Waterproof Digital Cameras
sensor pixels zoom/aperture shutter Mem IS? HD? LCD wgt. cost
Agfa DC600uw ? CCD 3680x2760 36.5/3.2 1/1000-8s SDHC no no 2.4" 131g $150
Canon D10 1/2.3"CCD 4000x3000 35-105/2.8-4.9 1/1500-15s SDHC yes no 2.5" 190g $320
Casio EX-G1 1/2.3"CCD 4000x3000 38-114/3.9-5.4 1/1250-4s uSD no yes 2.7" 124g $299
Fuji XP10 new 1/2.3"CCD 4000x3000 36-180/4.0-4.8 1/2000-.3s SDHC dig yes 2.7" 135g $200
Fuji Z33WP 1/2.3"CCD 3648x2736 35-105/3.7-4.2 1/2000-8s SDHC dig no 2.7" 110g $170
Fuji DS-260HD old 1/2" CCD 1280x1024 35-105/3.8-11 1/1000-1s SmrtMd no no ? 648g $250
Kodak DC5000 small CCD 1760x1168 30-60/3.0-7.6 1/755-1/2s CF no no 1.8" 454g $30
Olympus Tough8000 1/2.33"CCD 3968x2976 28-102/3.5-5.1 1/2000-.3s xD,uSD yes no 2.7" 179g $400
Olympus Tough8010 1/2.33"CCD 4288x3216 28-140/3.9-5.9 1/2000-.3s xD,uSD yes yes 2.7" 182g $400
Olympus Tough6000 1/2.3"CCD 3648x2736 28-102/3.5-5.1 1/2000-.3s xD,uSD yes no 2.7" 179g $300
Olympus Tough6020 1/2.3"CCD 4288x3216 28-140/3.9-5.9 1/2000-.3s xD,uSD yes yes 2.7" 182g $300
Olympus Tough3000 1/2.3"CCD 3968x2976 28-102/3.5-5.1 1/2000-4s xD,uSD yes yes 2.7" 159g $230
Olympus 550WP 1/2.33"CCD 3648x2736 38-114/3.5-5.0 1/1000-4s xD,uSD dig no 2.5" 167g $150
Olympus 1030SW 1/2.33"CCD 3648x2736 28-102/3.5-5.1 1/2000-.5s xD,uSD no no 2.7" 203g $277
Olympus 1050SW 1/2.33"CCD 3648x2736 38-114/3.5-5.0 1/1000-1s xD,uSD no no 2.7" 152g $267
Olympus 850SW old 1/2.35"CCD 3264x2448 38-114/3.5-5.0 1/1000-1s xD no no 2.5" 176g $234
Olympus 790SW old 1/2.3"CCD 3072x2304 38-114/3.5-5.0 1/2000-4s xD no no 2.5" 155g $205
Olympus 770SW old 1/2.3"CCD 3072x2304 38-114/3.5-5.0 1/2000-4s xD no no 2.5" 195g $370
Olympus 720SW old 1/2.3"CCD 3072x2304 38-114/3.5-5.0 1/1000-4s xD no no 2.5" 190g $280
Panasonic TS2/FT2 1/2.33"CCD 4320x3240 28-128/3.3-5.9 1/1300-60s SDHC yes yes 2.7" 188g $399
Panasonic TS1/FT1 1/2.33"CCD 4000x3000 28-128/3.3-5.9 1/3000-60s SDHC yes yes 2.7" 189g $379
Pentax W90 new 1/2.3"CCD 4000x3000 28-140/3.5-5.5 1/1500-4s SDHC yes yes 2.7" 144g $329
Pentax W80 1/2.3"CCD 4000x3000 28-140/3.5-5.5 1/1000-4s SDHC yes yes 2.5" 136g $299
Pentax W60 1/2.3"CCD 3647x2736 28-140/3.5-5.5 1/1500-4s SDHC no yes 2.5" 165g $246
Pentax W30 old 1/2.5"CCD 3072x2304 38-114/3.3-4.0 1/2000-4s SDHC no no 2.5" 155g $216
Pentax W20 old 1/2.5"CCD 3072x2304 38-114/3.3-4.0 1/2000-4s SD no no 2.5" 150g $135
Pentax W10 old 1/2.5"CCD 2816x2112 38-114/3.3-4.0 1/2000-4s SD no no 2.5" 140g $85
Pentax WPi old 1/2.5"CCD 2816x2112 38-114/3.3-4.0 1/2000-4s SD no no 2.0" 135g $75
Pentax WP old 1/2.5"CCD 2560x1920 38-114/3.3-4.0 1/2000-1s SD no no 2.0" 120g $65
Pentax 43WR old 1/2.7"CCD 2288x1712 37-104/2.8-3.9 1/2000-2s SD no no 1.6" 160g $55
Pentax 33WR old 1/2.7"CCD 2048x1536 37-104/2.8-3.9 1/2000-4s SD no no 1.6" 160g $45
Samsung AQ100 new 1/2.3i3"CCD 4000x3000 35-175/3.6-4.8 1/1200-8s SDHC no yes 2.7" 121g $182
Sony TX5 new 1/2.3"CMOS 3648x2736 25-100/3.5-6.3 1/1600-2s SDHC,MS yes yes 3.0" 148g $349
Sony DSC-U60 small CCD 1632x1224 33mm f/2.8 1/2000-.2s MemSt no no 1.0" 191g $10
Other Good Digital Cameras
If you already have a digital camera, you might be able to buy a waterproof case for it,
but the cost of these cases (perhaps due to insurance) is almost as much as the cost of a waterproof camera.
