Underwater-Photography Reviews

I have many cameras from full-featured SLR's (Nikon) with a variety of lenses to wide-angle point-and-shoots (Olympus) which I use for different occasions.

But when the going gets wet -- from either water or snow -- then I use my Canon Sure Shot A-1. It's water-resistant, goes underwater (down to 11 feet), it's simple to use, and it takes great pictures. It also has what I consider to be the most important feature -- daytime fill flash (which is activated by simply switching to flash mode) which helps to make foreground colors pop. (My friends are always amazed at the color and clarity of my photos. My secret is using fill-flash, which all of my cameras have.) The flash also works underwater, which again helps to make colors come alive and compensates for the bluish cast which happens to photos taken even when below the surface only a few feet.

Getting an underwater camera with flash, incidentally, is normally an expensive proposition. And many underwater cameras aren't really made to use on-land. The Canon, by contrast, is relatively inexpensive, and it works well both above and below the water. And since the Canon uses 35mm film (and not APS film), there's more detail in the photos which makes them more satisfying. (With 400 speed film, the flash range underwater extends out to 22 feet, which is also very impressive).

I've taken my Canon A-1 to the mountains when I taught my kids to ski for the first time. And I took it snorkeling in Hawaii where the photos I shot were fun and colorful. And since the Canon works both above and below the waves, I have photos of my kids and my wife both on deck and swimming with the fish, which everyone in the family loves.

I've also taken my Canon A-1 on less exotic vacations. When the kids retire to the pool (which they always insist upon), I would formerly put my camera away and read a book. With my Canon A-1, I can now keep shooting -- from inside the pool. I have fun photos of my kids playing underwater (which are among their favorites from our vacations) -- and many great shots of other people teaching their kids -- and their babies -- to swim. (People actually love to have their pictures taken while in the pool.)

With its extra large viewfinder, the camera is easy to use underwater -- and on land. (All cameras should have a viewfinder this large.) And underwater photos are also point-and-shoot easy (and much better than any I've ever gotten from underwater disposable cameras).

I've even used my Canon A-1 at the Los Angeles Auto Show where it took great images of everything from Porsches to auto show booths, to the outside of the Staples Center at night (bracing the camera on a pole for a long exposure). The shots came out great using either flash or available light. The semi-wide angle 32mm lens was also good for taking in enough of the scene, especially of the cars up close.

This camera must be good. I do wish, though, that Canon made a zoom version of the A-1. And the camera is sometimes fooled by the lighting on overcast days, as are many point-and-shoot cameras. In these instances, I simply shoot close to my subject -- with fill flash -- and keep the amount of sky in my composition to a minimum. (On overcast days, the sky is often times brighter than objects on land causing the camera to mistakenly under-expose the photos. On sunny days, by contrast, the sky and land are actually of similar brightness.)

The Canon Sure Shot A-1 is an amazing camera -- at an equally astounding price (especially when compared to other underwater cameras). If ever I go back to Hawaii, I plan to take three A-1's with me -- so I won't need to reload film while snorkeling.

Don't let water or snow dissuade you from taking pictures -- get a Canon Sure Shot A-1.

I recently bought a Sure Shot A-1 because I've ruined 2 other very expensive cameras with saltwater & sand. I was a little skeptical about this camera because it is relatively inexpensive and simple compared to my SLR or the Minolta underwater camera. Well, I've shot about 10 rolls now, on the beach, in saltwater, swimming with the kids in Hawaii and hiking. This little camera takes terrific pictures in all settings. I'm especially impressed with the exposure control system which could have easily been tricked with lots of scattered light....but was not. The fill flash works well, even at high noon on Maui, breaking up harsh shadows and brightening colors.

I've also used the negatives with my Nikon Coolscan IV with great results as well...the digital images from the Sure Shot/Coolscan combination have been nearly as good as my Nikon Coolpix 990.

