Cheap Underwater Camera For Snorkeling

(Last Updated On: July 11, 2018)

Cheap Underwater Camera For Snorkeling – Buying Guide

What is the best cheap underwater camera for snorkeling? To know the answer continue reading this article. Well, basically what I am looking for is the camera that can withstand everything possible but still can take good beautiful pictures. I never owned an underwater camera, so I had absolutely no idea of what I was supposed to look for. Are the features pretty much like the normal camera?

One thing I like about the underwater digital camera is it does everything that you want from the camera to do and it’s waterproof. You can take regular pictures on dry land! You can take beautiful pictures on your every day lives. Underwater digital camera does not mean that it can only be used in the water and/or produce only beautiful pictures when you are under water! I know I know…. people know. I just want to emphasize the best part about it. With regular camera, you will have to be extra careful about not getting it wet!

I got on line and did some research about the top cheap underwater camera for snorkeling. I went to the store and found out all the possible information that I could get to help me decide. And let me tell you, there are so many underwater digital cameras in the market. However there are just a few that caught my eyes. So I am here doing reviews on few of the best underwater cameras that I found worth looking at if you decide to get one for yourself or even if you are giving somebody a gift.

The cheap underwater cameras for snorkeling that I am going to review on this site are listed below.

Top 7 Cheap Underwater Camera For Snorkeling

1. Nikon COOLPIX AW100– Is it the Best Underwater Camera?

Nikon COOLPIX AW100 Features

• Waterproof to a depth of 33 feet, shockproof when dropped from a height of 5 feet and freeze-proof up to temperatures of negative 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
• With a rugged design ideal for outdoor use
• With 16mp
• Equipped with CMOS sensor to shoot even in least amount of light
• With GPS and e-compass functions
• Can shoot videos and take still shots in full HD
• Can record videos with stereo sound
• Easy to operate even when user is wearing gloves
• With Nikon Action Control
• This is available in different colors: black, blue, camouflage and orange

Pro

1. This is a real rugged outdoor camera that lets you capture the action as you move about. Whether you are engaging in water sports, snow and ice activities and other kinds of sports, the Nikon COOLPIX AW100 is a great camera to bring. It has features that will let you shoot impressive shots even when the environment is not so impressive.
2. You can hold the camera and press the controls even with a gloved hand since all the controls are bigger than the usual camera. The camera can also adapt to even the most severe movements like moving cars and terrible vibrations plus audio will come out in clear stereo sound quality.
3. You can even record video or take shots even with minimal light thanks to the Nikon COOLPIX AW100’s CMOS sensors. Take pictures in the dark or indoors with consistent quality; colors are always sharper with its 16 mega pixel capabilities
4. Take advantage of Nikon’s mypicturetown photo sharing features with the built-in GPS mapping and e-compass. You can take shots of different places to make a photo diary complete with accurate time, date and directions of the places in your photos.
5. Cool features make great shots and videos every time and anywhere like panorama features, dynamic range photos and beautiful underwater shots.

Cons

1. The most common issue is the camera’s battery life. Some who have used the camera have noticed unreliable battery charges while some had problems with the battery meter which were also unreliable too.
2. Accessing the settings of the camera was also a chore and while most would rely on the owners’ manual for setting the camera up, most commented that the guide was inadequate. Setting the GPS was the most common complaint; some who have brought it had to Google the steps to set up GPS and e-compass settings.
3. Care and maintenance of the camera after it has been submerged in water could also be a problem. There should be specific steps on how to do this since this is often a major issue for users.

 

Recommendations

The Nikon COOLPIX AW100 is an ideal outdoor camera and will survive extreme temperatures, shock and water depth. It is reliable in extreme conditions and has features that will allow users to take dramatic shots and impressive videos. There are several problems regarding the batteries, instructions in setting the GPS and all about maintaining and caring for the camera after it has been used underwater; however these disadvantages are clearly overlooked with so many superb benefits that this camera has. The Nikon COOLPIX is the most common on our list for the cheap underwater camera for snorkeling.

