If you are often near or in a large body of water, a waterproof camera is a great choice, especially now that these once costly devices are becoming more affordable by the day. Familiarize yourself with the points below to make sure that you will make the best out of it.
1) First and foremost, the sealing. This is what differentiates your waterproof camera from normal ones, and if any sealing breaks you are just left with an expensive piece of junk. Check all sealing while buying or evaluating, and recheck it regularly, especially in places where it comes under stress, such as on the lens or on the battery opening.
2) Quality of the pictures: a decent resolution is a must for underwater photography, especially if you may want to zoom up details of shots once the shot has been taken. Five megapixel is good for compact waterproof cameras, and eight is adequate for SLR’s.
3) Construction and burden: Check that the waterproof camera is sturdy and well-build, with dependable materials. Make sure that you also get the supplementary equipment that you need. For most people a compact camera will do, don’t get an SLR just because it looks cooler, unless you really need to exchange lenses it will just load you up with extra bulk.
4) Enquire about the industry standard: This ensures that the waterproof camera has been professionally built and checked. For instance, JIS (Japan Industry Standard) 8 is good enough for a camera that you will only use in surface waters (3-4 meters maximum), while for a dive camera you will need it to conform to more exacting standards.
5) Features and extras: Check that the waterproof camera has all the things you need. Important ones for underwater use are shutter speed and burst picture mode, good lens aperture, autofocus, and a powerful flash.
6) Once you have your waterproof camera, you should learn about how to clean it correctly. Dust and sand will end your camera’s life quickly, and wrong cleaning and maintenance are just as bad. Refer to your user manual to learn about how to extend the life of the device.
7) Another big enemy of waterproof cameras are aggressive chemicals, and this does not just include acids or petrol. That camera is for use in lakes, rivers and the sea, not in pools which are sanitized with chlorine and other substance. Keep your new waterproof camera out of hot tubs and aquariums too.
make sure that you do not end up with a splash-proof camera, instead of a waterproof one. These are not intended to be submersed, and will assuredly leak and then break if you do put them under water.
9) Acquaint yourself with your new waterproof camera gradually, trying out the various features and taking and pictures in a controlled environment before leaving on a big trip. This way you will avoid disappointment and also make more out of your camera in the end.
WaterproofCameraWorld.com is the premier resource for waterproof cameras on the Net, with information on subjects such as how to choose underwater cameras, as well as on where to buy them, and how to take great pictures with them – click the links above to find out more!