Two thumbs up on the A-1

....This camera was darn-near perfect, no matter where I used it, be it under water or all the way to the top of Mount Etna. I made the rounds of the entire island, Germany, Israel, Spain, and a whole bunch of detachments in other places. As good as it was, it was bound to die eventually. I found it's only flaw, you can't cheat on the directions. They say to dampen the seal before swimming, and there's a reason for that. If you don't, it will leak under pressure and short out the whole thing. So be warned, READ THE INSTRUCTION BOOK! It's there for a reason. One bonus, it works to 20 feet, even though they say 16.5. So listen to someone who misses a faithful camera, wet the seal and this bad-boy will serve you for a long time. (I have 2 years of great pictures to prove it)

I used the camera in Hawaii. It was easy to use, and it was nice to have pictures underwater, but when I tried to take pictures of things on the ocean floor, I discovered that the camera won't work deeper than about 10 ft--the plunger gets depressed by the pressure.

We used these cameras on the beaches and in the ocean while in Hawaii. The picture quality was as good as any permanent camera I own. The only draw back is it has no flash which would have been helpful in a few situations. But you just have to plan around this one fault.

I took this camera on my honeymoon to St. Maarten and the pictures came out beautifully, better than the ones I took with my "real" camera. Would definitely use again! Would also love to go to St. Maarten again (but that's besides the point :-) ).

I had WP1 and A1 before. Both of them looked almost the same except the colour of the rubber grip for the hand is different, the macro logo of the mode dial is different. WP1 is a weatherproof camera, not waterproof. It is excellent for snorkelling and rugged use. WP1 started to leak at 6m or 20ft when I used for SCUBA diving, that was my mistake. So I bought an A1, so far tested to 35m (though only guaranteed to a few metres) and still going strong, same for another 2 A1s that my friends have. Both WP1 and A1 are excellent cameras, gave excellent pictures. The price difference (almost 100%) basically gives you the peace of mind in terms of water-tightness. One thing to take note, the flash is not strong enough so underwater pictures will turn out to be greenish or bluish, and fine particles will tend to disperse the flash and over expose the pictures. Have fun!

Took this camera down 80 feet in salt water. Works like a charm. My friends couldn't believe it either. I recommend this camera highly.

It may not have all the cute features that you could want on a camera, but it makes up for it by being durable and rugged. I just recently discovered the "WP" stands for weatherproof, not waterproof. I've been taking mine into the pool and into the ocean for years without a problem, although the camera has never been deeper than a few feet under the water. It is not sufficient if you are a serious scuba person, but for the traveler or outdoor enthusiast, this camera will greatly expand your picture taking abilities. While I have several expensive, feature-laden cameras, I often prefer to use this camera. I find it has three advantages for me. First, its ruggedness allows it to go places my expensive cameras cannot. This includes the beach, on to boats, or into water. You can throw this camera onto the sand or take it into the ocean for fun vacation shots. Second, I'm not worried about losing this camera, as I would be of losing a more expensive camera. Not only is it moderately priced, but also you can slip it into a bathing suit pocket and swim with it. You don't have to leave it on a towel and worry about it as you swim. Thirdly, it's small and lightweight. It's not burdensome to carry-around. For those times that you would like to get a snapshot, but you don't want to lug around a camera bag and a bunch of attachments, this camera is perfect. And while you're carrying it, you don't have to worry about getting caught in the rain.

While it may lack some features, its picture quality is surprisingly good. If you are thinking that a waterproof disposable camera has the same advantages that I listed above (i.e., waterproof with worry-free portability), be advised there is a big difference in the quality of the prints. I've used both and you get much better pictures from this camera. It may not do everything that a fancier camera can do (zoom, macro, etc.), but what it can do it does exceptionally well. This camera has taken some of my favorite vacation snapshots and family pictures, if for no other reason than it was there with me when the picture opportunity presented itself while my "good" camera sat safely (and uselessly) packed away and protected.

We used this camera on a trip to Hawaii and it takes great snorkeling pictures. Some people had mentioned to me that this camera tends to leak, but I didn't find that to be the case. One caveat though - there isn't a flash (or at least there wasn't on the model we purchased) so the pictures taken with clouds over head tended to be a bit "murky" - the ones taken in bright sunlight turned out MUCH better. I eventually plan on buying a "real" underwater camera for SCUBA, etc., but if you are just planning on going on a snorkel trip or going swimming this is ideal - I don't think that you can take it deeper than about 10 - 15 feet (maybe that's when it starts to leak) so this product would not be ideal for any deep water sports.

This is a great little camera for taking pictures both in and out of the water. Not surprisingly, it delivers best underwater on a sunny day, but even on overcast days, it produces crisp pictures with great detail.