2. Pentax WG-3 Kit Waterproof Camera

The New Excellent Choice of Waterproof Camera-Pentax WG-3 Kit is one of the best waterproof cameras that can be found in the market today. It is made with high quality materials and especially designed to help individuals capture every special moment that they have. It boasts a lot of features and benefits that will surely suit the needs of user.

In this digital world, a lot of people are habitually taking pictures in any places even if it is the rainy season. The best buy waterproof camera is the most recommended device to use during this season because it can protect itself from water. A lot of people are having fun and satisfaction when they are using it.

Who Could Buy/Benefit This Product?

The people who can benefit this waterproof camera are those who like taking picture anywhere. They can bring this product anywhere and even if it is a rainy season. It has a unique style that will surely like by a lot people. The potential buyers of this product will surely not have regrets and problems when they choose this brand of waterproof camera over the others.

Product Description

Pentax WG-3 waterproof camera can capture every moment or happenings life’s adventure even if it is unplanned or planned. This is designed to manage some difficulties in any activities like aquatic adventure and has a shock proof to take the plug or spill in a long step. It has also dust proof feature to handle or carry some desert situation, proof from freeze for incidents like hitting some oblique directions, and is made with crush proof when there are instances that might end up under your pack or pinned between the rock face and you. It’s shake reduction stabilizing system make sure that it have a clear shot, sharp and impressive images even in shake prone cases or situation. You can prove it when you explore for a very long time, dive deeper, and climb higher. You can also make use of it when you want to video something.

Product Features

• Its dimension is about 4.9 x 2.5 x 1.3 inch.
• It has also had sensor and video projector.
• It has zoom length that comes 4 x for optical and 7.2 x for digital.
• Its video format is MPEG-4 AVC or H. 264.
• The resolutions of it are 1280 x 720 and 1920 x 1080.
• Its effective focal length is about 4.5 to 18mm.
• The aperture of it is f/2.0 to 4.9.
• The photo format of it is JPEG.
• It has manual focus and flash.
• The type of battery of it is D-LI92 Rechargeable Lithium Ion.
• And the type of it memory card are SDHC, SD and SDXC.
• It is 16 megapixels.
• The range of it ISO is 125 to 6400.
• Frame rate is 30 fps.
• The LCD size of it is about 3 inches.
• It has a weight of 7.4 oz.
• And it has a lot of PC connection: HDMI micro, USB and AV.
• It is good to use when backpacking, skiing, climbing, boating and travel adventure.

Pros

Pentax WG-3 has a complete feature that you can use in all your activities, adventure as well as when you are having bonding with your family. Due to its benefits, a lot of people are encouraged and convinced to have this product. You and potential buyers can bring this product anywhere and even if it is the rainy season they can still use it because it is made with water protector.

Cons

Even if this best buy waterproof camera is made with numerous features, it still has a small problem that should give an action. This made without any buttons or handle that you can get support in carrying it everywhere you go. In this case, the best thing that you should do is to find and purchase a camera case and has already a handle.

Pentax WG-3 Kit waterproof camera is really the best digital camera in this generation because it has a lot of benefits and features that needed in taking shots in any angles that you like. The manufacturers of this camera ensure that it is made with high quality materials so that it can be utilized for years. It can be purchased for a very reasonable price.

3. Fujifilm FinePix XP80 Waterproof Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD

Having a high-quality digital camera is great for vacations, sight-seeing, and even just to keep with you when you’re out and about with friends because you never know when the opportunity to capture a great moment will arise. Cellphone cameras still don’t even come close to decent compact digital cameras, not to mention if you’re anywhere near water you won’t have to risk getting your cellphone wet. Here’s a waterproof camera review so that you can capture life’s magical moments on land, and in the water.

Main Features Of The Fujifilm FinePix XP80

As previously mentioned, one of the key features of this camera is the fact that it’s waterproof. You don’t have to worry about getting it wet at all, and it can handle water pressures up to twenty feet. It’s also freeze proof so it’s great for snowboarders and snowbirds alike, and it’s shock proof so you don’t have to handle it with care. Finally, it’s dust proof. Basically this is a rugged camera that can handle any conditions you throw at it.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP80 boasts an incredible 16.2mp CMOS sensor to take stunning, high quality photos in any conditions. It’s capable of filming full HD in 1080 resolution at an incredible 60 frames per second. The burst mode feature allows you to capture a series of photos at once, so you don’t need to have perfect timing to capture breathtaking photos.

