From the course: Photo Gear Weekly

Waterproof cameras

From the course: Photo Gear Weekly

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Waterproof cameras

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- Photography in or near the water can be a great deal of fun, but it can also be a little bit nerve-racking when it comes to putting your camera gear in or near the water. Obviously, not all cameras can handle the water all that well. I've previously talked about an underwater bag that's available for digital SLRs, and that actually works nice. I've used this for snorkeling trips, for example, where I'm able to go underwater with my SLR and capture some interesting photos. I've also used waterproof housings or bags for a smartphone, which might feel a little bit risky in some cases, but it does make it possible to capture underwater images. But I think it might be most convenient of all if you can take advantage of a camera that is underwater-capable, that is waterproof all by itself without any special equipment. And I have just such a camera here. This happens to be the Nikon COOLPIX W100, a basic entry-level but waterproof camera, and it is good up to about 10 meters, so 30 feet or so underwater for up to an hour if you're so inclined. So I thought I would put this camera to the test. So I've got a bowl of water here, and I have to tell you, this camera has just arrived. I have not used it in actual underwater conditions yet. The camera is turned on, and I'm going to put it in the dunk tank here to see if it survives. And thank goodness, yes, it actually is still on. I can capture images right underwater. I'll go ahead and capture a photo of the bottom of the bowl here, for example. A camera that is waterproof with no special accessories, and that can make it a lot more convenient and in theory, at least, a little bit less nerve-racking when you're going to be photographing in or near the water.

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