Hey Guys.

My wife is extremely happy with the Canon PowerShot A720 IS that I bought her for Christmas. It takes great point and shoot pictures and the odd time I pick it up, it has enough settings to satisfy my urge to tweak.

I don't take a lot of pictures but used to enjoy taking shots out in the kayak with an older Canon Sureshot A1. After finding myself smack dab in the middle of a pod of porpoises on Sunday, I realized I reallllly need to start carrying a camera again.

Should I consider the waterproof case for her 720?
Pros:
-- Uses existing camera that takes nice pictures for our level of photography.
Cons:
-- at $270 dollars, I could probably get a good start on a second camera.
-- I'm borrowing my wife's camera for risky conditions. Need I say more.
-- Does it effect photo quality? I'm assuming for $270, it has a well designed optics section.

Should I grab a less expensive, universal, waterproofing case/bag.
Pros:
-- at <40 dollars, the price is negligible.
-- Uses existing camera that we know works well.
Cons:
-- Image quality reduction?
-- Borrowing wife's camera.....

Should I purchase a second camera, waterproof to begin with, and any advice on which models?
Price range would be $200 to $500 but the lower the better. These photos tend to be quick shots with little opportunity for set up. Generally for memories only, I'm not trying to get them published in a magazine or anything.


Thanks again. You folks were a great help last Christmas.

A waterproof case is meant to function down to 30 meters or something like that, so in a way it is overkill.

I rented a digital camera in a case for some of the dives I did in Australia a few years ago. It did give me great images. A pro might opt for a special purpose underwater camera for optimal image quality, but thats a whole other world.

I also rented a cheap Sea & Sea underwater camera for one dive and image quality was quite dissapointing, so a good digital camera in a case is better than a cheap underwater camera with crappy lenses.

The purpose built waterproof bags (the ones you can take pictures from) seem to work fine for surface pictures (they are quite waterproof), but do not handle preasure at all. I don't know how they affect image quality or how durable the bags are.

Certainly with either, you can go for a swim without worrying about the camera (unless if floats off or is swallowed by a whale).

I wonder if you can find somewhere to rent a camera and case to test one out? Maybe ask at a local dive shop??

Well, if they're waterproof like watches are waterproof, that rating is for something standing stock still under that amount of pressure. It doesn't take movement into account, which drastically reduces the depth that it works to.

Then again, given that you're talking about diving, I would bet that you know that already...

The damn watch repair place told me I can't swim in my 100m water proof fossil watch... They claim that may be the reason it stopped working and I had to pay 35 bucks to get it fixed. Sounds like a load of crap to me.

Man, I hate Fossil.

That is a bunch of crap. A 100M should be fine for swimming. AFAIK, marginal for diving, but fine for swimming. It's usually in the manual.

As a diver I can tell you that local dive shops are a good place to get advice on cases. Bear in mind though, they usually cater to people who are taking pictures 5-25 meters below the surface. The cases for that use are usually quite expensive so make sure that you explain your specific use.

The "waterproof" ratings on watches are very misleading. When I worked in retail I managed to get a list from a watch rep detailing what the numbers meant. I can't remember specifics anymore, but the numbers are basically an arbitrary system. When you see 100M you're thinking, "Wow, I can dive really deep with this watch!" and the watch manufacturer is saying, "You should only be good while running through sprinklers."

Wasn't it Negative Orange who had that song, "100M Dash Through the Sprinklers"?

I can remember it like it was yesterday:

"Here comes the rain again
you look so good in track shorts
Get into starting position
While I fire my starter pistol ..."

Man, they write some catchy tunes ...

Good point Ken. By the price of the case, I was assuming that it was rated for diving. I should not assume.

There is one disadvantage to the dive cases for regular cameras, they can fog up under extended use because of heat build up in the case. I found that as long as I kept the camera off between shots, it was fine, but if I left it on all the time, the lense eventually started fogging.

I would not count on a water 'resistant' camera to stand up to any significant exposure to water, particularly salt water.

If you are just looking for something to take with you while on the water that's water proof, just get the Olymupus 770 SW. Costco had it the other day for under $250. They are very nice little cameras.

I read somewhere what the "water proof" labels on watches meant also... and I think it was 50 or 60m that was fine for swimming, and the 100m should be fine for swimming, and i think even shallow diving (not to the 330 feet listed of course.)

So My watch should have been fine for swimming... but it was a gift from the GF... and she told me I better follow the repair shops adivce and not swim with it or else...

Thanks all so far. One additional note. I don't dive. Even when snorkeling, I can't go more than 5-6 feet down due to a sensitive ear issue. So by waterproof, my needs are more around splashes, accidental immersions and keeping the salt away from it.

A quick look at the Olympus 770 SW looked interesting. Shockproof and made for zub-zero temps sounds appealing too for my winter hobbies.

Based on what some of you mentioned, the Canon case seems way too overpriced for what it does. MEC has bag style cases for $35 dollars so it's probably worth trying out. Even if I don't like it, it's a small loss and probably EBayable to recover some cost.

Next step is to see if Sharon prefers me to spend a small amount of money but take one of her few toys out on the waves or prefers to have me spend a bit more to get my own camera. Her choice will cut my choices down by 50% anyways.

I don't know, but I bet CV has the angry neighbors to prove it.


Except for that one old lady at the end of the block. She turns her sprinklers on every hour. . .

Whew, disaster averted, thought we had a permanent dangler there.

Is it safe to say we tie up all loose danglers?

I bought a Minolta waterproof camera several years ago and it proved not to be waterproof on the 4th dive.

As far as watches go, if you need a battery change and don't send it in to the manufacturer where they change the seals also, then you may as well forget the waterproof protection, I found this out the hard way when I rusted and ruined the inner workings of my Tag from swimming in a pool.

I'm so glad I never spend a lot of $ on a watch.

Murph, I would still check it out with a good dive shop. Even if you never plan to dive, they should be able to tell you what works and what dosn't.

I can vouch for the Oly SW series. A little over a year ago I bought 28 of them for all the techs in my department. I don’t recall which model it was, but it was a previous model from the 770. These guys are friggin gorillas when it comes to tools, trucks and equipment. Nowadays a digital camera is a tool for communicating problems with equipment with other departments, or just snapping a macro shot of a motor data plate when looking for replacement bearings. Knowing these guys would destroy about anything, and the camera would most likely ride around in a tool box with a dozen greasy wrenches and ratchets, I figured I’d give these Oly’s a try. Some of the guys have dropped them on concrete from heights over ten feet and they still work (never fails that they forget them in their pocket and lean over a hand rail). One guy forgot his in his coveralls and washed it. It came out working fine and smelling like Tide. Some are looking a little rough with scratches and dents, but I have not had to buy any replacement cameras. They are very tough. They take great looking pictures and video too.

Impressive. Time for an update on the "Timex tourture test"?

That's a pretty good sell on their build quality.
I used to do the same thing when I managed the guys out on the road. Digital cameras are very good tools for documenting things things like unsafe telephone poles, burnt out equipment, technicians sleeping in their vans, etc.