Best Underwater Camera Please??

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

Former Member — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:34:31 GMT

One nice feature on the Playsport camera is a 60 frames/sec 720p mode which I find useful for seeing movement in more detail.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

orca1946 — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:57:32 GMT

Along with a good camera, you need someone that knows what to shoot & how to manage light. Too long of a film & you lose track of who you are looking at. Shoot one swimmers at a time then pause or use name cards to identify each swimmer.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

knelson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:43:27 GMT

I have the TS2 and absolutely hate the user interface. Want to buy a used one cheap? I just want to turn it on and zoom in and out with non of all those other buttons. I think something like the Kodak Playsport might be better for you. For my purposes I'll probably take photos much more than I'll shoot video and I have lots of experience with the interface on Panasonic cameras. Not sure on buying your used TS2. I have a feeling I'll be able to get a brand new TS2 for pretty cheap once the TS3 goes on sale!

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

swimflyfast — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:30:26 GMT

Resurrecting this thread because I see Panasonic has announced the successor to the TS2: panasonic.net/.../index.html I was considering buying a Kodak Playsport video camera, but decided a still camera would probably be a better choice since it can do both images and video. Also the Playsport is waterproof to only 3 meters whereas cameras such as the TS2 are waterproof down to 10 meters. I have the TS2 and absolutely hate the user interface. Want to buy a used one cheap? I just want to turn it on and zoom in and out with non of all those other buttons. What are you doing with the video after you shoot? How about some good ideas on how to take the best video. I am struggling. Do I need a swim scope to attach this too? Best practices anyone?

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

knelson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:18:52 GMT

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

gdanner — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:33:17 GMT

Purpose: To video swimmers underwater for instruction. I have purchased a Panasonic DMC tS2 That's a Lumix model, right? I have two friends that like their Lumix TS1's, but if you don't like the button layout, I'm guessing you'd want a different brand.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

Former Member — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:36:29 GMT

I have two underwater cameras, and I don't think it matters which camera you buy these days. It needs to be easy to use as far as buttons go and easy to get the video off the camera for you to later review. The quality of video a camera shoots is kinda meaningless in a pool unless you have pristine water and great lighting. Visibility underwater is surprisingly limited when it comes to analysis. I would say 10M max in the pool that I regularly film at for the person being filmed to be clear enough for analysis. Above water, it is probably more like 100M. I would also go for cheap since the camera is going to be sitting poolside, the odds of it being lost, stolen or broken are much higher than a normal camera. My cameras, which I think have about 5 versions released since I bought them, are the Pentax W30 and the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2. I have posted a few videos of my swims on the forums taken with the Sanyo both above and below water.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

Former Member — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:15:17 GMT

So...the Kodak worked well. My 7 year old was able to use it to record her sister and me. Now I can see exactly how terrible my streamline is.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

Former Member — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:27:29 GMT

I plan to test out a camera today. It's the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 Waterproof up to 10 ft. (3 m) Full 1080p HD video Electronic image stabilization Brilliant 2.0 in. color display Capture 5 megapixel HD stills (16:9) It has a lanyard/clip so I (or my daughter) won't drop it. I got it for about $150 at the PX (so there was no tax).

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

Former Member — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:41:28 GMT

After seeing my stroke pattern underwater, I can report that "what I think I am doing with my pull pattern" is NOT at all what is being shown in the video. It's a miracle that I can swim at all! From Philipp's times I know he is a top-level swimmer. It is strangely comforting to me to read his comment. I am a bottom-percentile swimmer and I have always been amazed at how different my stroke looks compared to what I think I am doing. I didn't realize that the same thing could happen to a really good swimmer! And, just for Philipp, :banana::hug::Lurking::bliss:

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

Former Member — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:06:50 GMT

We use the Pentax Optio W80. It works great, and allows you to shoot at a relatively high frames/second rate. It was on sale recently at Amazon for $142, probably because the only color they had was black and orange. Amazon.com: Pentax Optio WS80 10MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Internal Optical Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Black and Orange): Gateway

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

swimflyfast — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:52:18 GMT

Finally, I've been thinking about buying a more sophisticated underwater camera (Panasonic Lumix (?)). It's much more expensive than the flip but it seems to have more capabilities. --------------------------------------------- I'm not liking the panasonic lumix T52. They try to do too much. I just want video quick. I have pro cameras to do all the rest. I would not recommend the T52. just trying to figure out how to play back a simple video is a hassle each time. charlie

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

pdjang — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:33:52 GMT

I bought one of the first versions of a flip with the underwater container and the multi-leg mount thingie (a technical term) several years ago. I've used to film fellow swimmers above and below the water. There is a slick USB port on the camera that pops up when you are ready to transfer your videos to a computer (no searching for cables). And it will install some very, very easy to use software on your computer so that you can 1)edit the videos (add music!) and 2)organize a library (very important as you can easily get overwhelmed with digital junk). After seeing my stroke pattern underwater, I can report that "what I think I am doing with my pull pattern" is NOT at all what is being shown in the video. It's a miracle that I can swim at all! The swimmers that I coach usually have the same reaction when they see them selves swimming: "I can't believe that my arms doing that". And the library thing again: it's really easy to do a before and after comparison with the videos so a swimmer can see real change. Finally, I've been thinking about buying a more sophisticated underwater camera (Panasonic Lumix (?)). It's much more expensive than the flip but it seems to have more capabilities. Good luck with whatever you go with - and I think you will be shocked to see your stoke pattern underwater. And the flip is really great for shooting quick little videos of your loved ones doing silly stuff. :bouncing: And BTW I hate these stupid little emoticons.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

ande — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:49:57 GMT

here's a SFF on them Underwater Cameras

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

FridayGrrl — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:42:41 GMT

We have been using the Flip Video HD (about $150) with the additional housing (about $40) with great success. If you have seen the product testing videos-- they are shot exclusively with this setup. (There is one on the front page currently) We have also used it to film our swimmers both on and under the water with great success. Not sure about the polarizing thing, and I have not dropped it yet, but the housing appears pretty rugged. Good luck with your search.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

knelson — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:55:28 GMT

I was looking into underwater cameras recently and the Canon D10 seems to get good reviews. It doesn't do HD video, though.

RE: Best Underwater Camera Please??

ViveBene — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:32:38 GMT

I want one for mountains that stand still. When I'm in the middle of those fabulous 30-mile lakes out West. The montane West is preternaturally quiet on this board, but I'm on to you! :banana: