Camera List with Weatherproof Models

 

For photographers seeking a waterproof digital camera, there are several good choices. The Olympus 770SW is extremely shock resistant and waterproof to great depths. A downside is that it takes xD memory cards, which seem to be nearing their end of life. The Pentax Optio W20 is slightly less expensive, and takes mainstream SD memory cards, but is not quite as tough as the Olympus. I have seen great results from the Pentax, so it seems to me that Pentax remains king of the water-resistant cameras, as they have been since introducing the WR-90 almost two decades ago.

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 Pentax W20.

In alphabetical order. Smallest aperture of zoom cameras measured at wide angle. Prices as quoted by B&H Photo, Cameraworld, or Adorama.


                              focalLength  aperture(Min)  shutterSpeed   wgt.  cost

Bronica RF-645 mFmt            45/65/135mm f/4-f/4.5 (22)  1/750-8sec  ±2  810g $1799
Canon 5D 4368x2912 DSLR        24-105 f/4.0 S full-frame   1/8000-30s  ±2 1565g $3000
Canon 20D 3504x2336 DSLR       17-85 f/4.0-5.6 S crop 1.6x 1/8000-30s  ±2 1160g $2000
Canon 350D 3504x2336 DSLR      18-55 f/3.5-5.6 S crop 1.6x 1/4000-30s  ±2  675g $1000
Canon G6 3072x2704 2fps        35-140mm Dg f/2.0-3.0 (8?)  1/2000-15s  ±2  467g  $700
Canon S70 3072x2704 1fps  case 28-100mm Dg f/2.8-5.3 (8?)  1/1500-15s  ±2  230g  $549
Canon Sure Shot WP1         UW 32mm        f/3.5 (16?)     1/250-2sec      300g  $135
Canon Sure Shot Z90W           28-90mm     f/4.5-9.9 (15)  1/640-2s   ±1½  245g  $135
Canon Sure Shot Classic        38-120mm    f/4.5-10.9 (18) 1/770-2s   ±1½  250g  $200
Canon Rebel2K 1.5fps SLR       28-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/2000-30s  ±2  707g  $480
Canon Elan 7e 3.5fps SLR       28-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/4000-30s  ±3  947g  $760
Contax T3 titanium             35mm     AP f/2.8 (22?)     1/1200-3min ±2  230g  $699
Contax TVS 3                   30-60mm  AP f/3.7-6.7 (16)  1/1000-16s  ±2  312g $1050
Contax N1 3.5fps SLR           24-85mm   S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/8000-30s  ±2 1435g $2498
Fuji S8000fd 3264x2448 1.3fps  27-486mm Dg f/2.8-4.5 (?)   1/2000-3s   ±2  510g  $499
Fuji F31fd 2848x2136 .5fps     36-108mm Dg f/2.8-5.0 (?)   1/2000-15s  ±2  185g  $249
Fuji E900 3848x2616 1.5fps     32-128mm Dg f/2.8-5.6 (?)   1/2000-15s      202g  $500
Fuji BigJob HD-3W 6megapixel   28-84mm  Dg  ?              ?               ?     $549
Fuji DS-260HD 1280x1024     UW 35-105mm Dg f? (?)          1/1000-1/4s     700g  $800
Fuji DL Super Mini Zoom        28-56mm     f/4.5-7.5 (?)   1/500-1sec  ±2  202g  $239
Fuji Zoom Date (Silvi) F2.8    24-50mm     f/2.8-5.6 (16)  1/350-1sec   ?  170g  $208
Fuji Zoom Date 1000            28-100mm    f/5.8-10.5 (?)  1/500-1sec      175g  $200
Fuji GA-645Zi mFmt P&S         55-90mm     f/4.5-6.9 (22)  1/700-2sec  ±3  885g $1890
Hasselblad Xpan panorama       45mm        f/4.0 (22)      1/1000-8s   ±2  955g $1995