On land, it is much less particular about lighting, and produces pictures with beautiful colour in light or shadow, or both.

Since it takes such nice pictures out of the water, a first time user might want to practice with it on land. The lever action feels a lot different from the push-button action of regular throw-away cameras, and since you don't hear the click of the shutter underwater, you might be uncertain whether anything happened. A couple of test shots (without the urgency of a sea turtle swimming by or a beautiful school of fish) should increase the photographer's confidence in the camera when underwater.

The big wheel that advances the film works very well; it's easy to find by touch, so getting another snap of something before it swims away isn't difficult.

There's also a little strap to keep it on your wrist, although it's a good idea to keep a firm hold on the camera anyway while swimming.

The simple operation made it a hit with the kids; they were able to make their own special souvenirs of the underwater world.

Excellent value.

It's just about the only camera I needed for a vacation to Maui. I hauled along my digital camera, my "real" 35mm camera and a handful of dry-land disposables, and this underwater camera KICKED BUTT as far as quality of shots, quality of hardware, ease of use and general cool/fun vortex rating, plus, it's almost indestructible and weighs next to nothing!

YES the prints are a bit "dark" when printed without correction -- so CORRECT them! This is a Fuji-Kodak thing, I think, so ASK your processor to print them a bit lighter. The colors are outrageously rich, even the deeper-underwater shots have very good colors throughout. You have GOT to have one of these on your wrist while you snorkel!

Really an excellent little product - the next time I need a dry-land disposable, I'm going to give Fuji a try based on how great this underwater Fuji was to use!

My wife and I bought this camera at the last minute to take with us to Hawaii for our honeymoon. We went snorkeling in Molikini (who hasn't?) and I have to say 3 things about this camera that have been mentioned already but need to be taken into serious consideration.

1. Price - A $10 waterproof disposable camera is very reasonable. I think for the price this camera is everything it is suppossed to be. The charter we went on the snorkeling trip with was renting $400 cameras with all the bells and whistles for $20 and $10 per roll of film.

2. Flash - For a snorkeling trip, and staying close to the surface I have to say this camera didn't do too bad. The colors were a bit blueish but nothing that I can't live with. As far as my 25 foot dive down to a turtle to get a picture, I shouldn't have wasted the picture, it is dark and blurry without a flash.

3. Eye Piece - This is a big pain to use with goggles. I eventually stopped trying to aim and just started snapping pictures. I would have to say that to be able to take clear photos underwater this camera needs a bigger eye piece.

Overall I was satisfied with this camera but to tell you the truth I wish I would have rented the camera from the boat with the flash (if only for the picture of me and a giant turtle).

I used 2 of these cameras on vacation in Aruba. I took one down to 85ft with no problems. There is no flash so you better have great visibility or there will be no pictures. The camera is bouyant so you also need to use the rubber band tether that comes with it. I did not put it in my BC pocket for fear that it would come out and rush to the surface. But it was fine on my wrist.

My friends and I took a trip to the Oregon Coast last weekend or some boogie boarding and wouldn't you know it, half way there I realized I left my camera at home! We pulled into a mini mart and I picked up this great little single use camera.

This little Kodak camera worked out so much better than my digital would have anyway - seeing as I wouldn't have dared bring the digital INTO the water! The pictures came out crisp and full of color, it was fun to use and to take underwater pictures of friends, and to top it off it was super cheap! This is actually my first experience with a single use camera where the photos came out good (it's been a long time since I've used one and those pictures came out all grainy.)

Others mentioned the lack of flash as a downfall, but for daytime use it worked like a gem. I'd recommend this camera to anyone who wants to take some water shots in the sun. For that use, this a five star item!

I liked this product very much because I used it for surf photography on a HUGE day, and no water penetrated the case as it did on my old single-use "waterproof" cameras that i had used before. The Bell & Howell BH714 Water Resistant 35mm camera takes clear pictures every time. The camera not only help up to the waves beating on it, but it also took some of the clearest pictures i have ever seen from a camera that parallels this one in price, or anywhere near this price.

