Waterproof Camera

[Rienks]

What is the best cheap waterproof camera? 1080P@30-60FPS. I'll being mainly using it for diving and ocean swimming. Please link me to it in comments. Thanks

[yannickverc]

IF you're gonna use it a lot I think a GoPro with waterproof case would be a good investment. 

[Bazilias]

What is the best cheap waterproof camera? 1080P@30-60FPS. I'll being mainly using it for diving and ocean swimming. Please link me to it in comments. Thanks

GoPro hero 4: http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-CHDHY-401-HERO4-SILVER/dp/B00NIYJF6U/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1448874532&sr=1-4&keywords=gopro+hero+4

GoPro Hero 4 Under Water Case: http://www.amazon.com/WiserElectronic-Waterproof-Housing-Sports-Camcorder/dp/B011QEBKA2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1448874450&sr=8-4&keywords=gopro+hero+4+under+water 

[ALwin]

What is the best cheap waterproof camera? 1080P@30-60FPS. I'll being mainly using it for diving and ocean swimming. Please link me to it in comments. Thanks

 

As a scuba diver who does take his cameras down to depths up to 40m, I'll be happy to answer your questions.

 

It depends on how deep you want to go and what kind of image quality you want.

 

There is something like the Nikon 1 AW1 or water sealed compact cameras, however they are designed to be used mostly in pools and shallow dives.  Not if you're planning to go below 10m.  For deeper than 10m it's safer to use a camera with a more robust housing.

 

The next level after that I would recommend sport cameras like the GoPro which come with waterproof housings.  The GoPro 3 housing was rated for 60m and I had a friend telling me the other day the GoPro 4 housing is now rated 40m (will check on that right now and get back to you).  There are third party housings that are rated for a much deeper depth, and some come with additional power packs that will extend the life of the GoPro battery.

 

The next level after would be to get a good camera and buy a compatible underwater housing, from brands such as Ikelite, Sea&Sea, Nauticam, etc.

 

If you're diving down below 10m depths, I also recommend you get lights for the camera.  Otherwise some of the bright colors of underwater life will become bland. Even underwater color filters become less and less useful as you go deeper, so lights are still the best way to go.

[Rienks]

IF you're gonna use it a lot I think a GoPro with waterproof case would be a good investment. 

Yeah I should mention that it won't be used a crap ton

[Rienks]

As a scuba diver who does take his cameras down to depths up to 40m, I'll be happy to answer your questions.

 

It depends on how deep you want to go and what kind of image quality you want.

 

There is something like the Nikon 1 AW1 or water sealed compact cameras, however they are designed to be used mostly in pools and shallow dives.  Not if you're planning to go below 10m.

 

The next level after that I would recommend sport cameras like the GoPro which come with waterproof housings.  The GoPro 3 housing was rated for 60m and I had a friend telling me the other day the GoPro 4 housing was rated 40m (will check on that right now and get back to you).

 

The next level after would be to get a good camera and buy a compatible underwater housing, from brands such as Ikelite, Sea&Sea, Nauticam, etc.

Cheers man honestly I doubt I'll be going under 10m and I also won't be using it a ton due to weather issues and timing but I just wanted to find out want a good compact waterproof camera would be because I figure why buy a $400 GoPro if I only going to use it like one or twice a month

[ALwin]

Cheers man honestly I doubt I'll be going under 10m and I also won't be using it a ton due to weather issues and timing but I just wanted to find out want a good compact waterproof camera would be because I figure why buy a $400 GoPro if I only going to use it like one or twice a month

 

There are some good reasons to get a slightly better camera than what you plan to do.  For example, say you buy a camera rated to be waterproof down to 10m.  However the problem is that once in the water even if you stay at a depth of say 5m, as you are moving around swimming, moving the camera, the waterproof seals could face a bit more pressure than what the pressure would normally be at 5m if you were stationary.  So if you plan to go no deeper than 10m, look for a camera or underwater housing rated for about 20m to be on the safe side.

 

See this link for some reviews on waterproof cameras

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57

 

With a GoPro you can shoot both video or capture photos either manually or in preset intervals.  But if you want a camera purely for photos the GoPro is not an ideal form factor.  Get something like the Olympus TG-4 or similar from other brands.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127859-REG/olympus_v104160bu000_stylus_tough_tg_4_digital.html

[Rienks]

There are some good reasons to get a slightly better camera than what you plan to do.  For example, say you buy a camera rated to be waterproof down to 10m.  However the problem is that once in the water even if you stay at a depth of say 5m, as you are moving around swimming, moving the camera, the waterproof seals could face a bit more pressure than what the pressure would normally be at 5m if you were stationary.  So if you plan to go no deeper than 10m, look for a camera or underwater housing rated for about 20m to be on the safe side.

 

See this link for some reviews on waterproof cameras

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57

 

With a GoPro you can shoot both video or capture photos either manually or in preset intervals.  But if you want a camera purely for photos the GoPro is not an ideal form factor.  Get something like the Olympus TG-4 or similar from other brands.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127859-REG/olympus_v104160bu000_stylus_tough_tg_4_digital.html

All the other cameras seem way too big for what I plan to do. Should I just fork out the cash for the GoPro? What are your thoughts? I want an outside opinion

[ALwin]

All the other cameras seem way too big for what I plan to do. Should I just fork out the cash for the GoPro? What are your thoughts? I want an outside opinion

 

If you plan to get the GoPro, get the GoPro Black edition.  It comes with some nice goodies, for a small sports camera it has some nice technical specifications and recording formats.  You can use it out of the water too, you're not just limited to using it underwater.

 

http://shop.gopro.com/hero4/hero4-black/CHDHX-401.html

 

My only caveat would be battery life if you plan to, for example, stay in the water for some time.  So get some spare batteries or an extended power pack.

[ShadowCaptain]

Yeah I should mention that it won't be used a crap ton

 

Xiaomi Yi with an underwater case, its 90% as good as the go pro and 1/8th the cost

[legend8887]

Polaroid Cube.