Waterproof Digital Cameras for Paddling

CANON POWERSHOT S60

• Megapixels: 5
• Lens: 28-100mm, f2.8-5.3
• ISO: 50-400
• LCD: 1.8 inch
• Battery type: Lithium-ion (supplied with charger)
• Special features: Orientation sensor, sound recorder, self-timer, AE bracketing
• Price: $300-$450; housing, $240
• Storage: CompactFlash card
• Video: 3 minutes maximum/ 640x480 at 10fps
• Waterproofness: With optional housing
• Optical viewfinder: Yes
• Connectivity: USB 1.1
• Shutter speeds: 15–1/2000 sec.
• Weight: 8.1 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.4 by 2.2 by 1.5 inches

The S60 is a solid camera with an all-metal body. It is a bit heavier than some of the other cameras reviewed and has been on the market for two years now, so some of its features are a bit dated. Still, it packs a lot of features, and you may be able to find it at a bargain price. It is one of the few point-and-shoot cameras with a 28mm wide-angle lens—handy when you can’t back up to get the whole boat in the shot. There is full manual control, and it has raw file capability. The sliding metal lens cover protects the front nicely. The 1.8-inch LCD is small, but this camera has a lot to offer.

GO PRO DIGITAL HERO

• Megapixels: VGA (640x480) sized
• Lens: 45mm, f2.8
• ISO: 100
• LCD: N/A
• Battery type: AAA battery
• Special features: Comes with wrist strap
• Price: $80
• Storage: 32MB internal memory;
• 260 images or 32 10-second clips
• Video: 320x240 (10fps)
• Waterproofness: Comes with waterproof housing
• Optical viewfinder: No
• Connectivity: USB 2
• Shutter speeds: 1/5-1/5000 sec.
• Weight: 4.5 ounces, including strap, housing, battery
• Dimensions: 2.62 by 1.81 by
• 2.3 inches (with waterproof housing)

This Hero is more Mighty Mouse than Superman, but there is a lot of fun packed in its tiny little waterproof case. I attached one to my sea kayak paddle, and it was always ready to take a shot or two. It takes OK photos—not the sharpest, but nothing you can’t fix in Photoshop with sharpening and contrast/color adjustment. The photos are small, VGA-sized, so they are fine for Web sharing or snapshot-sized prints. This camera also takes 10-second video clips. This is a great inexpensive model that will remind you of a spy camera and expand your photographic horizons with its convenience factor.

SEALIFE DC500

• Megapixels: 5
• Lens: 28-80mm, f2.8-4.9
• ISO: 100-200
• LCD: 2.0 inch
• Battery type: Lithium-ion
• Special features: Voice recording, optional external lights, comes with docking cradle for recharging batteries
• Price: $499
• Storage: SD/16MB internal
• Video: MPEG4 – 640x480
• Waterproofness: To 200 feet with supplied housing
• Optical Viewfinder: no
• Connnectivity: USB 2
• Weight: 17 ounces (with housing)
• Dimensions: 3.5 by 5.5 by 3.4 inches (with housing)

The DC500 comes with its own waterproof housing. It is compact and relatively light, even with the rubber-coated housing. It has no manual controls but relies on a number of preconfigured modes such as underwater, sports, and portrait. You can also set it to auto. It comes with a docking cradle, which limits your ability to charge spare batteries while using the camera. It is convenient for downloading photos or charging the single battery—just insert the camera into the dock. A wide range of accessory lenses and flashes can expand the camera’s underwater capabilities. This is a great camera if you anticipate diving or snorkeling and don’t want a lot of camera controls to deal with.

SEA&SEA DX-8000G

• Megapixels: 8
• Lens: 28-85mm, f2.5-4.3
• ISO: 64-1600
• LCD: 1.8 inch
• Battery type: Lithium-ion or AA
• Special features: Macro to 1 cm, wide-angle lens accessory
• Price: $899
• Storage: SD card/26MB internal
• Video: 320x240 (30 fps) to storage capacity
• Waterproofness: To 180 feet in supplied housing
• Optical viewfinder: Yes
• Connectivity: USB 2
• Shutter speeds: 30–1/2000 sec.
• Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.5 by 2.3 by 1.2 inches

The Sea & Sea DX-8000G is made for diving photography (and excels in that), but it is also very useful in a boat. There is a wide-angle lens (28mm), and the camera has very fast start-up, with no apparent shutter lag. The camera and housing are one of the bigger units we tested, but it is still lightweight and feels comfortable in the hand. The controls work fine and are designed for glove-wearing photographers, so they are easy to operate when paddling in cold weather. The optical viewfinder is not visible in the housing. The large sensor produced excellent photos at lower ISO but was very grainy at 800 and 1600.