Which Crowd Is This Camera For?

As you can tell from this waterproof camera review, this particular camera is geared towards people who will be using it for sports, extreme sports, and around water. It’s great for at the lake, you can leave it out without having to worry about it getting a little wet or getting knocked off the table and breaking. Essentially this camera is for anyone who doesn’t want a typical fragile digital camera, but still wants to capture breathtaking photos for a very affordable price.

Pros

The pros of the PinePix XP80 are that it has a great resolution, can take high definition videos, comes in many different colors to fit your style, is waterproof, dust proof, shock proof, freeze proof and it can withstand shock. This camera very good so it’s an incredible value for that price. It’s comparable to much more expensive cameras from other companies.

Cons

The cons are that it’s not as tiny as some compact digital cameras, since it has such a sturdy and protective casing. If you don’t like any of the default colors that this camera comes in (Red, Green, Yellow and Blue) that could be considered a con as well. You will need a class 10 SD hard to take full HD videos, it doesn’t work as well on a class 4 card. These aren’t expensive anymore, and you can find them just about anywhere. When you’re picking out your SD card, just make sure it’s “Class 10″ and you’ll be just fine. That only applies to HD videos, for everything else any class of card will do.

Final Thoughts

The sooner you buy this camera, the sooner you can put it to good use in capturing and saving all your special memories. You’ll be impressed with the many features and the overall quality, so why wait any longer to own this camera? Hopefully you have found this waterproof camera review to be both useful and informative, we do our best to provide an honest look at everything we review and this camera is no exception.

Not having to worry about damaging your camera or getting it wet is an incredible feeling that frees you to be more adventurous with your photography, and to have more fun in life! Capture every special moment and never have to worry about damaging your camera in the process!

4. Nikon COOLPIX L32 Digital Camera 5x

The CoolPix L32 is an affordable camera that delivers reasonable underwater performance. It’s far from the top of the line, but will provide everything you need for basic underwater digital photography. No budget compact will allow the kind of detailed control that a more advanced camera delivers, but not everyone needs to play with detailed focus and exposure lengths. If all you want is a point and shoot digital camera for underwater use, the CoolPix L32 is a good choice.

It’s not a waterproof camera in itself and nor does it come with an underwater housing as standard, but the L32 works well with an Ikelite Ultra Compact Waterproof Housing. The controls on the L32 are simple, and almost all of them can be fully manipulated when underwater. If you don’t want to buy a camera purely for underwater photography, choosing one that can be easily used with a housing is the best way forward. Of course, there are dozens of reasonably priced compacts that can be used with a housing, so why choose this one?

The internal flash will still work fine inside the housing- diffusers and deflectors are available. While the L32′s flash won’t deliver the kind of results an external flash or strobe setup would, this camera does have a better and brighter flash than most of its competitors. It’ll reach a little further and perform better in darker waters than almost anything else of similar size and simplicity.

There’s A lot to Like about the Nikon CoolPix L32

A maximum 14 megapixel resolution means that your best photos can be blown up to around 16″x20″ without loss of quality, and it has a large LCD screen. At 3″ it’s much more generous than the screen on most cheaper compact cameras- that makes it easier to see what is and isn’t in the frame in tricky conditions underwater.

Battery life is comparable to similar models (the Canon A800 for example) and a replacement pair of AA batteries can be obtained almost anywhere in the world so there is no need to take a charger with you on holiday. With really good quality rechargeable AAs you could get up to 600 shots per pair.

There is a movie mode, although the resolution isn’t outstanding. It can deliver up to 30 frames per second at 640 x 480 pixels- not amazing professional quality but good enough to share with friends on YouTube.

It also has an advanced image stabilization system, which comes in very handy. Often it’s hard to stay perfectly steady underwater. Wave action, currents, and buoyancy all make it far more difficult than it might be on dry land. All too often a little movement completely ruins a good shot. This camera can handle more than most, and there is also an inbuilt capacity to deal with moving subjects and vibration. The L32 has no less than three different anti-blurring technologies in place and together they can really help keep images sharp and clear.

