Olympus waterproof camera question

[nothintolose]

Okay so I want to get a waterproof camera but for reasons not typical here. I want one that I can use at festivals even if it's pouring down raining and not have to worry about the camera getting ruined.

I have a Cannon Elph that I love but am looking into the Olympus SW series. What I want to know is why is the 700 SW series (which I can get through Anthony's link) so much more expensive than the later models. It's like that on any site I look at. Does anyone know the reason for this?

The other reason I am looking at this particular camera is for the shock proof part as I watched Kellyanna send hers flying (as a result of Absinthe ) in the French Quarter and when she picked it up, we looked at eachother and both said, "Shock proof"...the camera was perfectly fine.

Thanks in advance for any help. Also, keep in mind, I have zero desire to use it snorkeling...SO and Cat (sister) take enough underwater shots that I feel no need to do it...I just get one of them to take a pic for me if I see something I really want.

[augie]

I'm not sure, but the 700 SW series may be rated to go deeper underwater than the others that you're comparing it to.

If that's the difference, you should be OK with one of the cheaper models since you don't plan to take your's underwater on purpose.

[mbw1024]

hey .. will you be seeing Booker T. and Drive by Truckers at Jazz Fest?

[waterguy]

Hi
I have a 720 it is good down to 10 ft I think Ithink the 700 is good down to 50 ft. Some of my friends will be down for jazz fest if you see some one with a forum t shirt on that would be them I borrowed him mine and told him that there is a big gathering there.

[flip-flop]

My 2 cents - my olympus was a disaster. It leaked the first time we used it in 3 feet of water. We checked all closures and seals and everything looked as it should but it completely killed the camera. I purchased it because it was rated much deeper than others and my hubby dives. I should have stuck with my Canon.

Got a new Canon and the UW housing (which are more expensive than it seems they should be but whatever) and plan to try it out in June.

[ifloat]

Canon has a new 12 megapixel underwater camera coming out in May for around 310-330 dollars. Supposed to be shockproof too. Canon Powershot D10.

[nascarfan59]

I have the 770SW and have used on my last 3 STJ trips. On the last day of the 3rd trip while snorkeling at Hawks Nest it quit working. Played around with it for about a month and could get it to power up and act like it was taking picture but still had a completely black screen. I put but up on a shelf above my while I decided if to get it fixed or buy another camera. I picked it up one day about a month later and hey it works fine! I still cannot download pictures to the computer via the cable connection but can pop out the memory card and plug into the slot on the front of my laptop.

Problem is that you MUST follow the instructions when using the camera in salt water. When you get back from beach rinse it right away. Don't do like I did and say "I'll do it when we get back from the Beach Bar" and you can figure out what happened in that scenario. Without a good rinsing the salt water caused some corrosion around the seal to the cable connection door which in turn caused leakage.

In all a good little camera if you take care of it.

[nothintolose]

Thanks for all of the comments but let me reiterate, I do not want to use it for snorkeling. I really just want a digital camera that can get rained on and not have to worry about it getting ruined.

I don't want to use an underwater housing because I want something small enough to keep in my shorts pocket. I don't like to bring a backpack or anything into the festivals if I can avoid it...that way I skip the lines for security checks.

Thanks for everything ya'll have said so far though!

I think SO's Stylus 1030SW goes deeper which is why he opted for it over the 770 I was considering. I just can't figure out why the older camera costs more.

Nascarfan - do you think rain water rquires all of those instructions???

ifloat - not sure I want to wait till May because Jazz Fest will be over by then...hmmm...but then there is always future fests...I do love my Cannon Elph!

Mary Beth - the way I do fest...I may or may not see them...I usually highlight the cubes that I want to see but frequently walk past something that sounds good and miss whoever I intended to see I just know I WILL be seeing Dave Matthews Band and Neil Young though I may run over to see Eric Lindell a bit during Neil Young's set. I LOVE Trombone Shorty and he is playing at the same time as Drive By Truckers though so I don't know...the two stages are at opposite ends of the fair grounds.

Waterguy - I will keep my eye out for them - you should have come with them!!!! No big gathering this year though as most of last year's crowd will be travelling elsewhere at the time.

Okay so I have to make a decision on a camera as they are predicting some rain this weekend and French Quarter Fest is this weekend!

[nothintolose]

ifloat - I just found the Cannon D10 - now I am stumped - I think it's gonna boil down to size - gonna go see if I can find one at Best Buy to check out for size and weight.

Thanks everyone for the info!

[nascarfan59]

Nothintolose - Those instructions are for salt water use. You actualy clean it by dunking it in water, swishing it around, and turning it on and off several times while doing this. So rain water no problem.

As a smoker I just checked and the camera is the same size as a regular pack of cigarettes.

Camera is good down to a depth 10m (32.8ft) and with a built in manometer it will warn you when you are getting close.

[Sun4MySoul]

Mostly, I agree with NascarFan. I have the 770SW. I think it would be indestructible in the rain only..I have corrosion on mine from snorkeling and waiting too long to rinse. But this is not your concern.

I like that I can take it to the beach and just rinse it off at the end of the day to get sand off of it. Work for mud at JazzFest too!

Also, I LOVE the shockproof-ness. I have had mine for over a year, dropped it well over 2 dozen times and it keeps on ticking. It even bounced out of my bicycle pouch and onto the pavement while I was pedaling about 10mph and no worries!

Good luck with your shopping and have fun at The Fest.

[California Girl]

Sun - It was cool how you could just stick your camera down in that tidepool and take that anemone picture. With my Canon, I would have needed the case to do that, and I don't always haul that around with me! The Olympus seems very convenient in those types of incidents!

[Schnell]

I think the biggest issue is not when you rinse your camera in fresh water, but how you treat the seals. We usally leave the beach and sometimes dunk it in the pool or rinse it in a sink somewhere, but other times we don't do it until getting back to the villa. Then we wash it with dishsoap and warm water. Dry it off well and open all the doors and make sure there is no sand in any of them. Let it dry open overnight and you are ready to go the next morning after a quick spot check.

Also, a couple weeks before we leave for a trip I lube up the seals to hydrate them. I think thats the biggest plus in regards to longevity.

[badzy]

i bought the Canon waterproof cam 2 years ago and it works..dunno with the latest unit, it it works well but Canon is my fave model..love it!

[soxfan22]

My 2 cents - my olympus was a disaster. It leaked the first time we used it in 3 feet of water. We checked all closures and seals and everything looked as it should but it completely killed the camera.

Wow, Flip. The same exact thing happened to me at Trunk last July. First time in, after checking all enclosures prior to entering, and the thing leaked. I think I managed to take 1 shot with it. Luckily, Best Buy back home took it back - but not without a little hassle (which is SOP for Best Buy, IMO).

Next time, I'll buy a Canon with an enclosure.