continue to capture photos in both extremes of the thermometer, from 14° to 104°F.

The back of the camera features a 3-inch wide LCD touch screen display that serves as the viewfinder and playback screen on which images are displayed in realistic and vivid colors. This eliminates the need for those small dials and buttons that can be hard to manipulate at times.

Featuring a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tesslar lens 4x optical zoom, it can bring distant objects closer for a frame-filling photo. Macro shooting is also possible as it can take pictures of objects as close as half an inch. At the same time, it is also capable of capturing panoramic scenes at an angle equivalent to a 25 mm lens.

The Sony Cyber-shot TX5 Digital Camera employes a 10-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor that takes advantage of the Carl Zeiss lens to deliver high resolution and fast light-sensitive photographs. This means you won’t need to wash out low-light scenes with the use of a flash.

The camera incorporates a long list of features and technologies designed to create beautiful and blur-free pictures without the need to adjust so many settings. It simplifies photography without sacrificing quality.

Unveiled in early 2010 the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 is one of the two latest additions to the Stylus Tough series of waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof digital cameras from Olympus. All indications point that the 8010 is the toughest of the lot.

Constructed with a rugged metal casing that incorporates shock absorbing capabilities, the 8010 can take a fall from over six feet high. And it doesn’t have to be on grass. Drop it on concrete and it will still continue to snap pictures.

If you drop it while riding downhill on your mountain bike and the next guy runs over it, don’t worry. The camera is tougher than the bike. It will need more than 200 LBF to put the camera out of commission.

In winter, you don’t have to hang your camera along with your bike. You can take it with you to the ski slopes and ask a friend to take your photos as you execute spins, flips, and other aerial acrobatics. Temperatures can dive to -10°C but the camera will not miss a single photo session.

Speaking of diving, you can also dive down 33 feet underwater to take photos of fish, seaweeds, and other marine life with the 8010. Special gaskets and seals keep water out.

The Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 is not only one tough camera. It takes great pictures too. It boasts of a 14-megapixel high-definition CCD sensor that captures vivid and clearly-defined images that can be enlarged without blurring.

Featuring a 5x optical zoom and 5X digital zoom, the camera’s lens is the equivalent of a 28 – 140 mm lens in 35 mm format camera. This allows you to get up close and personal with distant subjects without taking a single step towards them. It also allows you to shoot panoramic views of landscapes and seascapes.

Taking photo is easy with the 2.7″ LCD display. Its anti-glare technology means that it remains clear even in direct sunlight. Features like Dual Image Stabilization, Intelligent Auto, and Advanced Face Detection all help create pictures you’d be proud to share with your family and friends.

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.