Customer Reviews:
Best underwater for the price.......2007-12-07
A trip to the Red Sea became the test for this little gem. Its water proof, shoots video and still photos up to 10 metres deep, which is deep enough for snorkellers and amateur divers. Nowhere on this camera, in print or in the description does it say "shockproof". Its a digital camera so I wouldn't advise giving it to kids. An earlier reviewer seemed somehow surprised that they were smashed to bits when handed over to their kids.
A 1GB memory card was more than enough. I shot about 20 minutes of footage and 184 stills on one card and only changed the batteries once. Buy two memory cards if you intend to shoot more.
The water temperature will affect battery life, since most electronics die in cold weather. So pack a few extra AA's.
The photos themselves were a little overexposed when used above water and at times in low light they were blurry, due to shutter lag. My best advice is to keep still for two seconds when taking the shot and get some photo editing software to bring out any underexposed colours.
The weight of the camera is both a plus and a minus. If you're diving or snorkelling in deep water without the strap, it will sink into the abyss if you let go. But this also means that in calmer and shallower waters it can be propped against rocks and on the floor for some good self timed photos and videos. Its does have a tripod mount bracket on the bottom, so purchase a cheap little flexible tripod incase you can't find flat seabed or rocks. It also means the fish will swim really close to it in curiosity, without you scaring them off.
The screen is a handy size, the menu's are easy to navigate and the buttons, although a little chunky, make it easier to use if you're diving with gloves on.
The lack of zoom is a necessity. Adding one would substantially reduce the waterproof depth with all the external moving parts involved. I preferred the extra waterproofing, knowing I wouldn't be using a tape measure to check my depth every time I went under made me more relaxed about using it.
Switching between video and photo mode is done with one button press, which proved handy when an eagle ray sailed past me at quite a pace and knowing a photo would be too blurry, a quick press produced some great video.
Overall, take spare batteries, an extra card and hold on tight to it when in deep water. Don't go to a world class diving site without one you won't find a better video or photo camera for the money.
1 GB Limit.......2007-12-05
It's a great value camera, for both "all weather" and "snorkeling" use. However it's limited to accept 1GB cards or lower.
Wet Blanket.......2007-11-29
I bought this primarily as a fun item for a 4 year old. The reasoning being the waterproof and rugged design should make it fairly kid proof. Indeed this proved to be the case and it went down well with the kid in question.
However when playing with it in water, we found that it would suddenly think the batteries had run out and then turn itself off. If you took it out of the water and then left it for couple of minutes it seemed to recover and work normally again. My guess is this is related to temperature more than water as all waterproof seals remained intact.
Anyway having checked a couple of other reviews it seems other people had encountered the same problem, so I sent it back for refund. Am now on the look out for an alternative.
Great, while it works.......2007-11-25
I have purchased two of these cameras. The first one conked out after 3 weeks and Amazon gave me a full refund promptly and without question. I was most impressed with their service. I bought another, and the same thing happened. While the camera was working, I loved it and was delighted with the results. Unfortunately, the two I bought proved to be unreliable and I don't think I will chance another.
Down a hole.......2007-11-08
I bought the Vivitar ViviCam 6200W Camera a couple of months ago and since then the camera has been down a couple of potholes, down a mine and on holiday to Greece. Whilst down the potholes and mine the camera allowed me to take photographs which I should not normally have been able to take. My Nikon Calypso III is far to valuable to risk in such conditions. In Greece the camera was frequently used whilst snorkelling, and on boat trips. Overall the results have been acceptable with many photographs being taken in very extreme circumstances. Battery life is acceptable (I purchase batteries in bulk), flash is OK, handling is OK but I really should have appreciated a lens cap but hey! All in all a very good value camera that does what it says on the box.
Product Description
Model type: FinePix F40d.
Permissible depth of water: Up to 40m.
Material:
Body: Clear polycarbonate, Lens window: FL reinforced-glass
Size: 131mm (W) x 93mm (H) x 84mm (D)
Weight: Approx. 290g (excluding camera and accessories)
![Pentax Optio W30 Waterproof Digital Compact Camera [7MP, 3x optical]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21DnUTVSOZL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- Could do better
- Nice enough camera ... but, well, just not very waterproof!
