Waterproof Digital Cameras for Paddling and Water Sports - A Shopping Guide

Sat - August 2, 2008

Waterproof Digital Cameras for Paddling and Water Sports - A Shopping Guide

This is an update of the article originally posted in August 2007.

What is the best camera for paddling? There is no simple answer to this question. With a proper care and protection you can use almost any photographic gear when paddling a kayak or canoe. However, as a casual paddling photographer I would like a digital camera which is

compact, so it can be carried in a pocket of my life jacket and is easy accessible
waterproof to survive splashes, rain, eskimo roll, but I am not going to dive
capable to shoot video in addition to decent quality still pictures,
relatively inexpensive, so I can deal with a risk of loosing or damaging it

I have assembled a shopping guide for available cameras which seems to fit into the above criteria:

For each camera I listed related articles or reviews from Paddling with a Camera blog.

Of course, these are not only options available for a paddler. I have not covered here any point and shoot camera available with waterproof cases like many Canonmodels. However, these cameras are typically more bulky and more expensive than Pentax Optio or Olympus Stylus discussed here.

It seems that all weather or splashproof cameras offered, e.g., by Olympus are less popular than waterproof models. There are also other video options including waterproof bullet cameras connected to a camcorder protected by a waterproof box or simpler devices like Oregon Scientific Action Cam.

GoPro Digitial Hero is the simplest camera listed here. It is not known for high quality pictures, but it can produce a decent video comparable (or better according to some owners) with Pentax Optio W cameras. It is available with different mounts including a helmet mount and a suction cup mount which may be pretty useful for paddlers.

There are also inexpensive cameras designed for scuba diving like Vivitar VIVICAM-6200W or SeaLife SL321 ECOshot which can be used deeper underwater than Pentax or Olympus, but do not provide comparable image quality and have no zoom lens.

I am providing my referral links to amazon.com for all cameras listed below. It is where I am buying all photo gear, GPS, other electronic gadgets, and, of course, books. You can usually find the best prices there and you can choose free shipping for items above $25 shipped directly from amazon (third party items available through amazon may be cheaper, but shipping is not usually free).

Poll: Your Paddling Camera

What a digital compact camera do you use for paddling?

Pentax Optio W10, W20, W30, W60

Pentax Optio WP was the first compact waterproof digital camera on the market in 2003, W30 is the 4th model in this this line. Good still pictures and video. Relatively inexpensive $200-270. The newest model, W60, is coming in Auugust.

Pentax Optio W60	see it at Amazon
Pentax Optio W30	see it at Amazon
Pentax Optio W20	see it at Amazon
Pentax Optio W10	see it at Amazon
Sandisk SD memory cards	1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4 Gb
Related posts: 7 Reviews of Pentax Optio W60, a New Waterproof Camera for Paddlers 44 Miles on the North Platte River in 2 Minutes - Video Animation Pentax Optio W60 - A New Waterproof Camera Is Coming Pentax Optio W(aterproof) Cameras for Paddling and Racing Photography Polarizer Filter with Pentax Optio W10 Camera - Prelimary Tests Waterproof Pentax Optio W30 and Olympus Stylus 770 SW among 12 Best Cameras of the Year 2007 How to Add Filters and Lens Attachments to Your Waterproof Pentax Optio or Olympus Stylus Camera? 10 Reviews of Pentax Optio W30 Camera - Waterproof and Ready for Paddling Is Pentax Optio W10/W20 the Paddler's Camera? Many Boats, Many Cameras ... Pentax Optio WP, WPi, W10 and W20 Wateproof Camera Comparison A New Optio W20 7MP Digital Camera from Pentax for Paddling Photographers Can Pentax Optio waterproof cameras be used in the water? Audio Recording with Pentax Optio W10 and Other Compact Digital Cameras

Olympus Stylus SW 720, 770, 790, 1030, and 1050

Similar features to Pentax cameras, advertised as shockproof, good pictures, lower quality video (15 fps vs 30 fps in Pentax, the new Stylus 790SW features 30 fps), more expensive $230-370. The video clip time is limited even in the newest Stylus SW 850 and 1030 models, but the firmware update fixes the movie problem in 1030SW camera.

Olympus Stylus 1050SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 1030SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 850SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 790SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus 770SW	see it at Amazon
Olympus Stylus SW 720	see it at Amazon
Related posts: 3 Reviews of Olympus Stylus 1050 SW Waterproof Camera with Tap Control 3 Reviews of Waterproof Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Camera - Firmware Fix for Video Problem Olympus Stylus SW 850 and 1030 - Two New Digital Compact Waterproof Cameras Waterproof Pentax Optio W30 and Olympus Stylus 770 SW among 12 Best Cameras of the Year 2007 A New Waterproof Olympus Stylus 790SW Camera with Improved 30 fps Video New Olympus Stylus 790SW in Review by InfoSync World - 76% Very Good Waterproof Pentax Optio W30 and Olympus Stylus 770 SW on Video in TigerTV Review of Waterproof Olympus Stylus 720 SW Camera by a Whitewater Kayaker. Pentax Optio WP, WPi, W10 and W20 Waterproof Camera Comparison Waterproof Pentax Optio W20 or Olympus Stylus SW 720 Camera for Paddling? Waterproof Olympus Stylus 770 SW Camera - A Review in Steve's Digicams Popular Photography Underwater Camera Shootout: Pentax Optio W20 and Olympus Stylus SW 720

GoPro Digital Hero 3

A simple wrist mounted camera in a waterproof case. Good video (better than from Pentax in some opinions), poor still pictures. Not so cheap at ~$140,. Helmet and deck mount kits available.

GoPro Digital Hero 3	wrist camera
GoPro Digital Hero 3	with helmet mounts
Sandisk SD memory cards	1 Gb, 2 Gb
Related posts: GoPro Digital Hero 3 as a Helmet Cam for Paddlers and Racers GoPro Digital Hero Reviewed by Helmet Cam Central: Affordable, Durable, Waterproof GoPro Digital Hero 3 Camera in Outrigger Canoe Paddling and Racing Windsurfing with Digital Hero 3 - a Waterproof Wrist Camera from GoPro Digital Hero 3 Waterproof Wrist Camera from GoPro - Sea Kayaker and CNET Reviews.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Camcorder

Waterproof flash card camcorder, very good video, 6 MP still pictures (I havent' seen a reliable review of that feature yet). Expensive: ~$450.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1	see it at Amazon
Sandisk SD memory cards	1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4 Gb
SanDisk SDHC memory card	4 Gb
Related posts: ... paddling photography speedlinking for January 5, 2008 7 Reviews of Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Digital Camcorder Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Camcorder Review and Sample Footage at FreeVlog Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder - A New Camera for Paddlers? Panasonic New Flash Memory Camcorder, SDR-SW20, Waterproof up to 5 Feet