Recommendations for waterproof camera?

[thegman]

Hi all,
I'm going to Hawaii in about 6 weeks with my girlfriend, I thought as a surprise I'd buy her a waterproof compact digital camera to take along. I don't know much about these sorts of cameras, and wonder if anyone has any recommendations? I'm looking to spend < £200 UKP, it should be nice to look at (i.e. not a big yellow plastic bulbous thing), and be able to work reliably in and out of the water. I've had a cheap waterproof camera before which pretty much seized up after coming out of the water.

I'd like to buy brand new, for the warranty etc.

Basically, I'm after a good looking digicam, small, and as at home in a shark cage as walking around town.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Garry

 

[gavinlg]

My father has one of the olympus underwater digitals, and it's pretty robust and works quite well. I'd go between one of those, a panasonic or a canon. They're all pretty similar.

 

[Phantomas]

Canon makes underwater cases for most of their compacts. I've used A620 (a prosumer with munual controls) with the original underwater case. Works great and the case is pretty advanced (allows easy use of all the buttons/functions on the camera).
I'm actually planning to sell the set, but obviously you're after brand new, still check out Canon.

 

[thegman]

I think I want a camera which is waterproof, vs. a case for one that isn't, the Olympus ones are winning the day so far I think.

 

[thegman]

Hmm, probably not quite what I'm looking for...

 

[breathstealer]

The Canon D10 looks pretty good, especially because it doesn't have a moving lens cover that could get jammed by sand.

 

[DabCan10]

A friend of mine had an Olympus he bought a couple years ago. He's notoriously hard on his stuff and the camera looks like it's been run over by a truck a few times, but it still works great. When he first got it he used to show off the waterproofness by dunking it in people's glasses of water at dinner... I think the store even suggested running it under the tap to clean it.

 

[Andy Kibber]

If you want to know if she's the one, get her a Nikonos and watch her reaction carefully.

 

[thegman]

She may indeed be the one, but she'd have her doubts about me if I got her that...

 

[charjohncarter]

Digital Pentax W90, and for film a fun one is the Canon AS-6, good to 10 feet, it has a flash that can be used underwater. The AS-6 is used and you can find them on Ebay, I got one for 99 cents, but you know what shipping is.

 

[thegman]

I'll take a look at the Pentax, I'd be happy with film, and 99% of my shooting will be with film, but for the young lady, she'd prefer digital.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

whatever you do don't buy one of those "ziplock" like waterproof cases, ask me how I know 😉

Todd

 

[thegman]

Hey Todd, how do you know? 🙂

I think I'm considering between the Pentax W80 and Lumix TS1, both have HD video, which now I think about it, I think she'd quite like.