William Thompson took the first underwater photo, in the mid-19th century, with a traditional camera he had waterproofed.
The digital camera was developed in the late 20th century. Instead of capturing images on film, these cameras capture the image digitally, saving the information onto a memory card. Waterproof digital cameras allow photographers to take pictures underwater.
Depth Rating
When comparing waterproof digital cameras, one major factor is their depth rating. This is the maximum depth at which the camera can operate without being damaged. The Canon PowerShot D10 is rated to a depth of 33 feet, suitable for snorkeling and shallow dives; however, the Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP is only rated to 10 feet, making it only suitable for snorkeling, swimming or above water activities where there's a concern the camera may get wet.
Resolution and Zoom
The resolution a camera offers determines the quality of the print, at a certain print size. The zoom feature allows the photographer to get close shots without having to get up close and personal with a subject. The Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 offers a 12MP camera with a 3.6x zoom. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 offers a similar resolution, but with a 4.6x zoom.
Price
Pricing for waterproof digital cameras varies greatly. Shallow rated cameras, such as the Fujifilm, can be found for less than $200. Those rated for deeper depths, with higher resolution and greater zoom capabilities, can be more than $500.
Tags: digital cameras, suitable snorkeling, waterproof digital, with zoom