| It was only by chance I discovered this optimum | | | | camera itself from the housing, that sort of defeats |
| solution for solving the problem of always having to | | | | the purpose, as we're back to the original problem of |
| worry about keeping my digital camera protected | | | | having to take extra care with protecting the |
| from both the elements, and too much knocking | | | | camera. |
| around. | | | | But these latest generation dive cameras are |
| I'd been wanting a replacement for my dive camera | | | | integrated units where the camera is made into a |
| and in the process of researching alternatives, came | | | | waterproof case comprised of impact resistant |
| across this new generation of underwater cameras | | | | composite materials and armored with rubber at all |
| that work equally well out of the water. Even better | | | | the key places. Dropping them from several feet up |
| is that they're still compact and lightweight enough to | | | | leaves them unfazed. |
| make sense as a replacement for my land use only | | | | They are lightweight (about a pound) and compact |
| digital camera. | | | | (less than 4 inches x 5 inches), and despite their small |
| So what's the point? Simply that I've gotten fed up | | | | size, offer superb picture quality with ultra sharp, |
| with digital cameras that can't take a little sand or | | | | high-resolution images, even in low-light conditions |
| water. When do we generally take the most | | | | such as those typically found underwater. Prices are |
| pictures? How about while on excursions to new | | | | comparable to a higher-end land use digital camera. |
| places or while vacationing or on holiday. Where do | | | | Of particular use are the settings that can be |
| we often do these things? Beaches, snow-capped | | | | changed depending on whether you're shooting |
| mountains, rivers, hiking trails - the list goes on. | | | | above or under the water. In "undersea" mode the |
| The majority of our photographs are taken in | | | | various settings improve colors underwater by |
| environments where there's a better than average | | | | automatically adjusting shutter speeds and aperture |
| chance that our camera will get wet, muddy, or | | | | settings. For "land" use they work like other land |
| banged about. Instead of worrying about splashes or | | | | cameras allowing the user to adjust to conditions |
| a little rain, and dropping it in everything from sand to | | | | encountered above water. Other features include |
| snow, wouldn't it be handy if these technological | | | | face detection and image stabilization. |
| marvels were just a bit hardier? | | | | Bottom line is eliminating the need for more than one |
| Well a handful of dive camera manufacturers have | | | | camera. The same one that's perfect for scuba |
| apparently gotten the message because they've | | | | diving, now does double duty for hiking, mountain |
| produced some rugged multi-purpose digital | | | | climbing, ocean kayaking, going to the beach, being |
| waterproof cameras. Better still is unlike their | | | | out on the boat, and pretty much any other activity |
| predecessors, they can be had at a much more | | | | one might think of. |
| reasonable price. | | | | Even if you aren't a diver there are models made for |
| By predecessors, I mean those super-expensive, | | | | snorkeling, and even though waterproof down to |
| special-purpose underwater cameras with special | | | | just about 10 feet or so, are less expensive. This is |
| housings that scuba divers and underwater | | | | especially good news if your primary concern is |
| photographers used. They are bulky and awkward to | | | | finding a more rugged digital camera that won't give |
| handle out of water and while one could remove the | | | | out after being splashed at the lake or left in the rain. |