Kodak DC5000 1760x1168      WR 30-60mm  Dg f/3.0-7.6 (?)   1/755-1/2s  ±2  454g  $630
Konica Mermaid              UW 35mm        f/3.5 (22?)     1/360-7s   ±1½  353g  $180
Konica Lexio 70                28-70mm     f/3.4-7.9 (16)  1/500-1s   +1½  179g  $150
Leica Z2X zoom                 35-70mm     f/4.0-7.6 (20)  1/300-1/4s  +2  245g  $300
Leica C3 zoom +box          WR 28-80mm     f/3.6-7.9 (?)   1/370-99sec     270g  $380
Leica Minilux                  40mm        f/2.4 (22)      1/400-1s    ±2  328g  $700
Leica Minilux Zoom             35-70mm     f/3.5-6.5 (22)  1/250-1s    ±2  417g  $850
Mamiya 645AFD mFmt SLR         55-110mm    f/4.5 fixd (22) 1/4000-30s  ±3 2600g $4648
Mamiya 6MF 6x6 mFmt RF         75mm        f/3.5 (22)      1/500-4s    +2 1150g $2796
Mamiya 7 6x7 mFmt RF           80mm        f/4.0 (22)      1/500-4s    +2 1210g $3278
Minolta 5D 6.1Mp 3fps DSLR     18-70mm   S f/3.5-5.5 (22)  1/4000-30s  ±3  830g  $900
Minolta 7D 6.1Mp 3fps DSLR     24-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/4000-30s  ±3 1155g $1200
Minolta Freedom Explorer       28-75mm     f/3.5-8.9 (16)  1/500-4sec      240g  $145
Minolta Weathermatic        UW 35mm/50mm   f/3.5/5.6 only  1/150-1/40      400g  $210
Minolta Maxxum 5 3fps SLR      24-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/4000-30s  ±3  730g  $690
Nikon D70s 6.1Mp 3fps DSLR     24-120/3.5-5.6 S crop 1.5x  1/8000-30s  ±5 1170g $1489
Nikon Coolpix 5700 2560x1920   35-280mm Dg f/2.8-4.2 (8)   1/4000-8s   ±2  512g $1200
Nikon N80 2.5fps SLR           28-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/4000-30s  ±3  991g  $790
Nikonos-V (MFW)             UW 35mm+80mm S f/2.8 (22)      1/1000-1/30     700g $1015
Olympus E-1 SLR 5½Mp 3fps   WR 28-108mm Dg f/2.8-3.5 (22)  1/4000-60s  ±5 1094g $2299
Olympus E-300 SLR 8Mp 2fps     28-90mm  Dg f/3.5-5.6 (22?) 1/4000-30s  ±5  867g  $999
Olympus 720 SW 3072x2304   WR! 38-114mm Dg f/3.5-5.0 (16?) 1/1000-1/2s ±2  190g  $350
Olympus 770 SW 3072x2304   UW  38-114mm Dg f/3.5-5.0 (16?) 1/1000-1/2s ±2  155g  $350
Olympus IS-50 ZLR              28-120mm    f/4.9-6.8 (22)  1/2000-4sec ±2  649g  $280
Olympus IS-5(K) ZLR            28-140mm    f/4.9-6.9 (22)  1/2000-4sec ±2  649g  $350
Olympus IS-3(K) 2fps ZLR       35-180mm    f/4.5-5.6 (22)  1/2000-4sec ±4  961g  $450
Olympus Stylus Epic         WR 35mm        f/2.8 (11)      1/1000-4sec     134g  $100
Olympus Stylus Wide 80      WR 28-80mm     f/4.5-8.4 (11)  1/500-2sec      255g  $180
Olympus Stylus Wide 100     WR 28-100mm    f/4.6-11.9 (11) 1/500-2sec      220g  $200
Panasonic FZ20 5Mp 2-3fps Dg   36-432mm    f/2.8-2.8 (8)   1/2000-8sec ±2  519g  $500
Panasonic FZ15 4Mp 2-3fps Dg   36-432mm    f/2.8-2.8 (8)   1/2000-8sec ±2  519g  $400
Panasonic FZ3 3Mp 2-3fps Dg    35-420mm    f/2.8-2.8 (8)   1/2000-8sec ±2  292g  $500
Pentax istDS 6.1Mp 2.8fps DSLR 16-45/4.0 S crop 1.54x      1/4000-30s  ±3  870g $1230
Pentax Optio 33WR 2048x1536 UW 37-104mm Dg f/2.8-3.9 (16?) 1/2000-4sec ±2  208g   old
