Inexpensive waterproof camera
 

We're traveling to Belize and want to buy a waterproof camera that we can use while we are tubing on the river, snorkeling, caving. Don't want to spend more than $200. Any suggestions?

My recommendation... try to find a waterproof case for a digital camera that you already have.

If you don't have a digital camera that has a waterproof case available, take a look at the Fuji A400 and matching case. Fuji discontinued the model and there have been some good deals around.

I've had great luck with an EWA case I bought here:

http://www.keepitdrycase.com/

It's a fancy schmancy plastic bag with a glass square for the lens to look through. It's bulkier and not as easy to use as a good waterproof digital camera but much cheaper and has worked well for me snorkeling, rafting, rainforest hikes in the rain, etc. My photos and travelogues are here if you're intereted:

http://flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

I've been looking at the Olympus 770 and 790 and 795SW cameras ($250-$350?) but have no reason to replace my current camera. It's a bulky old Pentax Optio 450 with a tiny viewing screen but takes wonderful photos.

Keep us posted, please. Happy trails!

A few years ago I used a disposable underwater camera that was adequate. I don't remember the brand, but I found this Fujicolor Quick Snap Marine:

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/quicksnap/marine.html

I'm not sure where you can get it.((*))

I've been in your situation. Under $200 is hard to do.

I got a $135 waterproof housing for my smaller digital 3x optical zoom. It worked well for a few times then had fogging problems. If you get a casing be sure you can turn your camera on and off without having to open the case. That was the problem with my case. I had to open it to turn the camera on. Opening up the housing messed up the inside-the-case temp vs. the outside-the-cast temp and the fogging started.

One other thing you can do is put a tiny packet of that stuff that is shipped with cameras to absorb moisture in the housing with the camera. That was suggested to me by someone in the know.

Those diposable underwater cameras work pretty well. I have some great photos from them. Write your name on them before leaving because everybody's looks alike.

Enjoy Belize.

Hi Colleen, I know we're not supposed to "advertise" on this site, but I happen to have the underwater housing for a Sony camera that might help you.

We had a Sony model # DSC-W7 Cyber-shot camera and we have the underwater housing. We broke the camera. I have purchased a new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 camera and of course the old underwater housing won't work with it. I have to buy a new model.

I was going to try putting the old housing on E-Bay. It is a model MPK-WA (not a WB which is used on the new cameras).

I think you can still buy the DSC-W7 cameras for pretty cheap as they are last year's model. The housing works really well. If you are interested, let me know and we can get in touch privately via email. This might be the way to get your set-up for under $200.

There is currently an Ebay listing for the camera -- its not my listing, but it is the camera that goes with the underwater housing that I have.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Cyber-shot-...QQcmdZViewItem

I have a Pentax WP that is good for up to 2 hours under water and up to 10 feet under. It's right around $200. I've been happy with the camera. It has a movie mode too.