Underwater camera reviews

[Gordon Laing]

Hi everyone, we have recently reviewed two good underwater cameras:

Canon PowerShot D10

and

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / FT1

These are both good models to consider if you're shopping for an underwater camera. For more details please click the names above to visit each review.

[C40D]

Hi Gordon,
I posted a thread a while back asking about what camera is best for travel that was waterproof. At the time you suggested the Olympus E-620 vs the Canon Powershot D10. I held of buying and waited to the last minute to buy a camera due to the holiday price drops and was fairly sure I was going to get the D10. During that time the Panasonic Lumix FT1 came out and sat as the biggest rival to the D10 with good reason. I'm sure by now you can see where this is going.

Most of the reviews I have read suggest that IF you are looking for a camera that is mainly to be used IN the water then the D10 is the winner. However, IF you are looking for a waterproof camera that is to mainly be used OUT of the water, the Panasonic takes it home. If only it were that simple. (For me anyway)

Though tests show that the Panasonic has better optical zoom, better battery life, better video, a bigger LCD screen, and is generally better "in almost every respect" the Canon produces better image quality and has no problems with video converting. I have read several instances where problems arose with transferring/converting the Panasonics AVCHD videos. Also noted is the slow turn on time, slow response time, and even as one review put it, hard to even tell when it has started recording. It has worse accuracy in Auto white mode than the D10 and as often mentioned, "stiff mode dial". There are a few more problems that I won't mention, I just wanted to point out a few to make a point. None the less, it is on par with the D10 in all the reviews I have read. I am not trying to make the Canon look like the better of the two I just need help deciding which one to buy with a more solid decision based on more than simply deciding if I will be using it more under or above water.

So, as the experts, and other members that read this, I ask, money aside, what would you personally chose and why?

[joan frazier]

Hi Gordon,
I posted a thread a while back asking about what camera is best for travel that was waterproof. At the time you suggested the Olympus E-620 vs the Canon Powershot D10. I held of buying and waited to the last minute to buy a camera due to the holiday price drops and was fairly sure I was going to get the D10. During that time the Panasonic Lumix FT1 came out and sat as the biggest rival to the D10 with good reason. I'm sure by now you can see where this is going.

Most of the reviews I have read suggest that IF you are looking for a camera that is mainly to be used IN the water then the D10 is the winner. However, IF you are looking for a waterproof camera that is to mainly be used OUT of the water, the Panasonic takes it home. If only it were that simple. (For me anyway)

Though tests show that the Panasonic has better optical zoom, better battery life, better video, a bigger LCD screen, and is generally better "in almost every respect" the Canon produces better image quality and has no problems with video converting. I have read several instances where problems arose with transferring/converting the Panasonics AVCHD videos. Also noted is the slow turn on time, slow response time, and even as one review put it, hard to even tell when it has started recording. It has worse accuracy in Auto white mode than the D10 and as often mentioned, "stiff mode dial". There are a few more problems that I won't mention, I just wanted to point out a few to make a point. None the less, it is on par with the D10 in all the reviews I have read. I am not trying to make the Canon look like the better of the two I just need help deciding which one to buy with a more solid decision based on more than simply deciding if I will be using it more under or above water.

So, as the experts, and other members that read this, I ask, money aside, what would you personally chose and why?

---I totally agree with this. Canon has great features (much more for underwater cameras) , I really do not have underwater camera.(that's why, i got here in this thread. I'll go with Canon D10. Thanks!


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[MartinElvin]

Hi everyone, we have recently reviewed two good underwater cameras:

Canon PowerShot D10

and

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / FT1

These are both good models to consider if you're shopping for an underwater camera. For more details please click the names above to visit each review.

Great mate very attractive piece of tehnology..I think now I have to sell my old camera for this one lolzz...

Nice

[janetbrand28]

hi, canon's powershot is really great for vacations in beaches. its cool to use underwater. speccailly if you go on caves.. its really cool.