Pentax Optio 43WR 2272x1704 UW 37-104mm Dg f/2.8-3.9 (16?) 1/2000-4sec ±2  207g   old
Pentax Optio WPi 2816x2112  UW 38-114mm Dg f/3.3-4.0 (16?) 1/2000-4sec ±2  135g   old
Pentax Optio W10 2816x2112  UW 38-114mm Dg f/3.3-4.0 (16?) 1/2000-4sec ±2  160g  $250
Pentax Optio W20 3072x2304  UW 38-114mm Dg f/3.3-4.0 (16?) 1/2000-4sec ±2  135g  $300
Pentax 645N mFmt SLR           45-85mm   S f/4.5 fixd (22) 1/1000-30s  ±3 2150g $3550
Pentax 645N mFmt SLR           55-110mm  S f/5.6 fixd (22) 1/1000-30s  ±3 1782g $2395
Pentax Espio 24EW              24-105mm    f/4.9-12.5 (16) 1/400-2sec  ±3  200g  $240
Pentax IQzoom 928              28-90mm     f/3.5-9.0 (9)   1/400-1/5   ±3  315g  $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) 1/400-4sec      360g  $230
Pentax ZX-5n 1.8fps SLR        24-90mm   S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/2000-30s  ±3  765g  $860
Ricoh Caplio Rx 2048x1536      28-100mm Dg f/3.1-5.8 (16?) 1/2000-8s   ±2  165g  ?
Ricoh GR-1v                    28mm     AP f/2.8 (22)      1/500-2sec  ±2  178g  $350
Ricoh RW-1                  WR 34mm        f/4.4 only      1/100-1/40      250g  $ 85
Rollei Giro 70 WA              28-70mm     f/5.6-10 (22?)  1/250-1sec  y   200g  $170
Rollei Prego 90 old            28-90mm     f/3.6-9.8 (16?) 1/400-1/3s  ±3  320g  $170
Rollei Prego 30                30mm        f/3.6 (22?)     1/500-1/3s      150g  $150
Rollei AFM35 (Klasse)          38mm     AP f/2.6 (16)      1/1000-1/2s +2  250g  $299
Samsung AF 444 WR           WR 35mm        f/4.5 only      1/125           210g  $ 70
Samsung Evoca 90W Neo          28-90mm     f/4.5-11 (22?)  1/400-1sec B    250g  $150
Sony DSC-V1 2592x1944    +case 34-136mm Dg f/2.8-4 (22?)   1/1000-30s  ±2  291g  $600
Sony DSC-F828 3264x2448        28-200mm Dg f/2.0-2.8 (22)  1/3200-30s  ±2  962g $1000
Sony DSC-U60 1632x1224      UW 33mm     Dg f/2.8 (22?)     1/2000-1/8s     191g  $230
Vivitar A35 Splash          WR 35mm        f/4.5 only      1/125           210g  $ 60
Yashica T4 Super            WR 35mm        f/3.5 (15.5)    1/700-1sec      200g  $150
Yashica T4*Zoom                28-70mm     f/4.5-8 (16?)   1/360-120s ±1½  195g  $199

        AP   aperture priority mode, includes exposure override
	Dg   digital, images must be uploaded to a computer
	M    macro lens setting
	mFmt medium format: for 35mm zoom equivalent, multiply by .62
        MFW  manual focus and manual wind
        ±N   provides plus or minus N stops exposure override
	S    system camera with interchangeable lenses
        UW   underwater camera suitable for diving
        WR   weather resistant or splashproof (! class V)

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.

For an even-handed evaluation of the best compact film cameras, see John McCormack's Zoom Point & Shoot Comparison Table. There are links to discussions of non-zoom compacts. For helpful hints about using a compact camera, see John's Tips and Tricks For Better P&S Photography. It is well worth reading John's links to related information.

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