Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Another camera question...Waterproof?

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"?