[Citruspers]

Can we also get a review for the Casio Exfilm G1? It's the camera I'm looking at at this moment

[Gordon Laing]

Hi janetbrand28, I've removed your signature as it links to a commercial site and therefore deemed advertising according to our forum rules.

[HopJack]

TS1 has been on my belt for two years, carry it everywhere rain or shine. Dropped at least eight or ten times from waist height on various surfaces except concrete. The exposed lens has many micro scratches that are unavoidable and it's easy to smudge, about my only complaint

[Trott-seagal]

Canon's PowerShot A and S line of the time were being made as small as contemporary technology allowed,[1] and demonstrated the demand for a small digital camera of good quality. Canon used its experience with small film cameras, particularly the APS IXUS, to mass-produce good digital cameras smaller than anyone else had managed up to the time (the first Digital IXUS was the smallest 2MP then available[2]) and reused the popular IXUS/IXY/ELPH brand name with the tag line "The DIGITAL IXUS blends Canon's award-winning IXUS design with PowerShot digital technology."[3]

The first Digital IXUS, released in June 2000 fitted the technology of the PowerShot S10 into a body similar to the APS IXUS II.[4] Between 2003 and 2004, starting with the Digital IXUS II, Canon moved from the use of CF cards to SD cards to create thinner cameras.

[Uglysos]

that do really useful to the friends who like the under-water sports , I am also considering these . keep watching

[printbucket]

I would strongly suggest Canon as well but like C40D has posted, it depends on if you plan to use it underwater most of the time or not.

[HopJack]

Perhaps Mr. Laing could get his hands on a Coolpix AW100 "tough camera" for a review. I would seriously consider this camera as a replacement for when my Lumix TS1 is no longer tough enough

[JackBurton]

Hi Gordon,
I posted a thread a while back asking about what camera is best for travel that was waterproof. At the time you suggested the Olympus E-620 vs the Canon Powershot D10. I held of buying and waited to the last minute to buy a camera due to the holiday price drops and was fairly sure I was going to get the D10. During that time the Panasonic Lumix FT1 came out and sat as the biggest rival to the D10 with good reason. I'm sure by now you can see where this is going.

Most of the reviews I have read suggest that IF you are looking for a camera that is mainly to be used IN the water then the D10 is the winner. However, IF you are looking for a waterproof camera that is to mainly be used OUT of the water, the Panasonic takes it home. If only it were that simple. (For me anyway)

Though tests show that the Panasonic has better optical zoom, better battery life, better video, a bigger LCD screen, and is generally better "in almost every respect" the Canon produces better image quality and has no problems with video converting. I have read several instances where problems arose with transferring/converting the Panasonics AVCHD videos. Also noted is the slow turn on time, slow response time, and even as one review put it, hard to even tell when it has started recording. It has worse accuracy in Auto white mode than the D10 and as often mentioned, "stiff mode dial". There are a few more problems that I won't mention, I just wanted to point out a few to make a point. None the less, it is on par with the D10 in all the reviews I have read. I am not trying to make the Canon look like the better of the two I just need help deciding which one to buy with a more solid decision based on more than simply deciding if I will be using it more under or above water.

So, as the experts, and other members that read this, I ask, money aside, what would you personally chose and why?

I couldn't have said it better! I would definitely go for the Canon D10 because the underwater shots that it can get are breath taking! Have fun shooting with whatever you decide on!

[RowanTreee]

I am having a hard time deciding on what waterproof camera to get.. I love the reviews provided on this site by Gordon - very informative - what you want to know..not just the basic review of camera functions and style.. I am sort of leaning towards the Panasonic but have found two versions online:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS25A 16 MP Waterproof Digital Still Camera
and the
Panasonic Lumix TS20 16.1 MP TOUGH Waterproof Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom

Can anyone tell me the difference between the two?

Also how does the Pentax WG-3 compare?

Keen to get some feedback.
Cheers

[coreythompson]

I have been a huge fan of Cannon; therefore personally speaking that Cannon cameras are providing multiple features and facilities. So I am going to vote for Cannon for underwater photography.