Camera List with Weatherproof Models

If you are looking for the film comparison table, here it is.

Waterproof Digital Cameras
Other Good Digital Cameras
Water-Resistant Film Cameras
Other Good Film Cameras

Five new waterproof cameras were announced in February 2009. Canon, Olympus, and Panasonic all introduced models with image stabilization, sorely missing from this market until now. Pentax followed with image stabilization in June 2009. Now that these models have been reviewed and appear in stores, the choice between them is not clear-cut. Pentax models remain the top choice for features and flexibility. The Canon model seems best for underwater work. The Panasonic models had the best image quality by a small margin, but are least waterproof, although the new model improves a bit. In 2010 Sony released the TX5, which seems even better for image quality.

The Olympus Tough cameras are shock resistant and waterproof to great depths. One downside is that they take xD memory cards, which are slow and expensive. Instead I recommend the provided xD to μSD adapter and μSD memory. The Pentax Optio cameras are slightly less expensive, and take mainstream SD memory cards, but are not quite as tough as the high-end Olympus model. I have seen great results from previous Pentax models, although sometimes pictures get ruined by droplets of water on the lens cover. This can be mitigated by use of Cat Crap (actual product name) to prevent accumulation of water droplets.

If you have a waterproof Pelican box and shoot from a boat or on shore, you would probably be happy with any of the listed non-waterproof cameras below. For a good collection of digital camera reviews including database search with useful feature queries, see the Digital Camera Resource website.

Pentax W80		Sony TX5

Within categories, cameras are listed in alphabetical order. Prices as once quoted by B&H Photo or Adorama.

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

Other Good Film Cameras

These film cameras produce generally superior results to the water-resistant film cameras.

                              focalLength  aperture(Min)   shutterSpeed   wgt.  cost

Bronica RF-645 mFmt            45/65/135mm f/4-f/4.5 (22)  1/750-8s  ±2   810g $1799
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?)     1/1200-3mn ±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 DL Super Mini Zoom        28-56mm     f/4.5-7.5 (?)   1/500-1s   ±2  202g  $239
Fuji Zoom Date (Silvi) F2.8    24-50mm     f/2.8-5.6 (16)  1/350-1s    ?  170g  $208
Fuji Zoom Date 1000            28-100mm    f/5.8-10.5 (?)  1/500-1s       175g  $200
Fuji GA-645Zi mFmt P&S         55-90mm     f/4.5-6.9 (22)  1/700-2s  ±3   885g $1890
Hasselblad Xpan panorama       45mm        f/4.0 (22)      1/1000-8s  ±2  955g $1995
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 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 Freedom Explorer       28-75mm     f/3.5-8.9 (16)  1/500-4s       240g  $145
Minolta Maxxum 5 3fps SLR      24-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/4000-30s ±3  730g  $690
Nikon N80 2.5fps SLR           28-105mm  S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/4000-30s ±3  991g  $790
Olympus IS-50 ZLR              28-120mm    f/4.9-6.8 (22)  1/2000-4s  ±2  649g  $280
Olympus IS-5(K) ZLR            28-140mm    f/4.9-6.9 (22)  1/2000-4s  ±2  649g  $350
Olympus IS-3(K) 2fps ZLR       35-180mm    f/4.5-5.6 (22)  1/2000-4s  ±4  961g  $450
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) 1/400-2s   ±3  200g  $240
Pentax IQzoom 928              28-90mm     f/3.5-9.0 (9)   1/400-1/5  ±3  315g  $200
Pentax ZX-5n 1.8fps SLR        24-90mm   S f/3.5-4.5 (22)  1/2000-30s ±3  765g  $860
Ricoh GR-1v                    28mm     AP f/2.8 (22)      1/500-2s   ±2  178g  $350
Rollei Giro 70 WA              28-70mm     f/5.6-10 (22?)  1/250-1s   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 Evoca 90W Neo          28-90mm     f/4.5-11 (22?)  1/400-1s B     250g  $150

        AP   aperture priority mode, includes exposure override
	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)

Camera List with Weatherproof Models

Contents

Waterproof Digital Cameras

Other Good Digital Cameras

Water-Resistant Film Cameras

Other Good Film Cameras

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