August 25th, 2009 by 
Photo-John
Rugged Digital Cameras For Backpacking, Cycling, Boating And The Worksite
A whole bunch of new waterproof and shockproof digital cameras have become available since the spring of 2008, when this guide was originally published. I decided to update the article so it refers to the most current (as of August 2009) outdoor-friendly point-and-shoot digital cameras. These are cameras that have some level of moisture resistance and/or can take some physical abuse – cameras made for the beach, camping, fishing, skiing, etc. Right now Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, and Ricoh all offer at least one camera that fits somewhere in the waterproof, shockproof, outdoor point-and-shoot spectrum.
Take me straight to Photo-John’s outdoor camera recomendations >>
Olympus, Pentax and Ricoh have been making waterproof cameras for a few years now. Pentax made the first waterproof digital camera, the 5-megapixel Optio WP, which I reviewed back in 2005. They just introduced what I think are their fifth-generation Optio W cameras, the Optio WS80 and Optio W80. Olympus was making weatherproof 35mm point-and-shoots before we even dreamed of digital cameras. They also made the first digital camera that was both waterproof and shockproof, the Olympus Stylus 720 SW. The new Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 is shockproof, waterproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. I’ve had the most experience with the Olympus waterproof and shockproof cameras and they’ve worked very well for me. The Ricoh G600 prompted the first version of this article. Like the Olympus Stylus SW / Tough cameras, it’s not only waterproof but built to withstand drops and other impacts.
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Panasonic, Canon and Fujifilm are newcomers to the waterproof and shockproof camera market. Panasonic announced the Lumix TS1 in January. It’s a waterproof and shockproof 12-megapixel camera and the first in the category to offer optical image stabilization and 720p HD video, making it a very compelling competitor. Canon and Fujifilm both introduced their first waterproof digital cameras at the annual PMA tradeshow this past March. The 10-megapixel Fujifilm Z33WP is one of the more basic cameras of the bunch. It’s waterproof but not shockproof. On the other hand, for $199, it’s one of the best deals you can get on a new beach or pool-friendly camera. Canon went nuts on the design of their first waterproof and shockproof digital camera. Instead of the standard pocket-sized rectangle, the Canon PowerShot D10 is a brightly colored egg-shaped camera with accessory faceplates and detachable lanyards. It’s also one of the best spec’d rugged digital cameras, with a 12-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization, waterproof to 33 feet, freezeproof and shockproof from about 4 feet.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors or in environments where there’s a lot of moisture, you should seriously consider a waterproof and/or shockproof digital camera. Kayakers, boaters, fishermen, mountain bikers, skiers, and serious hikers will all appreciate having a digital camera they don’t have to worry about getting wet. Contractors or other professionals that need a small, rugged digital camera will appreciate the Olympus Tough cameras, Panasonic Lumix TS1, Ricoh G600 and Canon PowerShot D10, all of which can handle rough treatment, including small drops. I’ve used the Pentax and Olympus rugged cameras on the trail, in the water and on the snow and I can tell you from experience, confidence that your camera can take some abuse means getting more and better photos. And better photos are what it’s all about.
Here are a few things I’ve learned after using various waterproof point-and-shoots over the past few years. Some of these are my opinion and some are fact. Evaluate camera specs and your specific needs and make your own judgments about the following:
- All waterproof digital cameras have compromised image quality. Camera manufacturers have yet to make a waterproof camera that can match the image quality of the best point-and-shoots. Best to just accept this fact and decide what’s more important to you – having a camera that can handle the elements, or having a broken camera that had great image quality.
- I like point-and-shoot cameras that fit in my pocket. If they don’t fit in my pocket, they aren’t going to be available when I need them. That goes for waterproof cameras as well as standard compacts.
- Freezeproof doesn’t mean a camera will work when temperatures are below freezing. I’m not exactly sure what “freezeproof” means. Olympus freezes cameras in blocks of ice at the tradeshows (see photo, right) so they can thaw them out to show off how they still work. Unfortunately, my experience with the Olympus Stylus SW freezeproof cameras is that I can get off one or two shots before the battery dies when it’s below freezing. Freezing a “freezeproof” camera may not kill it, but it probably will kill the battery, making it impossible to take very many pictures.
- We get a lot more negative user reviews than positive ones about most of these cameras. I don’t have any way of knowing what the actual percentage of failed cameras is. But my suspicion is we get more reviews from the people who have cameras fail. And they’re usually pissed. So pay attention to those reviews. But keep in mind that there may also be a lot of very happy owners who aren’t writing reviews. If you’re one of those satisfied owners, please write a review to help keep things balanced.
I’ll wrap this up by saying that I use the rugged little outdoor cameras a lot more than I thought I would. I have a wonderful pocket point-and-shoot with incredible image quality. However, most of the time I grab one of the waterproof and shockproof cameras because they give me piece of mind – especially if I’m going mountain biking or skiing. For a lot of my outdoor activities, I’ll happily trade some image quality for durability.
next page – Photo-John’s Outdoor Camera Recommendations >>
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May 8th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
[...] Outdoor & Waterproof Digital Camera Guide >> [...]
May 13th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I just discovered that only the SW Olympus cameras can withstand the elements. They are no longer making the splashproof type which explains why their website no longer makes no mention of splashproof cameras. So the non-SW stylus cameras are NOT splashproof !
May 13th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Sam-
I recently learned that, too – and unfortunately, not from Olympus. They sort of glossed over that detail the last time I met with them. Thanks for posting that here and reminding me that I need to follow up with them and get the complete story. Obviously, from what I wrote, “Stylus,” meant weatherproof to me. It has since the original Olympus Stylus 35mm point-and-shoot camera. I think they have some veru strong branding there and it’s a big mistake to let it go. Plus, not everyone needs an actual waterproof camera. For many, many people, weatherproof is an excellent option. Most of the time, it’s more than enough for me.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I guess the next most obvious question is when did Olympus stop making the all-weather models and can you still get them ? I saw that a Stylus 780 definiteky is all-weather and possibly an 800. It states it on the body. But the worst part is that most dealers are still advertising the newer non-SW stylus cameras as being weather proof. Its possible they are not aware. Seems Olympus should have made certain they did not advertise them that way.
