Waterproof Cameras- need a cheap one.

shruggy63

shruggy63

Suspended / Banned
Messages
285
Name
Darren
Edit My Images
Yes
I live in Manchester so I know I'll get shed loads of rain in the near future!
Could anyone give me advice on a good waterproof camera that I could pick up on Ebay or wherever for a reasonable price, ie. £50 or so?
I've seen Fuji X30s going for a low rate but are there better alternatives?
I really enjoy doing still lifes indoors but I'd still like to get outside & shoot.
Thanks in advance...
 
You'll not get a cheap waterproof compact to give you the quality you're getting from a DSLR, spend the money on a waterproof cover for your camera, you'll be much happier with the results.
 
As above you don't need a waterproof camera just because it's winter! To get decent image quality your looking at £250 not £50 the latest olympus is very good. I have an x30 and it's great for taking snaps when snorkeling or at the beach but terrible for anything serious!
 
We sponsored 6 student groups on expeditions to Borneo and Africa in July with Pentax WG1 (5 of them) and 1 x WG3. The WG1 cameras came out at £139.99 each and produced some really nice shots and videos.

Like any so called "waterproof" camera its resistence to letting water in is down to the attention to the waterproofing on the opening 'doors'. (Battery, Memory card and connection covers).

All 6 were returned for us to loan out and all have been cleaned and checked and are going on some winter expeditions.

Good cameras for the price but they need managing. The macto facility on the WGs has LED lights really make for interesing insect and underwater shots.

The Fuji compacts are nice but for a more difficult terrain the feedback on the pentax WG series was better.

Steve
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the thoughts guys! What I was looking for was something 2nd hand, rainproof & could be kept in a coat pocket. At the moment I feel like I'm missing shots because I don't take the camera out in even slightly bad conditions.
I should add that I live in beautiful Moss Side, which is an undeniably high-crime area, so all my local shots involve getting the camera out, taking a shot & getting it back in the bag as quickly as possible! I want to attract as little attention as possible which is why I discounted faffing around with covers. Though I'll look into them again.
Would a 2nd hand £50 waterproof really be that poor in terms of image quality?
I'm just a hobbyist, I've never printed larger than A4 & my current DSLR is a modest Pentax K-x (which of course I love dearly:D).
 
shoot film? Would be cheaper for the qualty, and while not waterproof per se, a all mechnanical would be fine I guess :-)
 
Paul, I'm sorry but that's the daftest suggestion I've had in ages. Using film is hugely expensive compared to digital & are you suggesting that a film camera won't be affected by the rain? I've got a hand held light meter but I wouldn't want to go back to those days.
 
Depends what its for, I have a Fuji one of the WP series and it was £55 or something new. Kids use it, it goes in pool on holiday etc and is good fun. Poor in low light but better than nothing and its small and light. If you need it for something serious then thats not it but otherwise for that price...
 
shruggy63 said:
. At the moment I feel like I'm missing shots because I don't take the camera out in even slightly bad conditions.
Click to expand...

so stop wrapping your camera in proverbial cotton wool and get out and shoot , its there to be used , not molycodled. I've been out in a force 9 with lashing horizontal rain with my 40D without a problem - just don't change the lens, or open the card/ battery slots without taking cover first and you'll be fine. Take a cloth to wipe off the front element and dry the camera off when you come home.

while walking arround keep the camera on its strap round your neck and down the front of your waterproof coat

most water damage comes from immersion in water, not just rain , or spray for that matter.
 
Thanks Pete, you're probably right. I recently picked up a P&S & am going to experiment with using WD40 as a rain repellent, gently applied with cotton buds, etc. If it works I might extend it to my DSLR for moderately bad weather. I really can't afford to risk my favourite camera though. I'll take dibs on any of your moisture affected 40D bodies though ;-)
 
I wouldn't do that - putting solvents on your gear has the potential to do far more damage than a bit of rain.
 
Darren, if your P&S is entirely button based WRT controls, get creative with a plastic sandwich bag and some sellotape - basically seal the camera in the bag but leave the screen and lens clear so it can see out and you can see in! WD40 will creep in far more easily than water and will do little to waterproof it. Might deplasticise some plastics and rubbers too, leaving them brittle.
 
Thank you Nod, you're right, I forgot about the effect WD40 can have on rubber type components. I think, for me, I'm kind of coming to a resolution on this subject. It's basically that I need 2 cameras. I need a reasonably priced P&S, preferably waterproof, that I can carry around in my pocket & is discreet to use in a high crime area. All the 'street photography' I love is wide-angle & spontaneous. Maybe 'Porn star' sized condoms would be useful as waterproofing?
& then I can use the big plastic covers that I can put my hands into on my DSLR when on a 'day out' shooting with a tripod, long lenses & all the paraphernalia.
 
I think Fuji do some cheap waterproof compacts. Waterproof ones tend to be able to handle the odd knock and drop and be freezeproof too.
 
Have a look at the usual suspects (WEX etc.) using Google. Camerapricebuster might help to find the best prices.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top