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Another 'Underwater' Camera Drowned:rant:

bdahunter

New member
Well this is my 5th or 6th 'underwater' camera that has proven to be anything but waterproof. A couple of weeks ago I dropped my Pentax Optio W30 in the parking area of Horseshoe Bay and it didn't survive the impact. I cashed in my change from last year's looting and that was enough to buy another Pentax Optio W30 on sale at the local camera shop.(there is really only one camera shop in Bermuda):biggrin:
These 'underwater' cameras are better described as water resistant because they usually last a little over a year before they leak and drowned, the warranty is 1 year - what an amazing coincidence.:rolleyes: Well, yesterday my treasurehunting buddy Lee wanted to take a picture of something in the water off of Horseshoe Bay Beach and he asked me if he could borrow my camera since his camera isn't waterproof and I agreed to let him use it to take a pic. I don't normally loan out my gear because it usually gets broken and then it is hard feelings but Lee is a mate of mine so what the heck, it was only 1 pic. You guessed it, Lee was back from the briny in a couple of minutes with a drowned camera, complaining that my camera was junk. It wasn't junk when I handed it to him but it was certainly junk now - lesson learned, never lend my gear to anyone.:rage:
Later that evening, Lee agreed to cover the camera if warranty didn't cover it. If the camera seal leaked then it is covered, if Lee fumbled the latch that keeps the waterproof seal to the battery locked when he was taking a pic then it won't be covered under warranty because it's not waterproof if you open the waterproof hatch underwater.:poke:
In the past 5 years, I've gone through a lot of cameras so I could post pics of my hunts and the beautiful scenery of Bermuda for everyone to enjoy. Unfortunately, I may have to reconsider this as it is getting to be too expensive to keep replacing underwater cameras that aren't really waterproof.

Cheers,

BDA:cool:
 
2010 Tachyon XC
One of the best..will take stills and movies.......Waterproof to 2 Atmospheres (34
 
Did you happen to read about the camera that was lost overboard in the middle of the Atlantic and was returned to its owner?

Check this out.....amazing story........http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/157628/Camera-lost-in-the-Atlantic-is-reunited-with-cruise-couple
 
Hi bda; Glad you didn't have the manufacturer nearby. You might be replacing him.!!!!!!!! :punch: :rofl: They sound kind of like the submarine with a screen door. :stars:. Yes folks I'm on a roll.!! :crazy: Seriously bda, sorry to hear about that camera problem I know thats a real pain. I hope it is covered then you'll only be out its use for a few weeks. Good Luck on that. PEACE:RONB :beers:
 
If you really want a "WATERPROOF" camera I suggest you look at the Nikonos. It was designed and built from the beginning to be an underwater camera. 2 atmospheres is nothing for this camera. It's pricey, but so is replacing a water resistant camera every year...or sooner.

The other option is to buy a true underwater, again waterproof, housing that you can place you regular land camera in. Those appear to be a lot more flexible in terms of the number of housings available and the number of different cameras that will operate in them. They are a bit bulkier but unless you buy a Nikonos, you'll not get a camera sized camera that's totally waterproof and built just for underwater. Jim
 
Thanks for the info guys, the Nikonos looks good but man what a price tag. Yesterday was an excellent hunt as well but no way to take a pic of the loot. Yesterday's loot was 5 Gold (1 with Ice) and 3 silver, I'm back in the water for another go round today.:thumbup:
Guess I'll just have to post all the loot in one big pic when my camera comes back (hopefully) from the warranty repair shop in 6 to 8 weeks. A further downside to living on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean - everything takes a lot more time to happen.

Cheers,

BDA:cool:
 
It is good to 150 feet, and although a bit bulky, works very well at keeping the water out. It just takes seconds to pop the camera in or out. No leaks yet!!

fair winds

Micheal
 
Go to Ikelite's home page and look at their camera housings/ Some cost $1500 but there are a lot in the $100-300 price range. You can probably find one to fit the little camera you have now. They make them for Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony and a couple of others. Look at the camera you now have a see if they make a housing for it. Ikelite has been doing underwater cases for a whole bunch of years and makes a good product. One of the nice things about their housings is that they are made to fit a specific camera, and ALL the settings that are available to you in normal land use, are also there to use when in the waterproof housing. Those through the hull fittings in the right place and at the correct angle is what jacks the price up a little. They also now make the housing with just enough residual airspace inside that when in the water they are neutrally buoyant. Nothing worse than having your camera head towards the bottom or to the surface when you are cruising 30' deep with a 100' cliff underneath you. Actually you'd really want it just slightly positively buoyant. That way when you drop it, it will slowly head toward the surface, unlike a nuclear sub breaching. Jim
 
I haven't gone with the underwater housing because the bulk was enough that it would be a hassle in the heavy surf I so often hunt in. I came close to getting pulled out by rip tides twice today and extra bulk is a liability. I really need to get PADI certified and overcome my fear of the water. I've never been a strong swimmer; my buddies tried to teach me to swim by almost drowning me when I was a kid so it is a mental thing I deal with everytime I get in the water. It does add a certain amount of adrenelin when I water hunt because I am always pushing the envelope, just by being in the water.

