Here’s a selection of cool, compact, submersible cameras designed to ride in and under the waves and withstand the rigors of rugged outdoor use!
Point-and-shoot digital cameras that can be splashed, dunked, and even submersed for pool or underwater shooting have been around for quite a while, but over the past year or so the waterproof, ruggedized, compact category has grown. When you take a closer look at this impressive array of gorgeous new entries from major manufacturers like Olympus, Canon, Pentax, Panasonic, and Fuji it’s not hard to see why these colorful distinctive looking, tough bodied, waterproof models are appealing to increasing numbers of active lifestyle consumers.
Indeed, this new breed of submersibles can be used by anyone who wants to be able to take pictures practically anywhere without worrying about their cameras. The fact that they’re really cool looking and function admirably as all-around picture takers only adds to their cachet.
If you already own late-model point-and shoots and don’t wish to acquire a second underwater model, Canon, Sony, Olympus and underwater specialists like Epoque offer another solution—attractively compact underwater housings and kits. They provide underwater capability at a relatively modest cost.
A Selection Of Waterproof Wonders For The Beachside Set
Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 and Tough-6000: When they say tough, they’re not kidding! These attractive new water babies are not merely waterproof, but also shockproof, freeze proof, crushproof, dustproof, and shake proof!
The 12MP Tough-8000 (MSRP: $399.99) has 24 shooting modes, can be submersed to 33 feet, withstand 220 pounds of crush pressure, survive a drop of 6.6 feet, and shoot up to 3MP images at 5 frames-per-sec, and up to 21 frames at 1 fps.
The 10MP Tough-6000 (MSRP: $299.99) has 25 shooting modes, can be submersed to 10 feet, withstand a 5-foot drop, and shoot up to 24 3MP frames at 4fps. Both models feature Intelligent Auto, Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and a 3.6X, 28-102mm equivalent optical zoom lens.