Ordinarily I don't buy frivilous items. But this camera is so darn cute, it called to me from the shelf "buy me, buy me!" So I bought it, and I have been very pleased with it. It's tough and waterproof, and gave me some excellent shots above and below the water. The only complaint I have with it is that the icons painted on the dials wore off quickly, making it a little challenging to know what mode the camera is in. On the other hand, my wife doesn't like this camera at all. The underwater viewfinder makes it difficult for her to frame pictures properly, resulting in chopped off heads and the like. Also its unusual size and shape means she gets her fingers in the picture from time to time. Of course I'm about twice the size of my wife, and I don't have these problems, so maybe you won't either. If you plan on doing a lot of shallow underwater photography or if you plan on using the camera in a pretty harsh environment, this is the one for you. It's a lot tougher than a regular point-and-shoot, and it takes much nicer photos than a disposable waterproof. It costs about 10 times what a disposable would, but then it's about 300 times more useful.

Canon Elph Sport Camera is a cute, all terrain Advanced Photo System (aps) camera that if properly used will give good quality pictures. The camera is waterproof to a depth of 5 meters or 16 ft. Underwater, if you compose correctly following the instructions'booklet, you will get pictures with a better quality of those taken with disposable waterproof cameras. But this is a camera for snorkelers or shallow water divers, not for professional or advanced scuba divers that will find that this little camera is useless at depths bigger than 5 mts. On land, the camera will also give a good performance. But again, this is mainly a camera for the tourist or the casual photographer since it is limited by its single Canon 23 mm f 4.8 lens. Other than that, the camera offers all the advantages, for the beginner photographer, that can be found on other APS cameras, that is, automatic film cartrigde loading, built in flash with red-eye reduction, automatic shooting modes, date, time and title imprinting and 3 print formats (classic, panoramic and group size). The camera uses one lithium battery (CR2) weights only 220 g. and it is small, portable and very nice looking (measures WxHxD- 4.1x2.9x1.8 in.)A good buy if you have some extra dollars to spend(199) in a versatile, elegant and easy to carry little camera.

My camera has really stood up to the elements and multiple beatings. It has worked well for me taking pictures underwater and in the surf, and has also been to the top of multiple 20,000+ feet mountains. Dropped countless times on rock, snow, sand, and also dunked as much into water. I have learned to force the flash on anything but super sunny days - the pics come out a bit dark in conditions other cameras would have no problem with, and i've found it could really use a filter in intense light situations. Nothing you wouldn't expect from a specialty use camera. Just bought a second spare one for when the first one finally does give up - which i don't think will be for a long time.
Good camera and good value!

Well I bought this camera a few weeks ago to go hawaii. Well it leaked after one roll of film so cleaned it out and let dry over night and loaded it again the next day and leaked again to where the camera didnt work anymore. Well I ended up getting some underwater disposable cameras. When I got the film developed the the disposable pics actually came out better than the 1 roll that came out of my $... camera (imagine that). Well now Im trying to get it repaired or replaced and I have to pay to ship it to them plus another $... I have to send to them for processing, what is up with that if I have a warrenty and its faulty equipment they should cover at the the shipping back to me. Over all There is nothing that I can recomend about this camera from the pics to the service. Would give it a 0 if possible.

I am a novice scuba diver, and completely new to underwater photography, but I do have a lot of land photography experience. I bought a ReefMaster RC camera a few days before going on a recent Caribbean vacation and am very happy that I did. I took it on 3 different dives, a shallow (35') reef dive, a deeper (72') reef dive, and a deep (82') wreck dive (a WWII Soviet Warship!). The camera is very well designed and performed extremely well; even after I dropped it! (It bounced.) It's a breeze to handle underwater, with all the key stuff easily readable and accesible. It's also really easy to use; a couple of times I handed it to my fellow divers (underwater) and they took very good photos without needing to fuss with dials, etc. I shot 3 different rolls of 36 exposures of Kodak ASA 200 Gold film. My first roll (the shallow dive, my first with the camera) yielded 10 photos I put in my album. The second and third rolls (dives 2 & 3) yielded 18 and 15 photos respectively that I judged good enough to show to friends and colleagues (who were blown away by the pics). The 'rejected' photos were due to 'operator error' (as in, I was too close, or too far away, etc.). I highly recommend this camera to people who want to take high quality underwater photos without the expense and hassle of higher-end cameras. If you get the camera, be sure to also get the 3x close-up lens, which really brings out the best in your underwater subjects. And READ THE MANUAL ... I suspect that some of the folks here who complained about the camera didn't take the time to follow the instructions. Have fun!