Cheers,

BDA:cool:
 
n/t
 
You might want to read this.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/
 
Hey BDA,

I could use a break from all the pics of gold ya been diggin up anyway Bud!:surprised:

I was startin to see them through a green haze of envy and I hate myself for it!!:veryangry:

My one little excursion yesterday about froze off my noogies doncha know!!:blink:

Oh well that's the price I gotta pay for livin in good old New England!!:thumbdown:

If it weren't for havin an anchor keepin me here I would head to your neighborhood and give ya some competition!:punch:

In all seriousness Friend, I hope you get your camer problems solved soon as I really need those pics to keep me uplifted out of the winter doldrums!!:ranting:

The little Fuji I got for Christmas got a fair rateing on line and the Olympus almost no rateing at all and that is why I bought the Fuji:thumbup:.

It will only get splashed and never sub-merged if I have my way!:)

The price is right and the picture quality isn't bad!:super:

Good Luck and happy hunting to Ya Friend,:detecting:

CJ
 
HI Folks; Glad to hear your covered bda and cupajo; hold onto your noogies.Lose those your really in trouble. Especially in the surf.!!!!!!!
:shocked: :biggrin:
 
Hi bda; Pointer; No matter how well trained you are when a rip current gets hold of you yor in "TROUBLE". remember to swim to either side of the rip current. DO NOT attempt to swim outwards in trying to break its grip.OK.RULE: Have fun but be safe first. PEACE:RONB :detecting:
 
The most sensible advise one can ever hope for on any forum!!

Don't fight nature!!

Use it and it will serve you well!!

I suspect that BDA knows about "rip-tides or he would not be here and able to post about them,

CJ
 
I warned a pot bellied tourist today (I could tell by his accent and the fact that his skin looked like a fish's belly, that he wasn't local) to beware the heavy riptides running down at Horseshoe Bay. You would think that when someone with local knowledge gives you a warning that you might take it to heart but instead he gave me that 'buzz off/mind your own business look' and waded out into the water so his dumpling shaped wifey could take his pic with the waves crashing in the background. I went back to hunting (I figure never argue with an idiot as they will beat you with their experience):laugh:, next thing I know wifey is screaming her head off and pot bellied hubby is headed for the rocks about 50 yds out from the beach and he is right in the middle of a rip tide. What a dumb@ss, naturally I stopped what I was doing and watched to see how he would manage before taking any action. The rip tide was a strong one but it finally spit him out just beyond the rocks and he was able to work his way back to the rocks and then eventually back through the surf but he was looking pretty green (and sheepish I might add) when he finally made it back to the beach. That was his excitement for the day and probably the week but at least he survived the experience. Word of caution - before trying to assist anyone who may be in distress from drowning it is a good idea to sit back a bit and see if they can get themselves out of the situation themselves. If they get into deeper trouble then go to their aid with a floatation device but let them do a little bit of drowning first otherwise they are liable to drown the both of you in their state of panic.
In the end there really is no cure for stupid (but riptides can certainly thin the herd):devil:
 
Firs let me say I am sorry to hear about your camera and also that I have not read all the threads below so I may reapeat something that has already been said. I have the same camera as you and so far mine has not leaked but I don't take it in the water anymore as I never really trusted the seal. Plus it is very easy to only close the latch halfway and if you don't got that extra little bit until you see the red line it's going to leak. I almost drowned mine once by not closing the latch all the way. It's ashame that you have to open the housing to upload the photos. That being said Pentax just released a new WP camera that is good to 20ft instead of only 10ft. The W90. Included is a link to it. I may give ti a try as it has a lot of nice features like the lighted macro mode and HD Movie capability. If you are no longer interested in Pentax which I wouldn't blame you if you weren't Olympus makes a couple of cameras that are WP to 33ft.

Pentax W90:

http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_W90_Pistachio_Green/

HH

Beachcomber
 
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