The risk of using the standard cameras underwater can be hazardous. Since the normal cameras are not waterproof and built with a plastic case or any other standard material, they can easily collapse or get spoiled if used in water. So there are a number of water-resistant and underwater cameras those are shock resistant and capable of being used under deep water levels. These cameras focus much faster than the standard cameras and built with tough materials to stay protected even in harsh situations. Because being an avid traveler and adventurer, you would need such a camera that is drop resistant, water resistant, and can be used with flexibility. Below we are mentioning a few of the cheap underwater camera for digital photography those are good and inexpensive. Tips for the underwater photography
Things to consider before buying an underwater digital camera
Buying an underwater camera is a risky job. Because not all the cameras perform equally underwater, you have to be very careful before choosing the right camera for you. So a few things should be kept in mind before you finalize your underwater camera.
Durability
The key concern about buying a best underwater camera remains the durability issue. Will the camera consistently work underwater? Will it get affected anyway if carried underwater? So it’s extremely necessary to have an in-depth look at its core features and make sure the camera won’t get affected anyway. Check whether it is freezeproof or shockproof. All cameras do not offer equal durability so it is recommended to buy the one containing the complete range of robust features.
System
An underwater camera comes with three systems, namely compact, DSLR, and mirrorless.
The compact cameras are great for underwater photography, however, the auto function doesn’t work well. So it’s better to get an advanced camera with manual mode.
The DSLR is preferred by the professional photographers because they have the largest choice of lenses, amazing low light performance, and offer full control over the photo.
The mirrorless cameras give you the flexibility to interchange lens without worrying about the weight, size, and price tag of a DSLR. Such cameras are great for those who need fine quality images in a small package.
Few cameras are specifically built for underwater scuba diving, but before you get it, you should read customer reviews to know whether they are truly functional or not. Because most camera’s flash fails to work or their shutter lag is terribly sluggish. So this kind of problems might appear in a camera. So the best is to get a traditional land camera or use your current one and get a housing to fix it. Although this might be slightly expensive most scuba divers use this technique to obtain the best results.
Housing availability
Most professional underwater photographers seek for a camera with housing availability. Housings do not come with all cameras. The popular housing manufacturers make housings for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic for specific models.
Portability
The portability of a camera depends on its weight and housing. If you own a camera without housing, then you can easily carry it around depending on its weight. But since most underwater cameras are used with a housing, it will be slightly difficult for you to carry it all the time and need a good camera storage for it.
7 best underwater cameras
(1) Panasonic LUMIX Active Lifestyle Tough Camera DMC-TS30K – Best underwater camera
The LUMIX Active DMC-TS30K tough camera can capture still images or HD (720p) videos live underwater. This 16.1MP camera is freezeproof that can handle temperature up to 14 degrees and shock resistant up to 4.9 feet. This waterproof camera can hold toughness up to 26 feet and can also shoot panoramic images under the water. It consists of an Advanced Underwater Mode that can reproduce red colors and red tones easily and shoot more natural underwater photos. You will also find other modes like Snow, Sports, Beach, and Snorkeling those can be switched easily.
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The LUMIX Active DMC-TS30K is built for tough and active lifestyles. It is shockproof, dustproof, freezeproof, and waterproof and can be used both indoors and outdoors. It’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer prevents blurring caused by handshake and Time Lapse Shooting can record stationary observation of objects. It also includes a torchlight that can capture dusky underwater environments and illuminates the subject.
(2) LUMIX WiFi Enabled Tough Adventure Camera DMC-TS6D
The DMC-TS6D LUMIX camera a budget adventure-ready camera which is waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and freezeproof. The camera consists of inbuilt WiFi links for connecting to a smartphone for remote control and share the images instantly for mobile sharing. It records superb images and HD videos of 1080p both inside and outside the water. The camera includes the Advanced Underwater Mode like the DMC-TS30K that reproduces the red color and tones those are easily lost in the water. This underwater camera lets you click more natural images and also includes additional modes like Sports, Snow, Beach, etc.
The DMC-TS6D LUMIX is a 16.1-megapixel camera with high sensitivity MOS sensor the delivers high-speed signal output and image recording in full resolution. The Creative Control in the recording mode and Creative Retouch in playback mode lets you transform ordinary images to highly impressive photos. The camera can also shoot panoramic images and consecutive horizontal and vertical images with filter effects and creative controls. It also includes GPS and GLONASS for accurate location detection and a large 3.0-inch LCD screen to review the images. The torchlight at the front allows capturing low light images by revealing the subject.
(3) Olympus Tough TG-4
The Olympus Tough TG-4 includes powerful imaging technology that captures raw images and can be used at an underwater level upto 50 feet. The inner and outer frame structure protects the lens from any force as it is crushproof to 220 lbs, shockproof to 7 feet, and freezeproof to 10 degree Celsius. The camera supports the highest possible resolution with maximum control. Its 16MP BSI CMOS Sensor and the TruePic VII image processor capture the smallest details keeping the original colors intact. It’s FAST AF technology keeps the images sharp with the lowest noise under low light.