I just purchased this camera and have already used it on 6 dives and found it to work so much better than other disposable cameras and housing for scuba diving. It's not a Nikonos (sp?) but it's still pretty good for a beginner. The only thing I don't like too much is that if you're pretty close to one object but also too far away from another object in the same frame, the flash is only good for within some many feet. Anything further and you can start to see the bluish cast from taking underwater photos around the perimeter of the photo. I also purchased the 3X macro lens to go with it, but found that I had much difficulty keeping this portable lens on without actually using both hands at the same time trying to keep it on the camera while taking a photo. Otherwise a great camera!

This camera has had a recurring problem wherein the "replace battery" icon flashes and the camera will not allow us to take any more photos - even after replacing the battery. This camera was purchased for vacation photos and three times now it has malfunctioned and needed repairs during the vacation, effectively making it useless. The zoom feature was previously repaired under warranty after minimal use. It took 3 months for Minolta to return the camera on that occasion. Our experience may or may not be rare, but it was bad enough to dissuade another purchase from Minolta.

I have bought it 4 months ago and I never no if the pictures will be good or bad. The flash seems very weak (or it may be a problem with the light reader) and indoor pictures are usually so dark they are not worthy. Outdoor pictures with good light are usually very good !

Underwater pictures also need good light. Indoor pools are not an option for UW pictures as flash is really weak.

I bought this Vectis Weathermatic after being an [other brand] user for 7 years. I work as an agricultural consultant and most pictures I take are outdoors. My [other camera] finally fell into an irrigation canal and I decided to replace it with a waterproof, shock resistant camera. But with my [other camera] I always new what to expect, with my Minolta I never now if the pictures will come out with good light or not.

Another CON: can't take pictures if object is moving (no matter if ASA 400) as it can't focus correctly.

Conclusion: this camera will probably last longer than my [other camera] but I will probably replace it before as I am not satisfied with the quality of the pictures.

I bought the APS Weathermatic about four years ago and I like it very much. I took it with me while scuba diving & snorkeling in Bonaire. The pics I had were comparable to a Nikonos UW camera! PROS: APS film was easy to load. Autofocus capability underwater. 33ft not too shabby, most worthwhile photographic stuff is within 33ft anyways. The recessed lens cuts down on the "snowflake" effect common to UW photography. Landside pictures pretty decent too, easy to carry and use while on dry land. CONS: UW autofocus only works if both you and your subject remain very, very, very still. Expensive compared to other amateur UW cameras. Flash is a little on the weak side while UW, this camera takes it's best photos in bright light. ALL underwater cameras (except disposibles) require special care. This means that the camera has to be rinsed in a bowl/pool of water ASAP after being in saltwater. Also sand and grit can sneak under the dial and cracks easily if you are not careful. Special care and attention is needed to clean out sand from the gaskets. The Weathermatic does snorkeling and shallow diving just fine. Minolta warns against moving water to reduce the possibility of physical damage caused by a heavy wave or strong faucet spray. Once the camera is underwater, it should be fine.

Nice little camera, but it does not take quality pictures. We used this camera for pictures of all kinds and the pictures look great on the camera display, but once they are printed they are very blurry and distorted. Spend the extra money to get something of good quality, this camera is definitely not it.

We got the 308 with the underwater housing and took it to Hawaii. I and my girlfriend were very impressed. The underwater housing performed perfectly, and the pictures (taken one step below the highest resolution) were clear and sharp, even when we put them up on a 36inch monitor. It's not as fast and doesn't have as many of the creature comforts as some of the more expencive 3.2's, but that was great for my girl, who didn't want a something that was too complicated, and for the price, it was excellenet. This company makes all the internal camera parts for many of the big companies and now they have their own line, so I thought it was a good gamble, eventhough I'd never heard of them before. It comes with all the cables, batteries and software, but you'll need to buy your own SD card. We recommend this camera, and were glad to have it on our vacation.

this is the best camera i've ever bought! ITS SO AWESOME!! the quality is good, and everything else is good too! i would recomend this for everyone!!!