Sam
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
[...] like I’m going to have to update the Outdoor and Waterproof Digital Camera Guide I wrote a few weeks ago. Today, Pentax announced a new entry in the waterproof / outdoor digital [...]
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I bought an olympus “waterproof and shockproof” camera last summer to take on a rafting trip. Fist dunk in the water ruined it completely. The Olympus warranty does not cover damage “from liquid” or from “impact”. So much for the representation that these cameras are waterproof and shock proof. Maybe they are to an extent, but Oly doesn’t stand behind them with a guarantee.
Too bad. I’ve owned 3 Olympus compacts. I don’t think I’ll be buying another now that I’ve dealt with the customer servoce (or lack thereof) on this warranty issue.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Jimbo-
I’m sorry to hear about your camera. Please post a review for it in our user reviews section. That’s the best place to share your experience since you can attach a rating and it gets saved with other reviews for the same camera.
Read & Write Reviews >>
Thanks for commenting and thanks in advance for your reviews.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Good timing. The Samsung NV10 I was carrying around finally quit on me by not being able to fully extend the lens when powered on. The repair guy says the camera was dropped too much. I don’t remember dropping it, but the little black image capture device did experience a lot of shock and bouncing when I took on my bicycle rides (both road and mtn).
My next mini-camera is going to be shock and weather resistant. Otherwise, I’ll just ruin another camera.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I am paddling and racing with Pentax Optio “W” cameras starting from the original WP, then upgrading to W10, and W30. They are all still working despite of use and abuse during ultramarathon paddle races.
You a re welcome to check my blog “Paddling with a Camera” with waterproof camera comparison and shopping guide, photo tips for paddlers, pictures, movies and animations from paddling workouts, trips, and racing.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Hi, I’m desperatelly looking for a good waterproof camera! I’ve been checking out the Olympus 1030SW but I’ve read a lot of mixed comments, many of them saying that “it leaks”. What can you recommend me? I live in Puerto Rico and we own a boat plus two kids jaja!!!
Thanks!
August 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Margie-
It’s hard to know how to read the reports of leaking Olympus Stylus SW cameras. People who have bad experiences are more likely to post user reviews. And if Olympus is selling a lot of them, that will increase the reports of problems. The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW we’ve been testing has been snorkling in Hawaii, in a swimming pool and a hot tub, and it’s doing just fine. The Pentax Optio W waterproof cameras are an alternative and we have a review for the Pentax Optio W30. But there’s still nothing that compares to the Olympus when it comes to all-around ruggedness and versatility. Here are links to what we’ve posted on the Olympus and Pentax, so far. I’m working on finishing up or Olympus 1030 SW review right now.
Pentax Optio WP Pro Review >>
Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Preview >>
Another option is to buy whatever camera suits you best and then get a waterproof housing for it. That’s not as convenient. But the housings are more reliable and can usually go as deep as 100 feet. Personally, I still like the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW. I understand you being a bit nervous because of the reports of it leaking, though. I am, too. But like I said, so far ours has held up just fine.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Do not expect a warranty from olympus. Their repair staff took three months to look at the camera. After many call s they finally told me the camera lense was cracked and there was salt corrossion voiding the warranty. I got camera back I removed the \crack\ with lense cleaning cloth. The salt corrosion was a drop of spilled latte. I sent the camera back again with the above information. finally after a down time of 7 months I recieve the camera back in pieces with a certificate to get a new olympus camera .. Of couse the models offered were not the ones that got bad reviews and I had to pay a $200 handling fee. I am repair person myself for a large educational institution. We will never buy olympus products again.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I purchased an Olympus 1030 SW on May 13, 2008. First photo taken 6/28/08, and only 75 photos have been taken with it. Went snorkeling with it on Aug 28, 2008, taking two photos to test it underwater, and another out of the water after snorkeling. They looked good. I had not attempted to take another photo until 9/5/08, when I discovered that the camera turns on, beeps four times, and shuts off. The lens cover remains open and the LCD shows a blurred image before it shuts off. I can only assume the camera has leaked. Never been dropped, never otherwise exposed to any water at all. Battery is fully charged. Then I read the Olyumpus warrantee and was shocked! Shipping to repair center is at customer’s expense. The determination of who is at fault is solely up to Olympus. What is NOT covered is \defects or damage in the Products resulting from wear, tear, misuse, abuse, negligence, sand, liquids, impact,…\ So a shockproof, crushproof, waterproof camera’s warrantee excludes any leak, shock, or those things that the camera supposedly is built to withstand? In checking the blogs for the Olympus 770SW, it appears that the repairs done by Olympus seldom solve the problem, and once out of warrantee, too bad. I don’t like the sound of that. Luckily, I purchased it with a credit card, and am taking it back for full refund at Best Buy or I will contest the CC Charge.
September 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Dennis-
It sounds like your camera may need to be cleaned. I had the same experience with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW I tested (see review here). Turns out it just had some dried salt water on the lens and a little rinse fixed the problem. The manual actually says to rinse the camera after using it underwater. After I cleaned the lens cover it worked fine. The camera we had for testing has been in the water, including snorkeling, a bunch of times and it’s still working fine.
