The first consumer-targeted digital camera which was designed to be used underwater was the Pentax OptioWP, released in early 2005. A year later, Olympus created an underwater version of its Stylus, the 720SW and there was a duopoly in the waterproof-camera market. With Canon and Fujifilm joining the fray, we have decided it was time to do a summer-time muster of the options.
Canon PowerShot D10
If you were walking around taking pictures of cathedrals or Roman ruins with the PowerShot D10, you might feel a bit silly considering its bulky, playful, pool-going design. Nevertheless, underwater (up to 10m/33ft) it produces great pictures and its big screen is easy to read through goggles.
Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP
The FinePix Z33WP is the most stylish camera in this group, and also the smallest. Is 10MP sensor does not capture great photos, but it is also comparatively inexpensive. If, when you are at the beach, style and not getting sand in your Leica is what is most important to you, the FinePix Z33WP can be tossed in with your gear.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1
The 12MP, 28-128mm equivalent Lumix DMC-TS1 is waterproof to 3m (10ft). It is rated for the best battery life in the group (340 shots), has image stabilization, reasonably handles higher ISO settings, and generally takes some of the best pictures in the group.
Pentax Optio W60
Pentax's Optio W line has been the standard bearer of waterproof cameras. The W60 has the largest zoom range of the muster, 28-140mm (equiv, 5x). The Optio W60 is good if you can keep the ISO setting low, at higher levels you might be better off hoping for a steady hand (image stabilization, alas, is not present). If you plan on taking the camera deeper than 3m, you should look elsewhere.
Olympus Stylus Tough 8000
The Olympus Stylus Tough line is designed to handle any environment: "extreme" temperature (for most consumer-market users), reasonable drops, and obviously—water (to 10m/33ft). The Stylus Tough 8000 has image stabilization, which is a plus, but its 12MP sensor produces only mediocre images.
Ricoh Caplio 500SE/500G
The Ricoh Caplio 500G is an odd-man out of this list. Firstly, because it was released three years ago; secondly because, unlike the other cameras in this lineup, this one is not an ultracompact. It is bulker, heavier, and can shoot uncompressed TIFFs. We include not only for completeness, but because the 2007 update, the Caplio 500SE, also includes support for a Bluetooth GPS receiver which is a distinctive feature in this line-up.