Underwater Camera with WIFI?

[IanStevensonSB]

Hi, I'm looking to buy an underwater point-and-shoot with wifi, but am having a hard time finding one that allows direct sharing to Facebook or other social media sites when connected to a Wi-Fi network (without the need for a smartphone or tablet). I know this exists for non-underwater, but I'm hoping there's a camera that combines this feature with underwater. Does this exist?

 

[petrochemist118 143]

I suspect WiFi would not pass through the air/water interface, so would not operate underwater.
Of course that doesn't mean it wouldn't be useful for when the camera is brought above the water, and coupled with inductive charging could make a camera design without any openings (to create leaks) possible...

 

[IanStevensonSB]

Yes, to clarify, I'm not looking for the wifi to work underwater, just on land as a regular camera would.

 

[chuasam]

Olympus TG4 and the new TG5

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[waday]

Not sure that exists for underwater P&S? I can see how it'd be nice.

Olympus TG4 and the new TG5

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I thought those could only transfer to a phone/tablet and not directly to social media?

 

[table1349]

I suspect WiFi would not pass through the air/water interface, so would not operate underwater.
Of course that doesn't mean it wouldn't be useful for when the camera is brought above the water, and coupled with inductive charging could make a camera design without any openings (to create leaks) possible...

Apparently you have never seen a wifi Turtle. It's all the rage of the mermaid set these days.

 

[IanStevensonSB]

Haha, yes I definitely need a wifi turtle! Yes waday, you are correct those two need to connect to a phone/tablet. I'm looking for direct to social media without the need for a phone/tablet!

 

[table1349]

Haha, yes I definitely need a wifi turtle! Yes waday, you are correct those two need to connect to a phone/tablet. I'm looking for direct to social media without the need for a phone/tablet!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer here, (character from SNL), but with 8 billion people on the planet there are probably only 5 of them, including you, that want those two features combined. I am just guessing here, but you may not be able to find an underwater camera that also connects directly to social media unless you want to get a water proof freezer bag for you iPhone.

 

[chuasam]

Haha, yes I definitely need a wifi turtle! Yes waday, you are correct those two need to connect to a phone/tablet. I'm looking for direct to social media without the need for a phone/tablet!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer here, (character from SNL), but with 8 billion people on the planet there are probably only 5 of them, including you, that want those two features combined. I am just guessing here, but you may not be able to find an underwater camera that also connects directly to social media unless you want to get a water proof freezer bag for you iPhone.

iPhone 7 is waterproof

 

[table1349]

Haha, yes I definitely need a wifi turtle! Yes waday, you are correct those two need to connect to a phone/tablet. I'm looking for direct to social media without the need for a phone/tablet!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer here, (character from SNL), but with 8 billion people on the planet there are probably only 5 of them, including you, that want those two features combined. I am just guessing here, but you may not be able to find an underwater camera that also connects directly to social media unless you want to get a water proof freezer bag for you iPhone.

iPhone 7 is waterproof

It ain't that waterproof. It can only stand being immersed 3 feet down into water.

 

[waday]

Haha, yes I definitely need a wifi turtle! Yes waday, you are correct those two need to connect to a phone/tablet. I'm looking for direct to social media without the need for a phone/tablet!

As gryph has mentioned, this is quite a niche market. Is there a reason why you cannot transfer to your phone? Rather, what is the reason that you need to upload directly to social media?

 

[chuasam]

Haha, yes I definitely need a wifi turtle! Yes waday, you are correct those two need to connect to a phone/tablet. I'm looking for direct to social media without the need for a phone/tablet!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer here, (character from SNL), but with 8 billion people on the planet there are probably only 5 of them, including you, that want those two features combined. I am just guessing here, but you may not be able to find an underwater camera that also connects directly to social media unless you want to get a water proof freezer bag for you iPhone.

iPhone 7 is waterproof

It ain't that waterproof. It can only stand being immersed 3 feet down into water.

just don't go deeper

 

[bratkinson]

I have to ask a silly question...what's the big hurry to get your images (good, bad, and totally unedited!) out to the world? Unless you are in some kind of contest, I really don't see the burning desire to share 'your world' with the 'rest of the world'.

For what it's worth, point and shoot cameras, even a small compact like I sometimes use, are rapidly going the way of the dodo bird. Even at $300-500 for a new one, the added technology cost has zero payback to the manufacturer...especially in the face of declining sales of point and shoot type cameras.

On the technical side, be aware that WiFi only has at best a 1/8 mile unobstructed range. 100 YARDS is about the limit of a reasonably error-free connection. So if you are out on a boat somewhere, snorkeling perhaps, odds are you'll be out of range of ANY WiFi network. Oh, and for what it's worth, finding an unsecured WiFi network at locations other than hotels and coffee shops is highly unusual.

I therefore think the best solution would be to buy a 'regular' underwater camera or an underwater enclosure for whatever camera you choose. Take your pictures, pop the memory card into a USB just-about-every-card-slot-possible adapter (less than $20 on Amazon Amazon.com: usb card reader - Computers & Accessories: Electronics), and read the pictures on the USB capable device of your choice. You may also need to get a USB 'size' adapter, as USB connectors come in 3 sizes - standard (on your computer), mini, and micro. Your cell phone likely has a mini or micro USB connector for the charger and/or data transfer. Then your next problem is how far are you from cell phone service? There are two types of cellphone technologies out there and they are not compatible. In other words, not every cell tower can 'talk' to every cell phone.

 

[table1349]

I have to ask a silly question...what's the big hurry to get your images (good, bad, and totally unedited!) out to the world? Unless you are in some kind of contest, I really don't see the burning desire to share 'your world' with the 'rest of the world'.

For what it's worth, point and shoot cameras, even a small compact like I sometimes use, are rapidly going the way of the dodo bird. Even at $300-500 for a new one, the added technology cost has zero payback to the manufacturer...especially in the face of declining sales of point and shoot type cameras.

On the technical side, be aware that WiFi only has at best a 1/8 mile unobstructed range. 100 YARDS is about the limit of a reasonably error-free connection. So if you are out on a boat somewhere, snorkeling perhaps, odds are you'll be out of range of ANY WiFi network. Oh, and for what it's worth, finding an unsecured WiFi network at locations other than hotels and coffee shops is highly unusual.

I therefore think the best solution would be to buy a 'regular' underwater camera or an underwater enclosure for whatever camera you choose. Take your pictures, pop the memory card into a USB just-about-every-card-slot-possible adapter (less than $20 on Amazon Amazon.com: usb card reader - Computers & Accessories: Electronics), and read the pictures on the USB capable device of your choice. You may also need to get a USB 'size' adapter, as USB connectors come in 3 sizes - standard (on your computer), mini, and micro. Your cell phone likely has a mini or micro USB connector for the charger and/or data transfer. Then your next problem is how far are you from cell phone service? There are two types of cellphone technologies out there and they are not compatible. In other words, not every cell tower can 'talk' to every cell phone.

Oh you dinosaur you. Why with today's social media and the vast expanse of wifi hot spots I am able to post my photos minutes and sometimes hours before I even take them. That is the most basic social demand these days, gratification before you even realize that you wanted it.