I carry my camera in an airtight Pelican box, and often stand on dry land to take a picture.
Canon, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony
make digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, often usable on 35mm film cameras.
Choosing between these brands involves a major commitment,
because most brands are incompatible with each other.
sensor pixels zoom/aperture shutter Mem IS? HD? LCD wgt. cost
Canon G11 1/1.7"CCD 3648x2736 28-140/2.8-4.5 1/4000-15s SDHC yes no 2.8" 375g $499
Canon S90 1/1.7"CCD 3648x2736 28-105/2.0-4.9 1/1600-15s SDHC yes no 3.0" 175g $429
Casio H10HG GPS 1/2.3"CCD 3648x2736 24-240/3.2-5.7 1/2000-4s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 201g ?
Fuji F80EXR 1/2"CCD 4000x3000 27-270/3.3-5.6 1/2000-8s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 183g $290
Fuji F200EXR old 1/1.6"CCD 4000x3000 28-140/3.3-5.1 1/1500-8s SDHC,xD yes no 3.0" 175g $310
Fuji F300EXR 1/2"CCD 4000x3000 24-360/3.5-5.3 1/2000-8s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 215g $330
Kodak Z1012 (AA) 1/2.33"CCD 3648x2736 33-396/2.8-4.8 1/3200-.3s SD yes yes 2.5" 375g $250
Nikon P6000 GPS 1/1.72"CCD 4224x3168 28-112/2.7-5.9 1/2000-30s SDHC yes no 2.7" 280g $449
Olympus EP1 4/3 4/3"liveMOS 4032x3024 28-84/3.5-5.6 1/4000-60s SDHC yes no 3.0" 485g $653
Panasonic GF1 4/3 4/3"liveMOS 4000x3000 28-90/3.5-5.6 1/4000-60s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 580g $899
Panasonic LX3 1/1.63"CCD 3648x2736 24-60/2.0-2.8 1/2000-60s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 256g $399
Panasonic LX5 1/1.63"CCD 3648x2736 24-90/2.0-3.3 1/4000-60s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 271g $499
Panasonic ZS7/TZ10 1/2.33"CCD 4000x3000 25-300/3.3-4.9 1/2000-60s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 206g $400
Ricoh CX3 HDR 1/2.3"CMOS 3648x2736 28-200/3.3-5.2 1/2000-8s SDHC yes yes 3.0" 180g $399
Samsung TL500/EX1 1/1.7"CCD 3648x2736 24-72/1.8-2.4 1/5600-15s SDHC yes no 3.0"! 330g $429
" HZ35/WB650 GPS 1/2.3"CCD 4000x3000 24-360/2.8-5.8 1/2000-16s SDHC yes yes 3.0"! 245g $350
Sony HX5V GPS 1/2.4"CMOS 3648x2736 25-250/3.5-5.5 1/1600-30s SDHC,MS yes yes 3.0" 200g $350
Water-Resistant Film Cameras
For whitewater photography with film,
the Pentax IQzoom WR-90 and its successors were very popular.
The Yashica T4 Super and Olympus Stylus Epic produced better results,
though without zoom capability.
The WR-90 and WR-105 can be submerged; the T4 Super cannot.
focalLength aperture(Min) shutterSpeed wgt. cost
Canon Sure Shot WP1 UW 32mm f/3.5 (16?) 1/250-2s 300g $135
Konica Mermaid UW 35mm f/3.5 (22?) 1/360-7s ±1½ 353g $180
Leica C3 zoom +box WR 28-80mm f/3.6-7.9 (?) 1/370-99s 270g $380
Minolta Weathermatic UW 35mm/50mm f/3.5/5.6 only 1/150-1/40 400g $210
Nikonos-V (MFW) UW 35mm+80mm S f/2.8 (22) 1/1000-1/30 700g $1015
Olympus Stylus Epic WR 35mm f/2.8 (11) 1/1000-4s 134g $100
Olympus Stylus Wide 80 WR 28-80mm f/4.5-8.4 (11) 1/500-2s 255g $180
Olympus Stylus Wide 100 WR 28-100mm f/4.6-11.9 (11) 1/500-2s 220g $200
Pentax IQzoom WR 90 WR! 38-90mm+M f/3.5-7.5 (8) 1/400-1/5 440g $200
Pentax IQzoom WR 105 WR! 38-105mm f/4.5-11.0 (11) 1/400-4s 360g $230
Ricoh RW-1 WR 34mm f/4.4 only 1/100-1/40 250g $ 85
Samsung AF 444 WR WR 35mm f/4.5 only 1/125 210g $ 70
Vivitar A35 Splash WR 35mm f/4.5 only 1/125 210g $ 60
Yashica T4 Super WR 35mm f/3.5 (15.5) 1/700-1s 200g $150
Yashica T4*Zoom nonWR 28-70mm f/4.5-8 (16?) 1/360-90s ±1½ 195g $199