Staying dry in the wet
Capture your shots of the flooding with a waterproof camera
The sheer volume of photos posted on social network sites is proof that just about everyone wants to capture the great flood in images. Many of them are taken with phones but as the water continues to rise, you might to seriously consider investing in a waterproof camera.
We’re not suggesting that you sink your waterproof camera into the filthy floodwater but should you slip or fall into a hole, at least the camera will be safe.
Beside, these waterproof cameras will be useful when you head to the sea or if the day comes when you can face a waterpark! You’ll also have fun using them during the next Songkran festival.
Here’s a roundup of the waterproof cameras available on the market going from the lowest priced to the highest.
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 is the most affordable with a retail price of just Bt4,990. It is waterproof up to 5 metres-depth and can survive a 1.5-metre fall. It can also withstand freezing temperatures of up to -10 Celsius.
The XP20 offers 14 megapixel resolution and 5x optical zoom. It also comes with 28-mm wide-angle lens and 2.7-inch LCD screen.
Olympus Tough TG-310 used to retail for about Bt7,990 but these days IT City and Banana IT stores are selling it at Bt5,990, making it very interesting choice.
The TG-310 is waterproof to a depth of 3 metres, shockproof against falls from as high as 1.5 metres, and freezeproof to -10 C degree. It also features DUAL IS (image stabilising technology) 14 megapixel resolution, a 28mm wide-angle lens with 3.6x optical zoom and 2.7-inch screen.
For me, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 is a very good buy. Costing more than Bt10,000 when it was first introduced, it’s now available at Banana IT for Bt7,990, down from its regular price of Bt9,990.
I’ve got a chance to try the TX5 and was impressed by its shot quality. The TX5 features 10.2 megapixel resolution and 4x optical zoom with 25mm wide-angle lens. And it has 3-inch LCD screen.
The TX5 can be used up to 3 metres under water and withstand a fall of 1.5 metres. It likes the cold too up to -10 C.
Ricoh PX is a new kid in the waterproof camera circle. It retails for only Bt8,990 and features very high resolution of 16 megapixel resolution, has a 28mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD display.
Ricoh PX is waterproof up to 3-metre depth and can survive a fall of 1.5 metres but it’s not designed to be used in the cold.
Sony Cyber-shot TX10 has been released to replace the TX5. It now retails at Big Camera for about Bt10,990. It features 16.2 megapixel resolution and it comes with 3-inch touch screen. It has 25mm lens with 4x optical zoom.
It’s dustproof, waterproof up to depths of 5m, shockproof against a drop of up to 1.5 meters, and freezeproof down to -10 degrees C.
I tried it once and was impressed by its shot quality.
Nikon has joined the waterproof camera bandwagon with its newly released Nikon AW100, which retails for Bt12,990.
It features 16 megapixel resolution with 28mm lens and 5x optical zoom. It has 3-inch monitor and is equipped with GPS and electronic compass for geo-tagging photos.
AW100 can be used under water at the depth of 10 metres for up to 60 minutes. And it can be used in temperature of -10 C degree.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3/FT3 is a weatherproof compact camera with a built-in GPS function, a compass, altimeter and barometer. It is dustproof, waterproof up to depths of 12 metres, shockproof against a drop of up to 2 metres, and freezeproof down to –10C.
It features 12.1 megapixel resolution and 28mm wide-angle lens with 4.6x optical zoom and comes with 2.7-inch LCD screen. The TS3 retails for Bt14,900.