As far as warranties go, a friend who had a 1030 SW fail in salt water had the camera replaced, no questions asked. That’s not to say that people aren’t having trouble with warranty situations. But that’s the only direct knowledge I have of the Olympus warranty department and failed Olympus Stylus SW cameras.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I recently purchased an Olympus MJU 1030SW from eBay after owning a MJU 720SW for the past 2 or so years. I never had an issue with using the 720SW underwater until about the 1 1/2 year mark… then it started leaking a bit, which I figured was due to deteriorated seals. I figured the cost of having the camera serviced and the seals replaced was not worth it compared to buying the latest model… the 1030SW!!!
I purchased the Olympus MJU 1030SW particularly for a two week holiday I was going on. The camera lasted me for the first day of holidays, as I decided to take a few photo’s while swimming in the hostel 1 1/2 metre deep swimming pool. After I finished swimming and dried myself off, I switched my camera back on to take a few more photos and to preview one’s I had taken… only to find that the inside of the lens had major condensation, as I couldn’t wipe the moisture from the lens. I opened up the battery/card compartment only to find it water inside the battery compartment. Later that evening, I removed the battery and card and left it to dry overnight.
Needless to say, I packed the Olympus MJU 1030 away for the rest of the holiday. Luckily, I had taken my trusty Kodak DX6490 as a back-up camera, which came in really handy (not for underwater shots though).
Upon returning home, I immediately sent the Olympus MJU 1030SW back for warranty… only to receive an email saying it couldn’t be repaired under warranty as there was corrosion (after 2 weeks!!) and that I had misused it. I was also informed the camera had no problems with its seals.
BUYER BEWARE!!! Of the Olympus MJU 1030SW!!
September 20th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Loved the Olympus 1030SW but it does leak
I think salt water could be the culprit. I’ve used it in the pool a couple of weeks before my trip and every thing worked perfectly. Took it to the caribbean and after about three dives during our first week, it failed to turn on. I removed the battery and found moisture in the battery compartment. Sent it back to Olympus, waiting for a verdict 
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Hi,
Please I would like to know wich one is better. Either the Olympus Stylus 1030SW or the 1050SW?
I need one urgently for my trip to Aruba next week.
Last year I got a Pentax Optio W30 and water went inside the camera the second day of snorkeling. The warranty and customer service were great though, but I dont want to risk not having the camera working for this vacations.
Thanks for your prompt help on my question,
Have a great day.
Paula
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Paula-
The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is a more rugged camera and rated for more depth than the 1050 SW. Be very careful to read the manual, though. There are reports of leakage with all of these cameras and I suspect at least some are people not paying close attention to the gaskets on the battery and connector compartments.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Hi, bought a Olympus 1050SW a few weeks ago for trip to Vanuatu. Used it 6 times no deeper than 1m and was extra careful to soak it in fresh water and then dry it and checked all compartments. On the last day went to use it and found significant condensation inside the LCD screen and minor inside the lens and in battery compartment. Left all waterproof doors open for 12 hours to try to dry it out but LCD screen went “stripey” and controls only work intermittently. Have returned it to shop so will be interesting to see what happens.
Cheers
Andy
November 6th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Does anyone have experience in usung the 1030 SW in movie mode? I heard that it can only take short movies regardless of the card size. I also heard that the audio is lousy on the camera’s movie playback mode.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I need some advice in choosing a good waterproof camera for my husband for Christmas. He is a keen amatuer photographer, however he cannot combine this with his kayaking using his Canon 40D SLR! I like the spec on the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW however, I am concerned about some of the reviews, especially the reports of leaks. As most of his kayaking takes place off the west coast of Ireland, I need something that will be robust enough to deal with the Atlantic!
I also like the spec on the Pentax Optio W60 – it has this ‘digital image stabiliser (?)’ that I’ve seen mentioned as being absent from the Olympus. However, I really don’t know anything about cameras, so I really would appreciate advice from an expert.
Thank you.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Yvonne-
I am also concerned about the posts here reporting cameras that have leaked. However, I have been using a 1030 SW since the spring and I’ve had zero problems with it. I also talked to a local pro dealer and asked them about Olympus Stylus SW returns. They told me they’ve only seen one come in for repair and they thought it looked like it had been seriously abused. I can’t confirm or refute any of the posts here. All I can say is my camera has worked fine, as has my girlfriend’s Stylus 850 SW. I have one friend who had his 1030 SW leak while he was snorkeling and Olympus replaced his camera under warranty. Nothing is perfect and a few people are going to get bad cameras. But my impression is that we’re just hearing from the people who’ve had problems – often they’re the most motivated to post.
I like the Olympus Stylus SW cameras because of their shockproof build. And I have tested it. Not on purpose of course. But they’re burly cameras. The Pentax Optio W cameras are nice, but don’t have the same build as the Olympus Stylus SW’s. As for the “digital image stabiliser,” the Olympus has a similar feature. I actually don’t recommend it in any camera. It essentially increases the camera sensitivity so it can use a faster shutter speed. This almost always results in compromised image quality. What you want is “optical” or “mechnical” image stabilization. Unfortunately, there isn’t currently a waterproof camera that has real, mechanical image stabilization. But if you want the digital image stabilization, the Olympus has it, too.
If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at my Olympus Stylus 1030 SW pro review. We don’t have a pro review for the pentax Optio W60, but we do have one for the previous model, the Pentax Optio W30. I hope that helps. If you have more questions, try posting them on our digital cameras forum. You’ll probably get a quicker answer there and maybe get more opinions.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I love everything about the Olympus stylus except the custom battery . A waterproof camera should be able to use AA and AA rechargable batterys I have been too many timesa on extended camping honting or fishing trips with no way to charge the battery.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Robert-
Please post a review for your camera. We really need more reviews for the Olympus Stylus SW cameras.
These very compact cameras wouldn’t be possible with AA or AAA batteries. Your best bet is to buy a second battery and take it on your camping and fishing trips.
Thanks for the comment!
