Two Waterproof Ultra-Compact Cameras Splash Off
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Digital Cameras | Travel Gadgets | 5 Comments
Life can be rough if you’re a digital camera. Especially if you are an ultra-compact that gets totted along to the beach and on ski trips, slung into purses, thrown into bags, stuffed into pockets and/or treated less-than-gently by young children.
We recently previewed the Canon PowerShot D10. Since then Olympus launched it’s Stylus Tough-8000. Both digital point-and-shoots are waterproof, compact and capable of taking a beating. But which of these two excellent models are best for you?
That question can be quite the dilemma for water-bound point-and-shoot photographers. The PowerShot D10 and the Stylus Tough-8000 are similar in many regards, including price, megapixels and battery life. Here’s an overview of some of the similarities—and differences:
✔ = slightly better, ✔✔ = somewhat better, ✔✔✔ = much better
So what does that all mean?
There are lots of ways to parse the data in that chart but for Spot Cool Stuff our advice comes down to this:
If you are looking to buy a waterproof ultra-compact as your only/primary digital camera then the
Canon PowerShot D10 is the clear choice. The image quality compared to the Tough-8000, especially in high ISO (eg. low light) situations, makes it too good to pass up. And if you shot a lot of video the D10 is the runaway winner. (The audio quality when shooting video—even underwater!—is amazingly good for a camera of this size and price).
That said, there are at least two circumstances we would recommend the Olympus Style Tough-8000 over the D10: 1) If you primarily use another camera but are looking for a complimentary ultra-compact to take with you while kayaking, skiing, beach trips and the like—the Style Tough-8000 the smaller, slighter, more durable and has a greater zoom. 2) If you have children who might be using this camera—the Tough-8000 is not only easier to use (and has a larger screen) but it is unlikely your little ones will be able to harm this rock-of-a-camera even if they tried.
Whichever you choose, bring on the sand, the cold, the water and the knocks—these cool ultra-compact cameras can take it!
THE OLYMPUS STYLE TOUGH-8000:
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THE CANON POWERSHOT D10:
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OLYMPUS STYLE TOUGH-8000 | CANON POWERSHOT D10 | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
June 14th, 2009at 11:43 am(#)
The waterproof digital camera market these days is very competitive. Many people are finding the best tough camera with a reasonable price. This review would be really helpful.
July 6th, 2009at 2:27 pm(#)
I bought the Tough-8000…. but owning a Canon S2 IS and An S5 IS as well, I’ve been sad since I bought the Tough… the picture quality is… wait a minute… what quality? that thing’s images are crap… it cannot even operate indoors on 200 ISO with flash… the photo’s are stupid… and talk about the autofocus… most images come out blurry… and when you think of all the time it took to get a lock on the target!
I’m used to canon’s crisp images… the tough may look better but you shouldn’t care about the look… I thought I could leave my big S5 behind and go to parties with my Tough… but no… coz the tough is simply not worth it…
I only use it for snorkelling… I bought it because olympus has a case that can have it dive deeper than 10 m… coz I’m planning to go diving soon… the canon would not be able to make it beyond 10 meters…
But I do regret the quality…
Planning to sell it and get one of those compact canons with digic 4 and underwater casing…
bottom line… don’t go for the tough!
–Reuben
July 29th, 2009at 7:29 am(#)
Thanks Reuben, they are really battling out of my mind(D10 vs Tough 8000). But i guess by going through a lot of reviews, and with your comment in addition, gives me a whole lot of idea on which of the two P&S camera will I buy. I think I’ll go now with Canon D10.
Thanks Again!
August 18th, 2009at 12:52 pm(#)
I think Olympus must be better when taking underwater videos because of the autofocus. Am I right?
December 5th, 2009at 10:24 am(#)
i bought the canon powershot d10.. its all worth it..