Best waterproof camera with image stabiliser to use

[yellowmitch]

Hi there,

I wanna record my antics on the rib with a waterproof camera, such as the pentax optio w30. Thing is, I want most optical zoom possible.

Any suggestions at a cheap price?

Alan

[timboli]

Still only 3 x zoom but can be dropped from 1.5 metres? and waterproof too 5 meters,the olympus mju 725,around £146 from ebuyer.
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/127938

[Paul Beaurain]

Our experieances with the Opti.
very waterproof and slim.
Main frustrations are no viewfinder, have to see image on LCD panel. In bright conditions this is not possible - you just have to pount and hope!
The second frustration is the delay between shooting and the shoot being taken, this has meant many missed moments.
I am now looking for a better waterproof compact - any ideas....
paul

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by yellowmitch

Hi there,

I wanna record my antics on the rib with a waterproof camera, such as the pentax optio w30. Thing is, I want most optical zoom possible.

Any suggestions at a cheap price?

Alan

It is very very difficult to get a big optical zoom into a digital camera that is waterproof as the lens needs to hide behind a panel.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_...stylus750.html

This is about the closet you will get but do NOT expect it to be as waterproof as the Optio - it is basically showerproof only.

The real solution is to buy a waterproof caqsing of some sort.

the other option is to do what I did. An optio WP for use when it's wet and a stuunning Panasonic Lumix FZ50 with a 12x image stabilised optical zoom kept in a waterproof case and used when it's not likely to get wet. Best of both worlds.

[jonmitch]

I've used a lot of waterproof cameras whilst diving and se-kayaking.

Your best option is to choose a good compact digital with maximum optical zoom and then buy an underwater casing. There are loads of sites that will tell you about the availability of casings for different cameras. I use a Sony Cybershot p series with Sony's in house casing.

Hope this helps.

jon

[jonmitch]

http://www.egears.co.uk/pd_sony_marine.cfm

[Milo72]

I recently bought a Olympus mju 770 from ebay. [7meg, stabilizer and digital zoom]
it's waterproof to 10m, crush proof to 100kg, shock proof for a fall of 5' and freeze proof to -15... It's Milo proof!

I took it to the pub, and dropped it in a mates cider with the self timer on....

then my missus dropped it on the floor...
it still works!

it's small enough to fit in a pocket and with a 1gig card at highest quality will still hold over 200 pics.

I love it.

here is my mate thru a pint of Blackthorn

[codprawn]

Yes but it's still only 3x zoom!!!

[ian parkes]

I have been using mine for over a year now . iam well pleased with it . There are settings where there is no delay after pressing the button .

There is virtually nothing else to choose from in its class that i could find . Casings may work well but are expensive and bulky. The main advantage of the Optio is its small and easy to use one handed , I just tie it to me and slip it inside my lifejacket .

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by timboli

Still only 3 x zoom but can be dropped from 1.5 metres? and waterproof too 5 meters,the olympus mju 725,around £146 from ebuyer.
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/127938

Got one - the menus aren't the best, but otherwise I love it!