All things considered, the Nikon CoolPix L32 is a good entry level camera. When coupled with a suitable housing it’s capable of delivering good photo quality underwater. It’s simple to use, reasonably priced, and good value for money.

5. Kodak PlaySport (Zx5) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera

With the Kodak Playsport ZX5 review, you will be able to see whether or not this is indeed the camera for you. No matter how great a camera is, you have to make sure that you are really looking through all of its options and features to see if it would be a good match for what you are looking for.

With this review, you will finally know whether or not you have a new camera for your wish list. Whether you are looking for a digital camera for yourself or as a gift for someone else, this might just be what you are looking for.

Sure, price matters a little but it should not be the determining factor for whether or not you purchase a camera. The features should be what does that. Of course, you will learn a lot about the camera by comparing the price to the features it has. You will be able to see firsthand just what kind of value you are looking at. For this camera, you will find that the Kodak PlaySport ZX5 comes in with at a lower price or less and this is a great for what this underwater camera offers.

Waterproof Ability

For many cameras, being waterproof means nothing more than being able to withstand a spilled drink at the dinner table or a splash up on the deck from the kids in the pool. But for the Kodak PlaySPort ZX5, this means that you will be able to take pictures in the water, whether that is the pool, the ocean or the bathtub. While your bathtub might not be this deep, the Kodak PlaySport ZX5 is waterproof up to 10 feet.

Video Capabilities

This digital camera has full 1080p HD video capabilities, which means you are going to be able to capture all of those precious moments in life that surprise you. You will always have the best possible camera for capturing the moments you never want to let go of.

Still Shots

While the video recording feature is what attracts a lot of people, the Kodak PlaySport ZX5 also has the ability of still shots in 5 MP format. There is also the feature of electronic image stabilization which will really come in handy in those spur of the moment shots. Also, the 2 inch color display will make it easy to see what you are capturing and to playback all of your recordings as you would like.

Available Colors

Not all cameras come in such a wide variety of colors. With the Kodak PlaySport ZX5, you will have the option of the following colors:

• Purple
• Blue
• Grey
• White

With these options, you are sure to get the exact camera to match your personal taste and personality. It also makes it a little nicer for when you are shopping for this particular camera as a gift. You will be able to match the person’s personality with the choices that you have available to you.

Share Your Vision

With the Kodak PlaySport ZX5, you will be able to upload your images and video recordings on such sites as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. This is easily done with the help of the built-in software and the included USB cable. Then again, maybe you will just want to share your recordings with your friends and family from the palm of your hand. Want to make sure that they catch every moment? There is a slow motion playback option that will come in handy for that.

As you can see with the help of this Sharper Image WP5 Waterproof Digital Camera review, you are going to be able to afford a camera that pretty much does everything that you could ever want it to do and for an affordable price as well.

Pros:

Excellent video for a camera in it’s class and price range; waterproof to 10 feet; HDMI cable included; very good sharing software.

Cons:

This underwater camera does not come with a built-in USB connector; the battery life is shortened when using the camera at it’s highest resolution; there’s no memory card included with the purchase; picture sharing software is only available for Windows users.

The Bottom Line: The Kodak Playsport ZX5 is an excellent camera that is quite durable and the HD video quality is very solid.

6. JVC Picsio GC-FM-2 Pocket Video Camera

If you’re not familiar with the JVC Picsio GC-FM-2, it’s a pocket video camera with waterproof capabilities. It is becoming an extremely popular choice with consumers, especially those around water. We purchased one of these awhile back and felt the need to share our experience with you.

Below you will find tons of information on the JVC Picsio GC-FM-2. Some of it is good, some of it is bad, but the goal is to help you decide whether or not it’s the right fit for you and your family.

The Size

One of the major benefits surrounding the JVC Picsio GC-FM-2 has to be the size. We purchased it based on this need, because it allows you to easily fit the camera in your pocket. We will say it’s a little heavy though. Even though it can fit in our pockets nicely, you definitely feel like you’re being weighted down a bit.