November 21st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Heya! I picked up a refurbished Stylus 790 SW a long time ago- and beat the crap out of it.
It survived abuse by the swim team at 10+ feet, and freezing temperatures and drops on mountaineering trips.
I bought a second battery, and between two batteries I never had to worry about recharging it while away.
I’d definitely recommend it for value and construction, although it’s a little outdated.
Unfortunately it wasn’t crevasse proof…
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Hi Yvonne,
Just a suggestion, Ikelite makes polycarbonate underwater housings for pretty much all Canon DSLRs, they’re rated to 200Ft and allow access to all camera controls. The Ikelite housing also allows the use of most of Canon’s shorter lenses.
The downside of course is it costs a bit more than your hubby would have paid for his 40D
Alternatively Sony offers underwater housings rated to 40 meters (about 120ft) for all of their Cybershots. As an example the Sony shops here in South Africa offer the T77 Cybershot bundled with it’s underwater housing for R5999 – US$480~US$500 I’m guesstimating.
Don’t buy the T700, it’s a T77 with 4GB built in, it is cheaper (over here anyway) and safer (since flash type memory has a limited lifespan) to buy a T77 + 2x 4GB Sony memory sticks (8GB total)
February 11th, 2009 at 11:31 am
So, I recieved the Optio wpi for Christmas 2005 and I can honestly say I put that thing through hell!!!
I live in Colorado, so I definately had that camera hiking, biking, snowboarding, and even tubing the river (taking video the whole way!!).
Having it for so long, it has been on MANY road trips… Washington DC, Dallas, California, and even Cabo San Lucas (rolling around with the waves in the salty ocean).
That camera has even been to more clubs, raves, and concerts than I could ever think to name without looking through my MANY disc of misc. pictures and videos… And trust me, there are a TON!!!
Me and my boyfriend (who gave me the camera) are even getting ready to purchase the newer W60 for my dad, who will get a lot of use out of it, putting it through just about as much torment as I have (I’m sure).
I am sad to inform you that I won’t be able to tell you the end of the life of that trusty friend though… At my most recent concert/show, it disappeared! I’m pretty sure that it was pick-pocketed off of me… I have always been VERY careful to not leave it accesable to take by having it either zipped in the pouch or tethered by the strap.
I obviously plan on replacing it, but had some thoughts of trying my luck with a Stylus 30 or 50. I’ll still check some things out before deciding, but after reading their reviews, I may just HAVE to trust my instinct and faith in the Optios!
February 19th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Does anyone have any comments about the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000?
February 21st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I am also wondering about the tough- 8000?
I previously owned a SW 1030 for just over 3 months.
II bought the 1030 SW specifically for underwater use for a holiday in Mexico. It was under the water about 10 seconds twice, and then an error code – the doors aren’t closed etc ..came on and stayed. I carefully wiped it off and dryed it off -opened it up and there was water inside. I let it air dry and kept trying it for the next 9 days.
Sorry Photo-john I was very careful. One thing I did not do was soak it infresh water because the error code continued even after the doors were closed – but I felt that I could be harming the camera more. The gaskets obviously were not sealing…
I have a theory- I wonder how many really work underwater? How many of the customers really put it under water and test that feature!
I would not have put it underwater if I had not been on this trip. My best friend also bought the same camera and hers worked 5 times- then the blue screen showed up-it died. Again hers was less than a year old. This just happened 2 weeks ago. Mine died 4 weeks ago. After my horror story she tested hers in the tub. It worked at home in the tub, but not for long…..
You comment on that we had more to write about because of the negative experieince- your right, but I wonder how many don’t write about it? Actually the only reason I am wriing about it is because of your comment and I am still interested in the tough 8000
On the up side I also own a SP 510 olympus which I love- and never leave home without it.
Olympus in the end promised me a new camera and I asked them if the camera really worked underwater……….I wasn’t looking for an exchange nor a new camera. The retailer that I bought it from let me return the camera.
So you may think I am a fool but I would like to give Olympus a chance and wonder if they made adjustments and improvements to their original product the SW 1030 so that the new tough 8000 not only works underwater the first time but everytime!
March 9th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I am also looking to buy a new waterproof camera for snorkeling, etc. Seen a lot of negative reviews on the Stylus 1030 SW, but am hoping to hear some reviews soon of the Stylus Tough 8000. I want a camera that will NOT have a chance of leaking. Will the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 be that camera??? Please post comments regarding underwater usage, thanks!
March 16th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Wow, this mini camera so lovely, it can help when we go to vacation, especially on the outdoor, shockproof feature is cool..
April 8th, 2009 at 3:20 am
I’ve had three 1030 cameras now, and they all leaked in water less than a meter deep. I followed the manual instructions on waterproofing every time. Olympus replaced the first two, and now say they are replacing the last one with a new 8000. Just looking at the 8000 though, the battery compartment door seems to be identical to the 1030, so my guess is that it will leak too. One advantage the 8000 does have though, is that you can recharge the battery via the USB port, so it’s possible that you don’t need to open the battery door at all, and can keep the seal intact. You still have to worry about leaking from the USB port cover though, but its smaller and the seal looks a bit more robust.
Frankly, I am now too afraid to put this type of camera in the water. I’ve had too many disappointments and now accept that they are not really waterproof. I would advise anyone who wants to use this camera underwater to get the optional housing. At least if the housing leaks, you can see it before it wrecks the camera. If you’re going down that path however, you may as well just get a regular camera such as a Canon, and get the housing for that. Any bog standard Canon will take much better photos than the Olympus.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:08 am
i am very perplexed to hear about the 1030’s leaking. I had a 770sw for a couple of years & used it a lot.. i took underwater shots & videos in hawaii (snorkeling only, but down to 10′ or so underwater). I took a lot of pics on motorcycle trail rides in all kinds of weather. I thought the quality of the pictures weren’t as good as my canon sd700, but they were still ok, & the ruggedness & waterproof more than made up for it.
