Cameras That Work

We have a GoPro Hero4 Silver, and I'm looking for a small snapshot camera.

From what I'm reading, it seems that waterproof cameras are targeted for divers and don't do a particularly good job above water, and that they aren't reliably waterproof.  And some are just plain unreliable.

I'm chasing after a pocket camera that can survive in the rain (or the drips) and take a decent picture above the water.

What are you using and how's it working for you?

I like my Pentax optio....several years of use and no leakage at all.

I have the Panasonic Lumix TS4.
It's a good waterproof pocket camers. It's ben replaced by the TS5. http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-FT5A

I like my Pentax optio....several years of use and no leakage at all.

Thank you.  I'll take a closer look at the Pentax.  Does yours have GPS?  Not something I'd find absolutely necessary, but I wondered how GPS might affect battery life.

I have the Panasonic Lumix TS4.
It's a good waterproof pocket camers. It's ben replaced by the TS5. http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-FT5A

I've been looking at the TS4 (new old stock) and new TS5.  People think they take better photos above water than the Olympus cameras.  Thanks!

What I like about the TS4 is how quick it goes from off to taking photo's or video and it has a separate buttons for video and photo's.

 

Check out the Olympus Tough TG-2 or TG-3. 

I went thru several waterproof cameras before finding the TG-2.  They have huge photo cells, take awesome photos and better underwater video than my gopro.

-Mark-

I was very impressed with my sister's Olympus point'n'shoot underwater camera a couple of years ago in Hawaii. It was similar to this, I think:

http://smile.amazon.com/Olympus-TG-820-Shock-Freeze-Proof-Camera-Red/dp/B007J7J120/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416853591&sr=8-3&keywords=olympus+underwater+camera

I have 2 el-cheapo Costco-special Olympus underwater cameras (I think they were about $100 each) and they have been 100% waterproof until my son dropped his on a rock. It still works fine but I don't trust it underwater. They don't take very good pictures, though. The video is OK. The biggest problem with waterproofness is user error. You have to make sure the seals on the doors are very clean and free of debris.

You will always get some trade-off between image quality and waterproofness, but it's getting better every year or two.

Just a suggestion: If you have a quick-detach for your gopro you can always use it for snapshots too.

Check out the Olympus Tough TG-2 or TG-3. 

I went thru several waterproof cameras before finding the TG-2.  They have huge photo cells, take awesome photos and better underwater video than my gopro.

-Mark-

The Olympus TG-3 is awesome. The TG-2 was awesome, but did not float without its floaty thing attached.   I don't know who told you tough cameras are no good above water, but they are VERY wrong.  With most tools, the quality of the finished product has more to do with the user than the tool.  I didn't like my Olmypus tough 6000 nor did I like my TG-2 until I actually took the time to play with, and learn how to use the features. For a non-DSLR sub-$350 camera, the TG-3 can do things that absolutely amaze me.  The TG-3 (and TG-2) has a low F stop (F 2.0) so it is a quick camera and works well in low light.

The TG-3 does have GPS, but it causes the battery to drain quickly.

I've got the TG-3 on my short list too. If you Google "best waterproof point and shoot" or "tough camera" you'll find the TG-3 gets the most praise from the novice and pro's alike.

The only issue about using the GoPro for snapshots is that it's attached to The Boss' kayak, and she catches big fish, not me, so I want a small camera I can whip out of my pocket when she has a fish on.   

I don't think anyone says the underwater cameras don't take good pictures, but a lot of people claim that a non-waterproof camera of similar design captures better pictures.  I don't know why that would be true unless it's the programming used for the image processor.  Maybe they need a menu setting for "rain"..?

I appreciate the information about the last generation of cameras.  Not just for their lower cost - although I like saving money - but mainly for the lower pixel density on the sensors.  I've been comparing pictures we've taken with non-waterproof Canon cameras in the same product line, an older one with a 12 megapixel sensor and a newer one with a 16 megapixel sensor, and the 12's images are clearly sharper than the 16's images at normal magnification.

I can't know if that's common across different brands of cameras, but it's clearly true with Canon SD cameras, and guys, if I ever catch a truly large fish, that photo is going to be used to make wall paper for the family room...

Thank you, each of you.  It's all good information and you've helped me narrow down the field.

Good luck and I hope you get some good fish pictures with whatever you decide on.

I went with the Costco deal Nikon AW-100. I have no complaints whatsoever.

I think each year the image quality difference between similar point'n'shoots drops (i.e. overall they're getting better and are at similar levels). There are some challenges to the waterproof cameras with regards to lens design; you simply can't do the same thing with an encased or fixed lens that you can do with a lens that physically moves out from the frame.

But that doesn't mean you can't have good pictures from a waterproof camera. The Olympus Tough series is reviewed fairly well and certainly has markedly better image quality (and features) than the older, cheaper Olympus waterproof cameras that I use (which really don't deliver very good images overall, but hey, they were cheap!).

With anything digital camera related, I always suggest people check out dpreview.com. It is a hobbiest/enthusiast site, so it can be a bit of a culture shock but their reviews are usually spot-on.

I have the Nikon Coolpix AW120 that is waterproof and includes GPS and a digital compass. Makes it easy to use Google Maps to review a folder of image files and have pins on the map showing the locations and even which way you were facing when the shot was taken - and all this is automatic.

A problem with the AW120 is that it lacks Shutter Priority and as a result it will often select too slow a shutter speed and the picture is not sharp. Usually on the kayak I want a fast shutter speed and do not care about the aperture setting.

I plan to replace the Nikon with the Ricoh WG-4 GPS camera that is waterproof, has GPS, and has Shutter Priority (so I can manually set the shutter speed). It sells for $297 at B&H. A fishing buddy is going to get an unexpected gifting of the Nikon.

Also getting a separate P&S camera that will not be waterproof, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 camera. It has GPS and Shutter Priority and it can do image capture to a RAW file. With a RAW file and Photoshop/Lightroom or other application one can change the color balance later to get the colors to be accurate.

All these have zoom lenses and all shot video as well as stills and all have an internal flash and all have the GPS for automatic geotagging of the files.

Love my TG-3. I keep it in my pda pocket at all times. I added the lens cover to keep the salt splash off. One dunk in a bucket of tap water and it's as good as new.