Underwater cameras: an overview of the best models

Underwater cameras are indispensable devices for those who do not think of relaxing at sea without taking pictures of sea landscapes, who, diving to the depths, want to share a piece of the magical underwater world, capturing it. For those who like to shoot all the brightest moments of their lives and do not want to be limited by external weather conditions, whether it be rain, snow or fog.

The latest protected cameras in 2019 or 2015 give amateur enthusiasts unlimited opportunities for shooting on mountain peaks, on the water or under water. In order to get excellent shots for underwater shooting it is not necessary to purchase expensive professional equipment, you can purchase simpler digital equipment from a series of models for outdoor activities. What characteristics you need to pay attention to when choosing such a device, and what are the features of the organization of filming under water, we will discuss in this article.

The nuances of underwater shooting and the necessary characteristics of cameras for its organization

Before determining which camera is the most suitable for underwater shooting, we will review the distinguishing features of such a survey from the shooting process on land. The first and most important feature is the environment surrounding the amateur photographer and her physical properties. Water differs from air in density, composition and processes that occur in this environment:

1. Shine. Recall a school course in physics, in which we all studied that water absorbs light very well. Moreover, the light ray as such is not easy, and the absorption occurs along the spectral rays into which ordinary light is divided. So, at a depth of one meter, red color in the spectrum will hardly be visible, at a depth of more than six meters only green and blue colors will remain. If you do not take into account this nuance, then all the photos will be bluish, and photos from a depth of 30-40 meters or more will turn out to be almost monochrome. Speaking about light, the presence of which is the main and main factor for a successful shot, one should not forget that water has the ability to refract light, so the image will be distorted.
2. Pressure. Another feature of the aquatic environment is the pressure of the water on the equipment, which will increase when immersed.
3. Density of water. Due to its density, water acts as a kind of magnifier, that is, a zoom for the camera. Therefore, this property of water should be taken into account when choosing the distance from the camera to the object that the amateur photographer wants to remove.
4. The presence of particles in the water that reflect the light from the flash can ruin the picture. Given this feature, it is necessary to shoot from the bottom up.

A brief overview of the properties of water allows you to determine the properties that you need to pay attention to when choosing a device. So, what characteristics should cameras have for underwater shooting, an overview of which is given below.

1. The indicator of the maximum depth to which the device can be immersed for shooting without additional protective equipment. The deep cameras are characterized by a robust housing that can withstand heavy loads at depth. The deeper you can immerse the camera, the stronger the body of such a device and the higher the price, respectively. Conventional automatic devices freely withstand loads at a depth of eight ten meters. This resource is quite enough for amateur photography.
2. The presence of an image stabilizer. Due to the difficult conditions for organizing shooting, the image stabilization function is very important for this type of camera.
3. Battery life. An important indicator is the power and the maximum number of frames that the camera can produce between charging periods.Everyone will agree that it will be very sad if the battery sits at the wrong time. But it is also important to consider that if there is an additional flash, which can be used when shooting underwater, the battery will discharge much faster, so it’s better to choose a device with a powerful battery or take a spare battery with you.
4. The index of the focal range of the lens is the main property that you need to pay attention to. For shooting underwater, a wide viewing angle is important. Optimal for such a shooting would be a focal length range of 24 - 28 mm.
5. The temperature indicator at which the device can function normally.
6. Body strength or impact resistance. As a rule, all types of devices designed for shooting in extreme conditions have a shockproof housing.

Bestsellers cameras and their characteristics

What models and devices, what brands for underwater shooting do users prefer? Let's review the leading representatives of this type of technology.

Olympus Tough TG-4 Series

Topping the ranking is the 2019 underwater camera from Olympus. This is a convenient, compact automatic machine with the ability to shoot at the maximum possible depth of 15 meters. This device is capable of operating at temperatures up to minus ten degrees. It has a fairly durable waterproof housing that can withstand a drop from a height of up to two meters. The battery life is about 380 shots, while the device is capable of producing 5 frames per second. In addition to everything, the device is equipped with special modes for underwater shooting.

Fujifilm Model FinePix XP200

A distinctive feature of this camera is fivefold zoom and shooting in 3D, FullHD. Like the previous model, this device shoots at a depth of 15 meters. A budget model, the built-in matrix of which allows you to create pictures of good quality both on land and under water.

Nikon Coolpix AW120 Series

This model surpasses the presented cameras in shooting speed. This unit is capable of shooting up to 60 frames per second. You can shoot with Nikon at a maximum of 18 meters depth. The main advantages of this model is the built-in stabilizer, a powerful battery with a resource of 350 frames, connection to WI-FI, GPS.

Olympus Tough TG-3 Series

The speed of this model is up to 30 frames per second. You can shoot up to a maximum of 15 meters. At the same time, this unit is equipped with a device for measuring depth, GPS, a WI-FI module and a built-in compass.

Pentax model WG-3

A small convenient camera with a clear interface capable of shooting at a maximum of 14 meters. The battery power of this model lasts for a maximum of two hours of operation without connecting a charger.

Panasonic Model Lumix FT5

This model is also equipped with a built-in compass, the ability to connect WI-FI, GPS. It has a robust housing with shock protection and can shoot without special devices at a depth of about 12 meters.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Series

The representative of this brand is one of the most compact cameras for shooting under water. This unit is designed for shooting up to ten meters depth. Of the main advantages of this model, one can distinguish the built-in stabilizer and a LED flashlight, which is able to illuminate objects when shooting close-up, which eliminates the need for a flash. A special built-in program IntelligentAuto is able to recognize the format of pictures and adjust the device for them in automatic mode, which makes the use of this device very convenient.

Many people are mistaken in thinking that to create excellent pictures it is enough to purchase a device with a wide range of additional features that meets all the necessary characteristics for shooting certain scenes. But this misconception in itself, the camera, whatever its characteristics, is not able to create unique images. And in order to create interesting, beautiful pictures, it is necessary to learn how to use light, to choose the right component images of the future frame.And also that it is important to be able to properly configure the camera, taking into account all the nuances of the terrain or environment in which the shooting will take place. Therefore, there is no need to rush and immediately purchase an expensive camera, for a start it is better to study all the moments associated with shooting as such and work with a conventional device.