I’d still have the olympus, but it was stolen in Hawaii this Jan..
. I got a panasonic lumix to replace it, but really miss the waterproof feature. So i’ve been wanting to get the new 1030. But now canon has come out with a waterproof, as well as panasonic. They have no history so far, so i’ve decided on the pentax optio w60, because of reviews, the hd video (15fps, too slow for action), & the waterproof feature, but mostly the price.. new on ebay for $210.
I put silicone grease on the seals, & make sure everything is tightly closed.. but i’m sure the other users of the faulty 1030’s did too. Too bad to hear of some bad ones.. If i got a new one, i’d test it out right away, that way if it doesn’t seal right, you can return it immediately.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I’ve owned the Stylus 850 SW for about a year and it was working all the way up to the point that I lost it. That being said I’ve taken mine Mountain biking, swimming about 3 day a week, and to a water park at least one day a week all last summer with no issues. I have a string tied to it and looped around my neck and away I go. I’ve been down water slides both plastic and concrete and I’m busy holding on to my kids or my life to worry about my camera so it has taken some pretty good whacks with no issues besides the scratched up LCD screen. Hell I’ve even used it as a dive toy for my kids a time or two at the pool 9ft. The underwater pictures are awesome and you can’t get a better expression on someone as you can while underwater. As with everything you buy there are going to be those that have their issues. If you read all reviews and concentrated on what went wrong with a product before you bought it you would save a hell of a lot of money, because you wouldn’t ever buy anything. For me the camera is awesome and I’ve had no issues the underwater pictures are great. One thing I can’t comment on is that it has never been in salt water.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Olympus camera 770 SW owner here and disappointed. Camera worked fine at first but stopped working after a day of use at the beach. The camera failed to turn on and there was condensation visible in the screen. Sent the camera in for repair, paid the repair fee, the second time it went into water after repair, it stopped again. Olympus customer service not very helpful either. Look elsewhere. I know I will.
July 5th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I Bought MY Olympus 1030 SW Just over a year ago.. meaning my warranty expired about 10 days ago
… i was at the river about 2 days ago camera has never has ANY problems with leaking and i have beat the crap out of this camera it was a hot day out about 30 degrees Celsius and i aqquired some Condensation inside the camera lens
camera powers up no problem all features and functions work but you can’t take a picture because the lens is all foggy the lens cap also came unglues and fell off anybody have any idea of how to get the condensation out???
July 6th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Do these things float. If for instance it slips out of your hand in the river, will it bob back up, or it is going to the bottom?
July 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
they sink i reccomend a good strap and/or some sort of float
July 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Has anyone tried the new fuji waterproof cameras out at the moment? Priced around £149 from Boots.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:22 am
i recently bought a Olympus Tough Camera, it took great pictures but when a took it 1 meter underwater it broke.
it is the worst camera ever!
August 19th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Any body try the canons,
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I have an older version the 720SW, I surf and windsurf a lot and wanted something that I could carry with me while I was out on the water so I could catch the action you can’t see from the beach.
I have to say i’ve been really impressed with the camera, quality and function wise. I’ve been in some pretty extreme surf and have had some severe drillings while trying to get ‘the shot’, and the camera has come out better than I did.
One of the best features that the 720sw has is the burst function… while not a high megapixel it is perfect for web … http://www.sessionlogs.com/chris-slog-263/about-frickin-time-at-Plimmerton
I think this function may have been dropped from the latest models which if true, is a real shame.
As with all metal objects in the ocean, they MUST be rinsed after use. I’ve forgotten a few times and corrosion has set in around the battery door.
But so far, no leaks after a lot of surf and snorkel use.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Wish there was a really good solution for working in an equipment-destroying environment.
I’m a profesional that specializes in boating, hence I work around water nearly all the time and salt for most of it.
First, none of the cameras mentioned here would come remotely close to the quality I need for my clients. Perhaps I’ve become spoiled by what Canon’s 1DS delivers. Plus, I need to use long lenses (300mm and up is pretty common) and relatively fast apertures and hand-hold all this to boot, so the use of protective housings is pretty much ruled out. And, nearly all your rain jackets are too much trouble in the inevitable breeze, slow down the process of replacing memory cards and make one question the idea of changing lenses.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I wish I could find verification that most of these waterproof compact cameras are made by Panasonic, and rebadged for other companies’ needs. The Polaroid T833 has much in common with Panasonic’s new underwater camera, as well as some of the Olympus Tough models, at least in appearance and design.
But what I can’t fathom is why anyone would drop hundreds on a dubious Olympus Tough-style camera for the occasional dip in the water. Do you really take hundreds of underwater photos? If you’re an occasional paddler or diver, there’s a raft of Sea and Sea film cameras that do very nicely. Along with the very underrated Canon Sureshot A1 film camera, these can be found for a fraction of their original price at the Big Auction Site. For many of us, it’s all the underwater camera we’ll ever actually need.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
bought the Olympus 1030SW a month or two after it came out for my wife as we went snorkelling with Whale Sharks in Ningaloo (Western Australia), and a few months later took it skiiing.
Pros:
EASY to use, with loads of pre-sets (ie: night-time, canlde-light, 1m of water, 5m of water, etc) that make point-and-shoot a doddle. Pics from both holidays are clear and colours excellent. Have a 1.5m high canvas shot of a 10m Whale Shark on our wall from the trip, which justifies the purchse alone.
More pros:
My wife keeps this in her handbag as a day-to-day camera. If it can take less than zero tempaeratures, falls from ‘great’ heights and the worst of teh weather, it can ALSO take the poundings of the inner-santum of a handbag. Now, THAT’S tough.