The specs on this video camera is 2.4 x 4 x 1 inches; 5.1 ounces. Others might believe it’s extremely lightweight, but we thought otherwise. The positive side to this was that we never felt we lost it, which frequently happens with lighter versions.

The Screen and Video

Another benefit has to be the touch screen. Whenever you are using the camera, there is no need to worry about hitting buttons freely. This 3″ touch panel with icon graphics and large playback picture also comes with a screen lock. Since you have the ability to utilize color controls, the overall quality of the picture is immaculate.

However, there are some cases where the clarity is a little off. When we first purchased the JVC Picsio GC-WP10, the indoor shot was much different from an outdoor one. Even if you know the basics of any camera, we all know the importance of lighting.

When it comes to viewing your videos, we do recommend getting out from under direct sunlight. If it’s too bright you can have a difficult time seeing your video play. We don’t consider this a major issue (since all cameras are like this), but it is something worth noting.

The best part is that your videos come in HD format. So, if you have an HD television in your home, you understand the importance of this type of quality.

The Waterproof Benefit

Often times we hear about great waterproof products that turn out to be falty. Since you can’t really test the waterproof benefits in a store, we had to travel to the local pool and see how it works. Our family loves swimming on a hot summer day, so it was easy to figure out whether or not this benefit held any weight.

Granted, I didn’t dunk the JVC Picsio GC-FM-2 under water, but we were able to get it wet. Taking videos while in the pool and watching the kids try to splash me with water was great! The good news is; we’re still using this video camera today. Since there is a difference between waterproof and water resistant, it’s probably not a good idea to submerge it into the water.

Battery Life

Probably one of the most interesting tests we did was on the battery life. We took a weekend trip down to Lake Cumberland (in Kentucky), and left it off the charger. The first day we were there it worked fine without any hiccups. In fact, the life of the battery seemed like forever.

Once it reached its final hour, we went ahead and recharged it. When we used it the second time on the trip, it didn’t have nearly as much battery life. Does this mean the product isn’t worth buying? No, actually it means the way the battery is charged needs to be changed.

We experimented with different options and finally figured out it really depends on the hard drive of the camera and the gigabytes. It’s a good idea to get the 32gb SDHC card as well as a new power adapter. The more memory it uses, the harder the battery works, so keep this in mind.

The End Result

Overall, we consider this to be one of the best purchases we ever made. It’s understandable there are minor issues along the way, but with a little effort you can overcome every single one of them. In our minds, the JVC Picsio GC-FM-2 is definitely a smart buy.

7. Panasonic Lumix TS4

The confusion of choosing and buying digital cameras in the market these days is certainly inevitable. Depending on the type of camera you are looking for, it really takes time to research and match the qualities and features of the camera to the one desired. However, if you are looking for a very straightforward point and shoot camera that is handy, sleek, sturdy, and with good picture and video quality. Then the Panasonic Lumix TS4 might be the camera for you.

Panasonic Lumix TS4 Design

The Panasonic Lumix TS4 is suitable for active outdoor use with its rugged, shockproof, waterproof, and dustproof body. It is a compact camera available in different colors such as orange, blue, black, and silver. It is a very durable camera meant to last longer. It is waterproof to a depth of about 40 feet, shockproof from 6.6 feet, dustproof, and freeze-proof to 14 degrees. It is created to withstand unexpected pressures or blows that will knock off or completely damage other cameras of the same kind. This is also one of the top cheap underwater camera for snorkeling you can get.

Aside from these amazing features, on the technical side it also offers a great deal of photo and video outputs. The Panasonic Lumix T4 has a 12.1 megapixel sensor and possesses an optical zoon lens to 4.6 times, giving a 35mm equivalent of a 28-128 mm. Moreover, its video recording can shoot to 1920 x 1080 high definition video in AVCHD or MP4 formats. The power of the Panasonic Lumix TS4 is supported from a lithium-ion battery which can take shots to around 310 on a single charge.

