Cheap waterproof camera or GoPro Hero 3 White Edition?

[tetsu]

I´m going through a nightmare trying to find out what waterproof camera to buy. Almost all the best waterproof cameras on Amazon have some sort of bad ratings and lots of complains with leaking problems, even for experienced users.


Even with all the technology this cameras seem pretty fragile for underwater use, even following the instructions to the letter.


I have a Canon 5D III but I can´t spend 2000$ on a professional underwater case just for a couple of days on vacations, nor risk it with a 70$ Dicapac case.


All the research and review reading I´ve been doing comes to the same conclusions, these waterproof compact cameras are not safe even for very light use. I´ts a sort of lottery if they will work or not.


The models I´ve been researching:


Panasonic Lumix TS20
Panasonic Lumix TS4
Nikon COOLPIX AW100
Canon PowerShot D10/D20
Fujifilm FinePix XP100
Pentax Optio WG-1
Olympus TG-1iHS
Olympus TG-820

Also, most of the models are very bad performers regarding lens aperture (the olympus TG-1iHS is the only one at f2.0)

And there´s the price, the best one, price / ratio option seems to be the Panasonic TS20 at 129$ but it has a very high failure rate even with very very light use (including pools) when you check the ratings.


Thats why I´ve been looking at the new GoPro Hero White Edition for 200$ comes with a waterproof case, is not such a great "camera" per se but it has a good photo and video quality underwater, very wide lens and f2.8 aperture.


I´m really lost here, I´ll be glad hearing your recommendations with this issue! Thanks!

 

[ryanwaff]

Why not rent a professional casing for the few days that you need it?

 

[tetsu]

Why not rent a professional casing for the few days that you need it?

I live in latin america, and I´m going to Panama, rent is not an option in those places.

 

[Canuk]

I have used the Olympus Stylus tough cameras in the past. I never had any problems w/ leaks or failures. The image quality on all of the waterproof or tough cameras, is always a little less than on a regular point and shoot, of the same price point.

I didn't look into the exact cameras you have listed above, because I would assume that they are all pretty much the same. The thing to remember is that waterproof cameras, rely on O-rings for the seals of their various parts. One grain of sand or one hair can cause a leak, which will result in a soggy camera.

I would not recommend renting a housing for the 5D mk111, underwater photography is not as easy as everyone thinks, risking a 3k camera for some vacation snaps, would not be wise imo.

 

[alandave]

I think using your D5 with underwater housing will give you best photo quality but it has chance to leak. If you want a camera for your water activity and not serious about quality - waterproof camera is a good choice. I found Top 10 Waterproof Camera Reviews 2015 a website about it, I think AW100 is interesting. If you want to save TS20 is not bad.

 

[TCampbell]

Most underwater consumer cameras are only designed for snorkeling depths -- not scuba depths.

Canon makes a HUGE assortment of underwater housings for most of their cameras: Canon U.S.A. : Underwater Photography

You could just pick up an affordable point & shoot and then buy the underwater housing that goes with it. The underwater housings are designed to handle scuba depths.

I don't dive anymore, but used to be a fairly active diver. One of the "rules" to underwater camera housings is that you must REALLY take care of the seals. Keep the o-ring lubed with a proper thin layer of non-petroleum lubricant (such as a silicone lubricant). You also have to inspect the seal carefully before closing it to make sure there is no sand (the most common thing to get into the seal and it likes to "stick" to the lubricant) or even a human hair in the seal will cause it to leak. Provided you take care of the housing (especially taking care of the seal) you shouldn't have to worry about it flooding.

 

[TheBiles]

I have a TG-1, but the image quality is incredibly horrible compared to any SLR or even a PnS with RAW support. If it wasn't for the tough factor, I wouldn't even look at the TG-1.

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