Slide-across cover for the lense. Can’t believe this still isn’t a standard thing for all cameras.
Cons:
Poor lighting always a struggle unless you are willing to spend on a DSLR (Canon D50 MrkII my recommendation).
Highly recommend this (and the current Tough generation). Go for the one that can go deeper underwater as you’ll find reasons to use it outside of the norm.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:08 am
I’ve had an Olympus 1030SW since January and taken it on 2 extensive snorkeling trips (swimming 3 to 4 hours per day). I can dive to the bottom A LOT and can get to about 25 feet. I’ve shot about 1500 underwater photos on those trips alone and used it for mountain biking, hiking and shooting construction site shots (I’m an architect), for which the wide angle is very nice!
Before using it in the water, I was VERY careful to check the seals, then carefully and thoroughly rinse it in fresh water after every trip. I even give it a quick flush after getting out of the water. I’ve managed not to drop it.
I’m not too happy with photos at 10MP setting (extremely soft and noisy even in full sunlight), but at 5MP they are FAR better. This camera would be brilliant if it were 6MP! 10MP is way too much for the size of the sensor and the small lens. The flash is too hot, so I usually shut it off underwater. With a few days practice, I was able to get some excellent underwater results. On land this camera is quite weak, except under “ideal” conditions.
I bought it over an underwater film camera the size and for instant digital photo feedback (I travel with my MacBook Pro). With the cost of film developing over digital, it quickly paid for itself.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
I have 1030 SW and it can stream Movies until he card is full. but you have to have a particular version of the XD card and the largest card of that version is 2GB.
My recently started having problems about a month ago. The Orange LED focus assist light has completely stopped working. I am going to attempt an RMA but it’s likely the camera will just go in the trash if I can’t find the receipt. Bummer too because I hardly even used it. Maybe a couple hundred photos total. I was never happy with the photos but it was ok for portraits and close ups and it was easy to carry unlike my SLR. It’s just that it took terrible landscape photos. No matter what mode the camera was in it would always use the lowest aperture hence the lack of a depth of field for landscapes.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Do not buy the Olympus waterproof camera. It freezes up when you want to snap a picture and the only way for the camera to unfreeze is to take the battery out. I bought this camera two separate times thinking it was bad luck. NO way this camera is garbage. I bought it at walmart both times and they honored their return policy.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Does anyone know if the waterproof failure rate is higher for the Olympus Tough/1030 than the older 790/850 models? I don’t know if I should buy an older model (i.e. Olympus 850 SW) which appears to have less leakage complaints or believe the newer models are better.
Any input would be appreciated.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:35 am
hster-
Because my experience has been very positive, I tried to get some failure numbers from Olympus. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do so. The camera I used the most was the 1030 SW and it performed just fine for me. It’s been to a water park, it went snorkeling in Hawaii, and it’s been in a snow and rain a ton. The only problem I had was salt from the ocean on the lens cover made it stick. Rinsing it in tap water fixed that and that problem is actually mentioned in the manual. I have been suspicious that we’re only getting the angry people who have had cameras fail and the happy customers aren’t posting. That’s one of the potential problems with user reviews and the Internet in general. Maybe I will ask Olympus again and see if I can get some failure rate data.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I have had the Olympus SW 1030 for about a year and a half now and I must be lucky compared to most people because it’s worked like a champ. I’ve taken pictures under huge waterfalls, numerous snorkeling trips (both fresh and saltwater) and snowboarding. I agree that the picture quality is not great unless the conditions are near perfect, but I’ll try using the 5MP over the 10MP option that Mr. Reeee suggested. Also, I heard that you can get better seals that allow the camera to go up to 100 feet under water. I have yet to investigate this claim further, but it’s got me excited to check it out. Overall, it’s compact and very durable, but the image quality is not super impressive.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Hi,
I bought an Olympus u6010 for a recent holiday, used for snorkling, pool and hot tub had no problems at all. Also the kids (12-16 yo) also used the camera for snorkling and in the pool so it probably got a few drops and jumping into the water, etc.
Just remember to follow the instruction manual and soak in fresh water for 10 minutes after being used in salt water to make sure all the salt is gone, then dry and open the compartments and leave to dry (with compartments open.
Only point of concern (and I haven’t experienced personally) a friend has the Olympus u8000 and has had it replaced twice because of charging issues because you need to charge the battery in the camera with the charger plugging into the USB port. But both times he had no issues with Olympus camera replaced for new one straight away both times. The earlier models had an external battery charger.
Greg
September 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am
I bought the Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 at Costco and after an hour of surfing it leaked. It is supposed to be good to 10 feet. It could’t handle 3 feet in the safety of my pocket.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I’ve been a happy Stylus owner since they first came out. One camera lasted me more than 2 years of snorkling, kayaking, hiking, pools, and adventures… until it was stolen. So now I’m on the market for a new camera. I was tempted to just go for the new model stylus, but am wondering whether Canon offers better image quality? Is it worth the switch?