Handling of Panasonic Lumix TS4

The Panasonic Lumix T4 is not only rugged on the outside but also powerful in the inside. It has a high-speed large capacity signal processing named Venus Engine. This engine helps in the integration of the advanced signal processing capabilities to aid in the Intelligent Noise Reduction of the camera in order to produce amazing still photos and videos. Also, the Venus Engine supports high-speed burst and very fast time responses with the Sonic Speed AF, helping the user to capture those quick, fast, and out of the blue photo capturing moments.

In addition, the Panasonic Lumix TS4 has three new shooting modes incomparable to the other Panasonic models. One it has a full manual mode which provides the opportunity to the user to control the shutter speed and aperture. The shutter speed can go from 60 seconds to 1/1300 second, and the apertures f3.3-10 at the wide end and f5.9-18 at the telephoto end. The other unique mode is the Time Lapse Shot; it is where the start time, interval and the number of photos to shoot can be set. Once set, the Panasonic Lumix TS4 will automatically capture photos and will condense the shot for fluid playback. This enables the user to see images e.g. clouds moving across the sky and an opening flower. The last mode of the Panasonic Lumix TS4 is the Miniature Effect and Panorama where 360-degree horizontal or vertical panoramic photos can be achieved by taking consecutive shots and by overlaying the photos.

Finally, the Panasonic Lumix TS4 has a barometer log ideal to help in forecasting the weather by logging barometric trends. Also, it has a GPS system for geotagging and use as a compass. The Geotagging feature enables the user to automatically sort out and play back the uploaded images along a map, tracing the user’s photographic journey. The new GPS system has a landmark of more than a million in almost 82 countries.

The offerings of the Panasonic Lumix TS4 provide a great value of your money. It is a smart choice!

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Cheap Underwater Camera For Snorkeling

When you want to memorialize everything that happens in your life the first place you turn is to your camera. If you are going to buy a new camera so that you can keep track of all those things you want to get the best camera that you can. To help you figure out which is the best camera for you there are some things that you want to think about.

The Glass.

That’s the lens. You want to make sure that you are buying a camera that has the best lens possible. A bad lens means bad pictures. Think Nikon and Canon.

Modes.

Are you going to be shooting friends and family, or are you going to be shootings a lot of outdoor pictures or action shots? All cameras have several different modes that can let you shoot different things. Check out the modes on the cameras to make sure that they suit your purpose.

The User.

Are you buying yourself a new camera, or one for your teenager or younger child. If it’s for a child get one that is made especially for children. They aren’t the best quality, but they are extremely durable. Your teenager doesn’t need the best camera on the market, no matter how much they want it.

The Budget.

Generally the higher the cost, the better the camera. Even on a limited budget you can find a good camera. Buy the best quality camera you can. This isn’t the time to cheap out. However, keep an eye on sales to see if a better camera comes into your budget range.

Frames Per Second.

FPS is the wait time in between taking pictures. Look for something that is 1.5 fps or faster. You might also look for continuous drive. That’s when you take multiple pictures by holding down the button. The camera doesn’t save the pictures until you finish shooting.

Batteries.

Do not buy a digital camera that runs on AA batteries. You will burn through them. You want a Li-on rechargeable battery. It’s lighter and lasts longer.

Zoom.

Everyone wants to get close to the action. Most people don’t realize is that there are two kinds of zoom. Optical zoom moves the lens to bring your subject in closer. Digital zoom just enlarges the picture and cuts out the already existing information. It isn’t a true zoom.

LCD Screen.

This is the viewfinder in the back of the camera. They are generally 1.5-2 inches. That may not sound like a big difference, but it is. If you get a flip out screen you can get a different perspective than without one.

Resolution. It is getting easier to get good resolution. Even the least expensive cameras are general 5 megapixels. Five mp will give you a good picture all the way to 8×10. The more mp, the better.

Your Instincts. Go to the store, pick it up, kick the tires, see how it feels. You might find that once you pick it up and try it out that you change your mind as to which one you want.

These tips can help you pick out a great point and shoot camera. Then you will be ready to go out and take all the pictures you want.

We have now come to the end of our article, we hope this guide will help you purchase the best cheap underwater camera for snorkeling.