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Water Fun

04th September 2010

Sadly, summer is quickly drawing to an end in our part of the world. We’ve been blessed with unusually hot and sunny weather which means that water sports have been a vital part of the our recent recreational activities.

For the most part, water and cameras don’t mix well. But by taking a few precautions, you can minimize any danger to your camera at the pool or beach when capturing the fun. And if you’re a serious outdoor fanatic, you can make a waterproof camera part of your photo gear.

On a recent vacation we spent a considerable time cooling off in the pools, river and lake. Here’s how we captured some of our water fun experiences:

This shot was taken from the across the pool and away from the water. The camera was safely protected from the water and possible splashing.
For this shot, the camera was high above the water. The wind was minimal so blowing sand was not a problem.
To take this shot of the leaping kiteboarder, I used a telephoto lens since I was far away from the action. Again, I was away from the water so the camera was not in any danger of damage.
This shot was taken from the beach close to the water. Again, I was using a telephoto lens which kept the camera safe from both sand and water.
It’s time to cool off. Using a waterproof camera, I’m standing in the pool just a few feet from my subject. Without having to worry about getting the camera wet, you can enjoy the pool as much as the others.
We dove down and found this creature below the surface.

Underwater cameras give you a chance to take really cool and interesting shots of family and friends.

When people aren’t around, you can explore the bottom of the lake or ocean.

This camera can be used to a depth of 16 feet below the surface. One other reasonably priced model can operate to a depth of 30 feet.

Our waterproof camera also takes movies. Here’s a short video that we compiled from a few clips.

In past years we’ve used several other waterproof cameras including:

  • Pentax Optio WP – a 5 MP camera; 3X zoom; 2″ LCD screen; usable to 5 feet depth; compact, one of the first “ruggedized” cameras
  • Olympus 720SW – a 7.1 MP camera; 3X zoom; 2.5″ LCD screen; usable to 10 feet depth
  • Olympus 1030SW – a 10 MP camera; 3.6X zoom; 2.7″ LCD screen; usable to 33 ft depth – now replaced by the Olympus Tough 8010.

Also available in the same $150-$350 price range are the Canon D10, Fuji Z33WP and Panasonic DMC-TS2. Below are two models that we’re currently using and can recommend.

Olympus Tough 6020 is waterproof to 16 feet, shockproof to 5 feet and temperature proof to 14 degrees. It’s also it’s capable of recording HD video. The orange float strap makes it difficult to lose in the water.
The Vivitar DVR850W is a movie camera that is waterproof to 10 ft. It gives you an easy way to record water action.

Of course you want to be sensible and stay careful with your camera around water and sand. But when warm weather activities begin, I don’t hesitate to find ways to capture the water fun. Why not capture your water fun too?

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