September 30th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Molly-
We have a review for the Cano D10 in the works. We actually got the camera right after it was announced but it’s not complete yet. We do have full-res studio sample photos posted, though: http://gallery.photographyreview.com/showgallery.php?mcats=518&si=&what=allfields&name=&when=0&whenterm=&condition=and&crproducts=439372%3ACanon+PowerShot+D10|
The D10 image quality may be better than the Olympus cameras. But if it is, it’s only negligibly so. The D10 is also a much larger camera and I prefer the compact size of the Olympus Stylus Tough cameras. It’s also nice to stick with a camera menu and controls that you know. So my recommendation would be to get a new Olympus. Nothing against the Canon, except maybe the size. It’s mostly an issue of sticking with a camera that you know so that there’s no new learning curve.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Hi, I bought an Olympus Stylus 770 SW a few years back. I am a whitewater raft guide and have used it on at least 100 trips. I have abused the heck out of it. It has been dropped many times I lost it in a river once and found it later, the sun was shining and reflecting off the silver body. I has performed very well, I think it takes great photos while not as good of quality as my digital slr it is still very good. I took it on a grand canyon rafting trip and was able to make it leak a bit while duct taped to the front of the raft going through a huge rapid where it really got hit hard, it still worked but fogged up a bit. After it dried out it still works well. I am very impressed with this little camera.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I have an Olympus Stylus 850 SW that is about one year old. I bought it from Best Buy and got a four year replacement plan cause I intended to be very rough with the camera. I have used it on multiple occasions in the ocean, swimming pools, river rafting, and Disney rides. I have never had a problem with functionality. Although it is harder to get a clear and sharp picture with this camera than with others, it is still possible. But this camera provides many action-shots that would be unlikely with my other cameras. It is very rugged and always ready, with quick “on” and “ready-to-shoot” features. While my friends are waiting for their camera to “boot up” and focus I have already taken half a dozen shots. I am about to purchase another camera like this to give to my daughter. She has already gone through four other point-and-shoots that have broken from drops or were just plain “worn-out.” I highly recommend this camera for active people doing active photography.
October 10th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I bought the FUJI FinePix Z33 waterproof camera at walmart for $160 and used it IN and UNDER the waves at Seaside Heights, NJ as well as in the heavily chlorinated pool at the hotel – everythings worked great and the underwater photos and MOVIES are razor sharp, perfectly exposed and simply AMAZING ! Even the SOUND UNDEWATER was as clear & as understandable as could be expected !! AFTER a week of extensive daily use and nightly charging, the camera FAILED TO CHARGE and was EASILY exchanged for a FREE replacement at Walmart with the receipt. THE 2nd CAMERA has worked flawlessly, I BODY SURFED all day in the ocean while filming myself diving & surfing IN and UNDER the fairly rough surf and waves of HIGH TIDE !! EVERY SINGLE photo and MOVIE WITH SOUND was AMAZING !! I have taken it mountain biking, kayaking and used it in the rain with EXCELLENT RESULTS ! I mostly use it as a POCKET SIZED CAMCORDER ! VERY PLEASED – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ! NO I do not work for FUJI – I am just a gadget guy, outdoor enthusiast ! I have owned atleast 6 digital cameras and used many more ! I will update if any problems or leaks occur.
October 16th, 2009 at 4:59 am
I got a Panasonic FT-1 a few months back and it has been pretty reasonable for a point and shoot camera. Its small, slips in a pocket and has a good wide angle and reasonable zoom.
I have more complaints about it than praise, but I think I was probably expecting a little too mcuh of it vs a DSLR.
Cons –
battery life is good for photos, but video and playback kills it.
Flash is way too strong, and no way of doing a flash compensation
No aperture priority mode, which annoys me. Great camera, but no way of telling it what to do.
Shutter lag is reasonable, but not great in IA mode.
Pros.
Its small, metallic and bright orange.
Good screen size and resolution
Controls are easy to figure out and play with
Video quality is awesome, but AVCHD format is not mac friendly
My 4 year old takes it round for photos which is fun, and I know she isn’t likely to break it. Its good for a 1.5m fall, and she is only 1m tall.
Standard SD cards, unlike the olympus cameras
October 21st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
HI, I’m headed to Costa Rica in Nov, 2009. I’d like a pocket point-and-shoot with zoom for wildlife in trees and waterproofing for the heavy rains. Is this possible? Could something like this be shown at the trade show this month?
November 9th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Just wanted to ad my bits. I am a Nanny who loves to hike and camp and fish (ice fish mostly) on my time off. I wanted a camera that would stand up to rough conditions ie, snow, water, sand and the kids. And I found it in the Olympus Stylus 850 SW. I love it! I was worried at first with leaking but have never had an issue with it after numerous trips. The lens fogs up a bit but I expected that. Just give it a rub or another dunk in the water and it’s good to go! I’ve also had it at the beach where the kids have burried it in the sand and it’s come clean. The shock proof feature is nice too-it’s seen it’s share of the ground
I’ve had it for a little over a year now and all in all it’s a great camera.
so hster, that’s one vote from me. the older models seem to be better as far as leakage.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:19 am
i have had my SW 1030 for under a year, I took it to bali, i take it out with me, and when i went to use it the other day i turned it on, took a couple of photos and when i picked it back up again it started beeping and the screen shows a blurry image of what ever the lens is pointed at… i have tried everything to fix it but no luck… i was wondering if any one else has had the same problem?
November 13th, 2009 at 12:22 am
I have been using an 850SW all last summer. It has been submerged more than 100 times and been taken on many mountain bike adventures. This Camera can take some great panorama pictures and video underwater. With burst mode selected you just pull out the camera and shoot 3 to 10 frames in a row very quickly. A great function if you are on skis, bike or board, taking photos without looking through the camera display. Press the “on ” button and ready to use a split second away.
December 15th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I LOVE my Olympus 850SW. I’ve had it for just over a year and it still works perfectly despite massive abuse. It’s been helicopter skiing (got a big dent in the front and still works fine), snorkelling, boating, wakeboarding (view from the rider), kite boarding, and camping. I tend to accidentally drop things often, so this is a perfect camera for me. Works immediately with great modes – even cool fireworks shots. I just wish my cell phone was this rugged.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I have been happily surprised with my sytlus camera and I am used to an slr digital. I never had an problem until I went in the ocean in Hawaii It got water in side. I sent my camera in and they repaired it and sent it back and it works great. I am upgrading to the newer one. I love it for the pool and the beach and events where I don’t want my Rebel. It is fun to use the video in the pool with the kids. I would recommend it.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Hi,
What camera would you recommend for a user who is huge into water recreation? I am enrolled in a study abroad this summer where I will be scuba diving, sea kayaking, black water rafting, as well as plenty of time hiking. I need something that can handle the water and I’m guessing a little bit of a beating.
