4.8
Tough 8000 vs Canon D10
The Canon D10 and Tough 8000 shares the same 33 feet underwater rating.
For years, the waterproof camera niche is an Olympus territory – and people cling to the brand even when it’s cameras had some flaws, most noticeably, soft pictures. So when Canon comes out with a waterproof camera that could produce pictures worth printing, Olympus was taken aback.
In term of picture quality, not a single Olympus waterproof cameras produced before 2010 can outclass the Canon D10. Not even the shiny, crushproof Tough 8000.
Yes, Canon D10 may not be the sexiest camera. And the odd bulging body won’t fit in your pocket. But the pictures are sharp. And the big buttons are easier to use underwater.
On the other hand, the metal clad Tough 8000 may look more masculine. But apart from the built quality and a few interesting functions (like the tap mode), it’s not a worthy rival to the Canon.
Our verdict? Go for the Canon D10.
| Feature | Winner | Our review |
|---|---|---|
| Picture Quality | Canon D10 | Canon's 12.1 MP waterproof camera produces sharper, more vivid pictures than the Olympus. And the stabilizer works better than Olympus's. Canon pictures | Olympus pictures |
| Video Quality | Canon D10 (slightly) | Both have unappealing VGA pictures. But Olympus Tough limits your video for merely 10 seconds if you use the Standard or Type M xD memory cards. So, Canon is a simple winner. |
| Ease of Use | Canon D10 | It's hard to beat Canon in term of usability. It has an easy to understand menu, big buttons and a smart Auto mode. The menu in the Olympus is also easy to use. But the useful tap function and the pop-up help sometimes interrupt your shooting. And while Olympus has a 4ft long camera charger, Canon packs a cordless one that is easier to pack. |
| Built Q | Olympus Tough 8000 | Olympus Tough looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger during his stint as a bodybuilder. It also has a sliding lens cover to protect the lens glass – a very rare feature in a waterproof camera. Canon's D10 standard casing and uncovered lens cover is no match for this beast. |
| Toughness | A draw | While the Tough 8000 is well-equipped to handle rough use on land, there have been reports of it's lackluster performance underwater. On the other hand, D10 seems tougher underwater, even when push beyond the 33 ft limit. |
| Shooting Ability | Olympus (slightly) | Olympus has a wideangle lens as well as slightly higher zoom and larger LCD. And it also have a tap function to help you use the camera by tapping the body instead of the tiny buttons -- handy when it's impractical to pull your gloves off. Unfortunately, the choice of xD memory card (or the optional microSD) to store your pictures or videos is a big minus. |
Why are you comparing last year’s Tough models? I want to know how the new cameras (6020 & 8010) stack up.
Hi Tina,
Unfortunately we still haven’t got the Olympus Tough 8010 and 6010 for review.
As soon as we get them, you’ll find it here.
Do you have the 8010 to compare picture
quality yet?
Thank-you