- Does what it says on the box
- Fantastic waterproof camera
- Good but not exceptional
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Pentax Optio W30 Waterproof Digital Compact Camera [7MP, 3x optical]
Manufacturer: Pentax
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics
Digital Cameras
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Pentax
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Branded Stores
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Special Features
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Electronics & Photo
7 to 7.9 Megapixel
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Digital Cameras
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Photography
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Categories
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Electronics & Photo
7 to 7.9 Megapixel
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Digital Cameras
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Photography
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Travel
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uk-shops
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Uniross Travel Energy Kit - Xpress 700 charger + 4 x AA 2700mAh + 2 x AAA 1000mAh + In Car & Mains Adaptors
ASIN: B000NI6J7M
Release Date: 2007-02-13
![Pentax Optio W30 Waterproof Digital Compact Camera [7MP, 3x optical]](http://www.bill88.com/buy.gif) |
Product Description
The PENTAX Optio W30 is not only completely water dust and dirt protected it is also fully packed with masterful technology. 7 megapixel resolution to brilliantly document your active life. Digital "Shake Reduction" ensures that your photos and videos are sharp and clear no matter how difficult the lighting conditions may be. Who can ignore the beauty in the detail - the Optio W30 can capture macro shot as close as 1cm. This is the camera for people who are enthusiastic about nature in all its rawest forms.
Customer Reviews:
Could do better.......2007-09-24
I wanted a waterproof camera for a sailing trip so the positive reviews of this camera's performance under natural light conditions swayed me over the Olympus Mju. I was very happy with the results from my outdoor "action" shots but very disappointed with the shots using flash. Taking pics of people when flash was needed was a nightmare due to the ridiculously long time it took for the camera to focus on static subjects. In short, great for outdoor/daylight photography but hopeless for flash portraiture.
Nice enough camera ... but, well, just not very waterproof!.......2007-08-31
The bottom line is that the Pentax let me down just when I needed it ... while snorkelling to the coral and the fish!
While I don't claim to be an expert photographer, I do own a number of cameras and take the trouble to look after my electronic kit. I paid particular attention to this compact; after all, water and electronics are not natural bedfellows. So I really was disappointed when the camera shut down `en route' to the aquatic panorama it was supposed to capture.
I'm not going to say that this is an awful camera; it is not. It is easy to use and takes decent enough pictures. Indeed in the short time I owned it I'd already grown to like it a lot. But, to deliberately misquote another, at least my example did NOT do "exactly what it says on the tin".
So here's the rub: lots of people are really happy with the waterproof properties of the Pentax. Maybe they were simply lucky with their examples and certainly I wish them many hours of happy underwater photography. But beware: after my Pentax shut down I later poured a small puddle out of it! And having checked Amazon's international site, I see I am not alone ...
There I leave it. A decent enough `land' compact - if a bit expensive for this purpose - and great underwater IF you are lucky enough to get a `good-un'.
As a parting comment, I should add that Amazon dealt with the refund really very well. No quibbles. Very impressive (and reassuring).
Does what it says on the box.......2007-08-11
Great camera if you're looking for a waterproof. Only criticism is lack of optical viewfinder - call me old fashioned but I hate trying to compose pictures on an LCD. However, underwater you wouldn't be able to use an optical finder. Pictures are excellent, in and out of water. A bit of advice - if you're looking for a case, go to Lowepro website. They have a document that tells you which of their cases fits just about any camera currently available.
Fantastic waterproof camera.......2007-07-05
I bought this camera primarily to take photos whilst snorkelling and in rockpools. On my first trip out I knew I had bought a fantastic bit of kit! Yes there are limitations, but at this price the quality is amazing given the waterproof capabilities, especially videos underwater. I use my Canon 350D SLR for quality "dry weather" shots, and the Pentax W30 for underwater/rainyday shots, plus as a "take anywhere" camera as it's very small. I'd definitely recommend this camera.
As mentioned in other reviews, you'll need to buy a case to protect the lens, and I picked a nice one up from Jessops for a tenner.
One comment in response to one of the other reviews on this page, I bought this camera from Amazon in June07 and it DID come with full English instructions so it looks like they've changed suppliers (mine came direct from Amazon in 2 days). However if you end up with instructions in another language, the US Pentax website now has the full English PDF for free download.
Good but not exceptional.......2007-05-18
I got this camera having previous owned Sony DSC-P100, Casio Z4 and a Panosonic Lumix FX01 as I take a lot of beach and skiing holidays.
