Canon 800IS, Olympus1050SW, SonyTX1, Panasonic TS2 - Snorkeling Cameras

by Lance
(Billings, MT)

I have had several UW cameras, drowned 2 of them going deeper than the recommended 10 feet.

Canon 800IS, older camera, 7MP. Love this camera! Takes beautiful photos. Has UW housing that goes to 130' but don't bother using the low resolution video.

Sony TX1 is a fun little camera, great panorama feature, wonderful low light photos. I have a really nice housing for UW. But does really jerky video underwater. My friend's Sony TX7 with housing is much better.

Olympus 1050SW is great but only goes down to 10'. Goes anywhere without a housing. But slow start up and shutter lag time. The newer model 8010 is still slow, your fish will get away while you are waiting for it to focus.

My Panasonic TS2 is coming in the mail. Bought it because it goes to 33 feet without a housing. Much faster start up and less shutter lag than the current olympus tough 8010. High Definition Video. $260 and you don't need to buy a housing. I don't expect it to take quite as good photos as a canon but for less than half the price of a canon with housing it is a good deal.

I plan on taking the Sony TX1 and the Panasonic to Glover's Reef in March or April.

My "real" camera is a Canon 60D.