4.8
2011 Waterproof Camera Specifications Compared
Outdoor enthusiasts are faced with many options when deciding which waterproof cameras are worth their investment. Here is some information to help you compare the details and specifications of the most popular rugged cameras in 2011. I hope it’ll help you determine which might one be useful in your situation.
Compare Price & Robustness
If you need to go deeper than 40 feet, get an underwater casing or a dedicated underwater camera like one made by Sealife
Price & Robustness Table
| Retail Price | Waterproof (ft) | Shockproof (ft) | Freezeproof ? | Crushproof ? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic TS3 | $399 | 40 | 6.6 | yes | no |
| Sony TX10 | $330 | 16 | 5 | yes | no |
| Pentax WG -1 GS | $399 | 32.8 | 4.9 | yes | yes, 100kg@220lbs |
| Olympus TG 810 | $399 | 32.8 | 6.6 | yes | yes, 100kg@220lbs |
| Olympus TG 805 | info n/a | 32.8 | 6.6 | yes | yes, 100kg@220lbs |
| Olympus TG 610 | $299 | 16 | 5 | yes | no |
| Olympus TG 310 | $199 | 10 | 5 | yes | no |
| Fuji XP30 | $239 | 16.4 | 4.9 | yes | no |
| Kodak Easyshare Sport | $79 | 10 | no | no | no |
Compare Shooting Specifications
The number of shots is standardized by CIPA, a Japanese Camera & Imaging Association
For models with GPS, number of pictures shot per charge is tested with the GPS turned off. Number of shots you can take is lower than rated when shooting in cold temperature.
Shooting Specification Table
| Focal Length (35 mm eq) | Resolution (Megapixel) | Optical Zoom (X) | LCD Size (inch) | HD Video ? | Max pictures percharge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic TS3 | 28 - 128 | 12.1 | 4.6 | 2.7 | yes | 310 |
| Sony TX10 | 25 - 100 | 16.2 | 4 | 3 | yes | 250 |
| Pentax WG -1 GS | 28 - 140 | 14 | 5 | 2.7 | yes | 260 |
| Olympus TG 810 | 28 - 140 | 14 | 5 | 3 | yes | 220 |
| Olympus TG 805 | 28 - 140 | 14 | 5 | 3 | yes | info n/a |
| Olympus TG 610 | 28 - 140 | 14 | 5 | 3 | yes | 210 |
| Olympus TG 310 | 28 - 102 | 14 | 3.6 | 2.7 | yes | 150 |
| Fuji XP30 | 28 - 140 | 14.2 | 5 | 2.7 | no | 200 |
| Kodak Easyshare Sport | fixed 35mm | 12 | none | 2.4 | no | 250 |
Compare Additional Features
Here are some advice when comparing the features below.
A camera with lens cover could save the glass from scratch. But fine sand and salt could get trapped, rendering your camera unusable. When cleaning your camera after a trip, be sure to turn your camera on and off and press all the buttons to release trapped particles.
An optical stabilizer is very useful when shooting in unsteady conditions (during kayaking) or when you must shoot using one hand (while dangling off a cliff).
Cameras with an internal battery charger could help reduce accessories you need to pack. But you can’t charge your backup battery in your room during your shooting trip. If you need one, the external charger is usually sold separately.
Useful Features Table
| Internal Memory(mb) | Touchscreen ? | Optical Stabilizer ? | Battery Charger | No of Built in scenes | Lens Cover ? | GPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic TS3 | 19 | no | yes | External | 26 | no | yes |
| Sony TX10 | 19 | yes | yes | In Camera | 16 | yes | no |
| Pentax WG -1 GS | 97 | no | no | External | 24 | no | yes |
| Olympus TG 810 | 19.5 | no | yes | In Camera | 36 | yes | yes |
| Olympus TG 805 | info n/a | no | yes | In Camera | 36 | yes | no |
| Olympus TG 610 | none | no | yes | In Camera | 21 | yes | no |
| Olympus TG 310 | 19.5 | no | yes | In Camera | 17 | yes | no |
| Fuji XP30 | 10 | no | yes | External | 20 | no | yes |
| Kodak Easyshare Sport | 32 | no | no | External. Uses AA | 9 | no | no |
Weight, Dimension, Memory
Since last year, Olympus has decided to support the SD card instead of it’s proprietary xD memory in all it’s waterproof cameras. This makes Olympus memory capacity to be equivalent to it’s rivals.
In term of weight to size ratio, Sony is small but feels solid in your hand while the Pentax may feel too light for a rugged camera.
| Weight | Dimension (W x H x D) | Memory Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic TS3 | 197 | 104 x 64 x 27 | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
| Sony TX10 | 133 | 96 x 56 x 18 | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/ Memory Stick PRO Duo |
| Pentax WG -1 GS | 150 | 114 x 59 x 28 | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Olympus TG 810 | 221 | 100 x 65 x 26 | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Olympus TG 805 | info n/a | 100 x 65 x 26 | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Olympus TG 610 | 190 | 100 x 65 x 26 | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Olympus TG 310 | 155 | 96 x 63 x 23 | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Fuji XP30 | 165 | 99 x 68 x 24 | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
| Kodak Easyshare Sport | 174 | 92.2 x 66.6 x 28.4 | SD, SDHC |
* Olympus TG 805 may not be available in your country.
Battery life would be an interesting comparison.
You can check the battery life at the Shooting Specification Table. The CIPA rated battery life is on the last column.
Why you don´t put the Olympus TG 810 in 1 place?
Really you think the Panasonic TS3 is the best one?
some of these cameras have the manual shooting option? like speed, asa, light, etc.?
Edgar, the cameras are put in random order.
Apart from standard config like like the ISO, these cameras do not have many manual settings for you to play with.
Ok i see, i have a older cannon digital ixus 500 (europmodel) its great camera it is small it work automatic but you can chose to use it in manual mode whit a lot of manual functions, i dont understand why the recent models dont have that option
i think in these comparition the olympus its the good one, the sony TX10 its great but if the touch screen dont work u dont have camera and panasonic TS3 and the olympus TG810 i feel its better the olympus
I have heard from someone who has an Olympus that hers has a very slow setup and recycle time. She feels she misses alot of shots due to it. Could you compare recycle times for these cameras. I am leaning toward the Panasonic TS3. Thanks and I feel that your website was the mots healpful in comparing products. Dee
Just wondering if someone could help out with a complete beginner question… I’m currently deciding between the Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS and the Panasonic TS3… My question is, is there going to be a noticeable difference between 14 & 12.1 megapixels for everyday use? I understand if I’m enlarging them, it may be (although, again, how “large” before there’s a noticeable difference?). Any suggestions would be appreciated,
Thanks.
What is the video and audio capability and quality of these cameras?
Panasonic leads in term of video quality. But the audio capability of these cameras are nothing to discuss about. Getting good audio from a camera designed to be shielded from water and other elements is not an easy task.
When will you have a review that compares photo quality? For me, this is the most important factor in deciding which camera to buy and I can’t find any reviews that compare the different cameras photo quality. I also am interested in shutter lag and I can’t find any comments on this either.
I brought a pentax W90 and 2 times send to warranty because the water came in… good pictures but i cant wait another half year to have my cam back and it will be the same problem again?