Thanks
December 24th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I live in the Caribbean and do a lot of snorkelling. When the underwater housing for my little Sony broke, I bought an Olympus Stylus SW 770. I liked the packaging, and the specs. I took it snorkelling maybe a dozen times, never deeper than 20 ft. I rinsed it in fresh water and dried it after every time it got wet. It started with the open hatch error messages, then the USB output stopped working. I dried it out in an oven ( all opened up, 180 deg.) and it started working again. I carefully inspected the two hatch gaskets, and I know a few things about underwater housings. 40 year career in underwater instumentation. Well, I could not find any obvious sign of gasket damage. no nicks, no scratches.
Decided it was good to go, took it in the water off my boat, and it didn’t even make it a foot underwater. It totally stopped working.
So, I bought an Olympus Stylus SW 1030, and this time bought the silicon skin to help protect it. I think I might have taken it underwater a dozen times. Two weeks ago, on a sailing vacation in the BVI, on my first snorkel down to about 15 ft, the display went totally blank. Still is blank. The camera tries to take photos, but without the LCD it’s difficult to know where you are in the menu.
On top of that, I use these cameras to take photos for a blog I write, that a few thousand people read. I have tried every trick I know to get a decent zoom photo from them. Out of thousands of exposures, I have never yet gotten ONE usable zoom shot from either camera. Most of the photos of the last two years, and the camera issues, are on this site http://2gringos.blogspot.com/
The 770 lasted a year. The 1030 lasted 14 months. I will never buy another Olympus product.
I like the new Canon, but it is too bulky for what I want. I am going to try the Pentax Optio after the holidays.
December 24th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I should mention, I don’t think the Stylus are leaking at the hatches. I suspect the water is getting in somewhere else. A good design would have all the ports under one hatch, and it would screw down tight onto an O-ring. Anything else is displaying an ignorance about waterproof housings.
December 26th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
In 2006 I purchased a Pentax optio wpi waterproof camera for a trip to peru. At the time I didn’t even know there were waterproof digital cameras on the market and I was ecstatic to find one that would be able to endure the harsh environments I would trekking through. After surviving a month in the amazon and the andes I have used the camera snorkelling in Hawaii, swimming in the dead sea(very salty water) white water rafting in the canadian rockies and so many little weekend getaways fishing, swimming, hiking, watersliding you name it. This camera has lasted through all of it. Unfortunately for me somebody else is now enjoying my camera as it went missing at a friends wedding recently. I have been looking at all the new models on the market today but am probably gonna stick with what worked well the first time and opt for the Pentax optio w80.
December 27th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I purchased an Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 on December 1, 2009. I’m now in the last week of my vacation and took the camera snorkeling for the first time yesterday, December 26, 2009. I followed the instructions and made sure the doors were closed, after a few minutes the camera became unresponsive and finally shut down. I have not been able to turn it on again since. I leave in a few days, so I’m not as angry as I’d be if I had to buy another camera – but I am very disappointed. The camera operated smoothly up to now.
I wish I’d known so many people were having problems with the camera, I wouldn’t have brought it in the water!
January 11th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I had the same problem described above with my Olympus Stylus. Took it diving about 5 times before the camera became unresponsive. I’m thinking a small amount of water must have entered the unit and caused the circuit board to short. When contacting the company warranty service was completely lacking and I had to toss the camera.
After doing some research for other underwater cameras I stumbled upon an Intova SP8 which came with an underwater housing and the camera itself is waterproof. Haven’t had any issues and would recommend it to anyone over the Olympus.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:39 am
I owned a Olympus stylus 720SW as my first ‘decent’ digital camera. I definately wanted a camera that was going to be useful in all of my recreational pursuits. As it was my first camera i wasn’t worried about the reported lack or picture quality in similarly priced non-water proof cameras cause it was my first camera anyway – anything would be a step up from Zero.
I took it into every situation i wanted to without fear (i hadn’t read any reviews about damaged cameras). Snorkeling, waterfalls, streams, surf (stupid in hind sight) ocean at sunset pools. I tried my best to rinse in fresh water after every use, keep the hatch seals clean, and enure it was dry before opening hatches.
Eventually the camera started occasionally shutting down. After drying out though it would usually come back to life. One day, two and a bit years after i bought it, it died completely. I opened the thing up out of interest and found sand and water within the housing. Some of the screws that go through the whole of the camer – penetrating both shell and internal house had corroded quite badly – as salt water would do i imagine. At first i was upset but in hind sight i’d do it again. The pics from this camera are incredble to look at- not necessarily for quality, but for the locations, the angles, and amount of use it got.
I’m thinking of going the latest Olympus 8000 – I’d go another Olympus because i reckon that they’d be ahead of the game by now haing done it for so long.
One thing to remember that the Maximum depth rating is just that. MAXIMUM. Dont go near the maximum depth rating if you want to keep it in good health. And remember that surface pressure on the camera increases with movement. The faster the movement of the camera under water the MORE the pressure. So if you take a 3m rated camera to two metres and start waving it around or take it through 1 metre wall of water in the form of a wave you are probably taking it beyond its pressure depth. Expect it to leak.
Yes my Olympus 720Sw leaked and stopped working after 2 years but i’m buying another!
Hope this helps,
I got some incredbile shots that still make me go “wow”! and video to boot.
January 18th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I just bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 and love it so much I wrote a blog comparing it to the other waterproof cameras: http://waterproofcamerareview.blogspot.com.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
does anyone have a comment for GE G3wp?
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Hiya, thanks for sharing a nice information. A very informative post. Keep posting such nice post.