Pros:
1. Waterproof to 3m for 2hrs (more than enough for seaside, pool and snorkelling
2. Light, thin and well built
3. Movie mode is good and you can turn the OPTICAL zoom on (makes terrible mechanical noise when you zoom but its good that you have the option to zoom unlike most cameras)
4. Time interval movie mode is quite cool function (Can take a picture once a minute for a few hours and make it into a movie clip)
Cons:
1. Screen only 115k pixels so can look a bit grainy
2. It's slower than other camera's I'm used too in terms of focusing and navigating through menus which can get a tad annoying
3. Pretty small battery
4. No AF illuminator so pretty bad at focusing in low-light (i.e this is good for the beach/outdoors but not so good for indoor shots and parties)
5. Quite a lot of noise above ISO 200
6. FACE detection only works in portrait mode
7. Can only get to movie mode through menu (no special physical button)
Overall, it looks like there are more cons than pros but at the end of the day, the most important feature is that you can take it to the beach/skiing/pool/underwater so if this is important to you than only rival at the moment is olympus which is rubbish movie function (only 15fps not 30 like the pentax).
It takes average pictures and if ure not going to use the underwater feature I wouldn't recommend the camera but if you are, its better than other alternatives available at the moment
Product Description
Take PowerShot along when diving and snorkeling with this Waterproof Case WP-DC800, depth rated to 3
Customer Reviews:
Protect your camera - get wild shots........2006-11-15
I bought one of these over a year ago now. It has been skiing in Whistler, Swimming off the sea in East Lothian, Snorkelling in the Galapagos and into the Jungle of Equador. I've fallen on it, dropped it, and thrown it from person to person in the sea.
It has performed brilliantly in all these conditions, making me more likely to take my camera to extremes and getting some very special shots.
A few points to note are:
That when using the flash (not underwater) you do sometimes get a shadow in one corner of the print.
Be aware, that like your camera, moving from cold to warm enviroments the lens may steam up.
One one occasion I was using the camera so intensively that the inside steamed up due to the warmth generated by the battery but this was constant use in a warm wet environment for over an hour.
BUT:
Underwater and skiing shots have been great.
I'm about to get a new camera and will definitely be buying another case like this one for that model.
Product Description
WP-DC700 WATERPROOF CASE 40M F/ POWERSHOT A60/A70 UK
Customer Reviews:
Does what it says on the box.......2006-09-05
Worked flawlessly for me (Though it probably helped that I tried it out in the Maldives!). Even at night, I got pictures with the flash.
The only (minor) problem I had was that I kept accidentally changing from "Photo" to "Movie" mode with the large switch on the back. But this really is a minor quibble.
simple effective robust and essential.......2005-09-15
the WP-DC70 is an essential purchase for any canon ixus 700 owner looking to expand into wetter territory.
It is tough and reliable and although initially a little daunting taking a camera to 40 metres, it quickly becomes routine, luckily very little maintainenece is required and an occasional check of the o-ring and all is good. spare o rings and silicon grease can be aquired but frankly they are not needed, i have used mine heavily for six months and its idiotproof, and really does take a bashing in its stride, getting in and out of dive boats not being the most gentle of activities.
Have tested the camera to depths in excess of 40 metres in this casing with no issues, occasionaly though the case will get condensation inside even with two bags of silica gel inside, with no silica gel it will mist very quickly.
the cse comes with a couple of straps for nexk and wrist and its fairly simple to attach something more sturdy, the case with camera is positively bouyant so at least if you do let go it can be retrieved (by someone) on the surface.
a good housing for a good camera with quick and easy access to all the controls, allowing full creative control at depth.
No problems.......2005-07-13
Recently used the WP-DC 70 on a 2 week diving trip and had no problems whatsoever. I would still recommend doing your first couple of dives with just a tissue inside the housing to ensure the seal is secure.
Underwater controls are easy to operate and pictures taken inside the housing are just as clear as those taken outside the housing.
Product Description
Fujifilm WP-FXF10 Underwater Housing for FinePix F10 / F11 Zoom, N076690A, 1 in a Pack, Price for 1 pack
Product Description
Shoot underwater up to 130 feet with Canon WP DC30 Waterproof Case.
Customer Reviews:
Superb piece of kit.......2005-11-16
This case really is a top piece of kit ,I used it for scuba & snorkelling in the carribean and got some good photos .Once you place the camera in the case and seal it up you really dont need to take it out again all holiday keeping it protected fron all sorts ,sand ,water sun cream, whatever else may damage it.The fact you can still use ALL the camera functions whilst in the case and underwater is superb.Possible downside is the cost at around £130 is almost the price the camera was when new but that aside if you want to use your digital camera underwater it is the way to go .Far better than the disposable underwater camera that you dont know if the photos are any good until you are back home ,a bit late then.If you can justify spending the money just go for it you wont regret it.
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