On a recent trip to Hawaii, I noticed a lot of fancy new waterproof cameras. Sure you can still can drop $12-$15 on those disposable plastic jobs, but with affordable options out there, by the time you’ve done that 10 or 15 times and paid for the processing, you could have something digital and permanent that takes clearer, sharper images and has far less impact on the environment.
Several popular options include the Pentax Optio W20 Waterproof, above (about $260-$300), a self-contained unit that goes about 5 feet for a half-hour or so and also takes video. It has a really easy-to-see screen and blur-reduction. If you already have one of the new Casio credit-card-slender Exilim cameras, left, (check out the 10 megapixel, which takes stunning photos, has a great LCD screen and anti-shake mode), spring for the underwater casing ($199) that fits around the unit. You’ll want to practice pushing the tiny menu buttons out of the water a few times, but once you get the hang of them, everything else is indeed a snap. My third favorite was the 4.2 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix A400, which with its waterproof casing (sold separately) costs about $190. The cheapest of the bunch, it also produces the least-quality photos, but it’s still way better than the disposable and more fun.
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