Reviews: Underwater cameras

BY NICK ROSS

Last updated 05:00 13/05/2009

SUBMERSIBLE: The Olympus Mju Tough 8000 (bottom) and Panasonic DMC-FT1.

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Everyone would love to take more pictures at the beach. The sand and sea are typically the most fun places for friends and family and naturally great for capturing special memories.

However, cameras can be ruined by a grain of sand or splash of water.

Until recently, if you wanted a camera that was resistant to the elements you'd have to buy a poor-quality disposable model or underwater housing. The latter can offer good results but they're invariably bulky, make the controls fiddly and can cost more than the camera itself.

You also have to rigorously maintain the waterproof seal. And they're locked to your particular model of camera, so if you ever upgrade, you'll need to buy new housing.

In recent years, some of the leading camera manufacturers have released models that are essentially regular compacts with rugged, waterproof housings. Suddenly capturing images on the beach, in swimming pools and when snorkelling or diving is convenient. We expect all contenders to operate well on dry land, too.

It's worth noting a few tips to get the best underwater snaps: although it's tempting to take pictures of fish from above (from a snorkeller's point of view), you'll be disappointed with the results. Make every effort to dive down and get shots at eye level with the fish.

You'll also be better off shooting at maximum wide-angle as focusing correctly when underwater - with moving subjects, while you're moving and can't see the screen to focus properly - is near impossible.

If you set your camera to wide-angle you'll have a far greater chance of getting the shot in focus. An extension to this is to make sure you have a high-capacity memory card so you can take many shots to better your chances of getting a few really top shots.

Obviously taking lots of pictures with the flash drains the battery quickly, so don't forget to take your charger. Also note that using flash-assistance can be counter-intuitive. In clear water, forcing the flash on for fill-in lighting further enhances pictures. However, if the water's not so clear, you'll illuminate specks and bubbles and suffer poor shots.

Take plenty of test shots before recording your once-in-a-lifetime dive: some cameras automatically set very high ISO ratings when underwater leading to grainy shots when viewed on a large screen. It might be better fixing ISO to 200 or 400.

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Check that your camera's depth rating is enough for you. Most cameras are good down to a depth of three metres. Divers might be better with a 10-metre camera.

Ensure too that your camera's controls aren't too fiddly as it will be banging around while you swim. Finally, a good screen makes life much easier. You won't be able to look through a viewfinder when submerged, so this is important.

Canon PowerShot D10
Price: NZ$690
Rating: 5/5
www.canon.co.nz

The D10 is Canon's first native underwater camera and comes with a super-strong wrist leash and optional longer straps. It's good to 10 metres, mildly shockproof and freeze proof (to minus 10 degrees). It has features in common with other Canon compacts and takes good pictures on land and underwater.

Olympus Mju Tough 8000
Price: NZ$749
Rating: 3.5/5
www.olympus.com.au

The 8000 is the size of a regular camera and sports a 3.7x optical zoom. The screen is very bright and responsive but the button layout and menu system can feel fiddly and unrefined. However, it's incredibly tough, being waterproof to 10 metres and crushproof to a huge degree. It's the only competitor with a lens cover.

Ricoh G600
Price: A$899
Rating: 1/5
www.tasco.com.au

The G600 is a year old but looks much older. It's very chunky and offers very limited controls and features. However, one of them is "firefighting" mode, which gives you an insight into its originally intended professional user base. It's highly ruggedised but feels primitive in today's company. It's hugely overpriced and lacking in features.

Panasonic DMC-FT1
Price: NZ$799
Rating: 4/5
www.panasonic.com.au

The colourful Panasonic is also the size of a regular camera but doesn't have a lens cover. It's only waterproof to three metres and is shock-resistant and dust-proof rather than formally ruggedised like its competitors. Handling can't match the Canon but it's better than the Olympus. It's got the best lens thanks to a 4.6x zoom.

VERDICT

The Olympus is the toughest, while the Panasonic is the least ruggedised but capable of taking the best pictures. However, the Canon's tough, chunky-but-funky chassis handles the best, which is important for shooting in extreme places.

Its leash attachments are well thought through and its accurate autofocus means that more pictures are better more often. We worry about the missing lens cover but Canon's neoprene pouch is a good purchase for protection.

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