The Olympus Tough TG-4 consists of Advanced Shooting Modes via the Mode Dial that can be readily accessed at your fingertips. You can shoot powerful macro shots with 44.5x magnification and vivid underwater shots. Even you can capture high-speed actions like bike races, scuba diving, surfing, etc. with customized interval settings, shot count, and start time and combine the shots into a tiny movie. The camera includes inbuilt WiFi that lets you share the images with your devices.
(4) Nikon 1 AW1 (Black)
The Nikon 1 AW1 (Black) is an underwater camera that lets you shoot high-quality images underwater. The camera is shockproof, freezeproof, and waterproof consisting of two dedicated waterproof lenses. It offers the world’s fastest and continuous shooting frame rate and other features like Slow View, Live Image Control, etc. The Nikon 1 AW1 camera is 14MP and captures full HD videos. It is an ultimate companion to be carried on adventures and harsh trips and can be used with flexibility due to its durability. You can capture perfect timed shots and use your own creativity with the Live Image Control feature by adding effects, motion, blur, etc.
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The Nikon 1 AW1 is a perfect camera for multi-tasking and simultaneously capturing high-quality images. You can even capture the fastest actions in detail and shoot even under low light environments. This underwater fishing camera lets you add your own creativity and detail with Creative Modes and Underwater Controls by using selective color, miniature effects, easy panorama, etc. The Underwater White Balance feature generates enhanced and stunning colors in the ocean, lake, river, or in the swimming pool.
(5) Olympus TG-870
The Olympus TG-870 is a 16MP camera with Live MOS Sensor for capturing the raw image with sharp details. The camera is 50 feet waterproof, 7 feet shockproof, and 10 degree Celsius freeze proof. It is packed with the classy imaging technology that captures raw images with color variations without missing the originality of the image. It offers 180 degrees of control and delivers clear image even under sunlight or muddy water. The Olympus TG-870 camera can be flexibly used underwater and its rugged design secures it from any force or thrash.
The built-in WiFi lets your camera stay connected to your device and it locates your spot easily with the integrated GPS. It consists of advanced shooting modes that can capture crystal clear underwater portraits, landscapes, and macro shots. This “underwater digital camera” also offers a Nighttime Live Composite Mode that lets you combine multiple images into a single image. The Sportcam Modes provide four actions recording options at your fingertips, including the 60p movie for full HD videos, High-speed movie for slow-motion videos, Time Lapse movie, and Sports Burst. You can also accessorize the Olympus TG-870 camera with the Underwater Case which is ideal for deep diving.
(6) Fujifilm FinePix XP90
The Fujifilm FinePix XP90 is the best tough and stylishly designed camera with 5x optical zoom and 16.4 megapixels BSI-CMOS sensor. It is a waterproof, dustproof, freezeproof, and shockproof camera that can be used in any weather or harsh conditions without any failure. The camera works with stability in all conditions and it also features the Interval Shooting Mode and Time Lapse Movie functions. It easily zooms underwater can capture high-resolution images even under low light environments. The camera also features optical image stabilization to reduce the blur occurring while zooming in the camera. The camera ensures that the reproduced colors are intact and for optimizing the underwater image it offers the Underwater and Underwater macro modes.
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The Fujifilm FinePix XP90 consists of a Burst Mode Button for hassle-free shooting. It instantly captures an image and the action with the continuous shooting toggle button. You can constantly shoot up to 10 frames per second at full resolution and use ultra-speed bursts at a max of 60 frames per second. The camera is stylishly crafted with rugged protection features that protect it from deep water levels, dust, sand, and murky water. So you can consider it as your perfect companion for outdoor trips and adventures.
(7) Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 is among top-rated underwater digital camera that can shoot in any condition. This 18.2MP camera captures vivid images and full HD videos. It brings the colors to life, letting you view and enjoy each and every detail of your images. The camera consists of a 5x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens that can capture any scene, whether it is a wide-angle landscape or a macro portrait. You can even capture blur-free images without any tripod even under the water or in the swimming pool. The TX30 is also dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, so you can use it even to 14 degrees F. It protects itself from severe drops, dust, scratches, and knocks so you can carry it freely anywhere.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 is specifically designed for underwater photography. Its 5x optical zoom lens can handle any macro image and bring out detailed close-ups. The rugged design of the underwater video camera makes it work in any harsh situation without hampering the quality a bit. With every click, you will find the originality of the image very well maintained and it is so enhanced with the bright and vivid colors that anyone would hardly stop looking at it.
Let us know your views if you have already used one of the “best underwater camera“.
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