Underwater camera review 2023
When the next holiday is coming up, the digital camera should of course not be missing in your luggage. If you are not only on land but also under water during your vacation, you should think about buying an additional underwater camera. Many models are already available on the market at comparatively low prices, but still allow you to take impressive underwater pictures. What you should definitely consider when buying an underwater camera, we will tell you in our guide article below.
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What is an underwater camera?
An underwater camera is a specialized digital camera designed for use below the surface of the water. If you use a conventional digital camera under water, it is usually defective after use because the water that has penetrated destroys the sensitive technology inside the camera. An underwater camera, on the other hand, is optimally protected against penetrating water and can therefore also be used several meters below the sea surface - in this way impressive pictures of schools of fish or corals can be taken on holiday, which you can then proudly present to your friends.
Back on solid ground, you can use it to create beautiful snapshots on land, so you don't necessarily have to carry two different cameras with you.
Different types of underwater cameras
If you look around in specialist shops or in well-known online shops, you will quickly come across different models that not only differ greatly in terms of design, but also in terms of their purchase price.
When it comes to the design, you quickly realize that the developers mainly use colored housings that clearly emphasize the fun factor when taking underwater photos. Professional photographers in particular therefore describe underwater cameras more as a gimmick than as a high-quality camera. Some well-known manufacturers such as Rollei or GoPro have now noticed this, and they deliberately opt for classic black housings and thus a serious touch for their in-house models. With regard to their availability and price, however, the colorful underwater cameras are ahead: They are often available for well under 100 euros and are therefore primarily aimed at young people who want to have fun on vacation.
How expensive a good underwater camera can be depends on the needs of its buyer: Anyone who only flies on vacation once a year is usually well served with an inexpensive model - especially if trips to the sea are rarely on the agenda anyway. However, if you take a detour under the water surface more often or even regularly, you should definitely consider whether a more expensive model might not be the better choice - because the more expensive an underwater camera is, the higher quality its equipment is usually. This primarily affects the image quality of the cameras, which we will go into more detail about in a moment.
So-called disposable underwater cameras, which are offered by Kodak, for example, seem almost like a relic from the good old days. This is a compact camera that is completely waterproof and can take pictures while diving and snorkeling with an inserted film - this must then be developed. However, such a camera can only take around 25 pictures before the film is full. The camera can then no longer be used and must be disposed of. Although such disposable underwater cameras are particularly inexpensive with a purchase price of only around 15 to 20 euros, they cause unnecessary plastic waste. It is therefore better to invest a few euros more in a conventional underwater camera, which can be used again and again if necessary and also enables digital evaluation of the pictures taken.
What should you consider when buying an underwater camera?
There are several important criteria that you should definitely consider when looking for a suitable underwater camera. Ideally, use our checklist below as a guide.
picture quality
The image quality of an underwater camera, just like that of a conventional digital camera, can be recognized by the number of megapixels specified by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, it is not that easy to derive good image quality from this number alone, because real photographers know that many other criteria also play a role.
You should not be prepared for outstanding results, especially with inexpensive models below 100 euros, since good image sensors start in significantly higher price ranges. In addition, some manufacturers cheat with the specified number of megapixels, since this is often only a so-called interpolated resolution. To put it simply, this means that you can take better pictures with a 10 megapixel camera than with a 30 megapixel camera - unfortunately, as a layman, you can hardly see through this complex topic.
It's best to stay away from underwater cameras with impressive-sounding claims like "48 megapixels" at prices that seem too good to be true. With a camera that has 10 or 12 true megapixels, you are usually already well equipped to take high-quality underwater photos.
water resistance
Underwater cameras often have significant differences in their water resistance. If you only want to take pictures underwater in the pool, a low water resistance of 5 meters is usually absolutely sufficient. However, if you want to dive into the sea and document the flora and fauna present there, you should definitely choose a model that has a water resistance of between 10 and 25 meters.
display size
Inexpensive underwater cameras in particular are often only equipped with a very small display, since the manufacturers save money in this way. Under water, however, the largest possible display is definitely preferable: unlike on land, you cannot see perfectly under water - especially since you also have diving goggles on your nose. So that the pictures taken do not turn into a surprise task, it is worth using an underwater camera with a clearly visible display on which you can also easily see smaller details. However, don't just make sure that the display is as large as possible, but also the size of the buttons, which of course shouldn't be too tiny either - otherwise operation under water will prove to be unnecessarily complicated.
image stabilizer
Even on solid ground, it's not always easy to hold a camera steady while taking pictures. Perhaps you can already imagine how difficult this task is under water, because here the photographer is always on the move. It is therefore immensely important that your future underwater camera has a built-in image stabilizer that compensates for small movements and still ensures a successful image.
video function
If you not only want to take pictures underwater, but also videos, you should definitely make sure that your future underwater camera also has a video function - because this is by no means the case with all models. In the meantime, however, many manufacturers have significantly upgraded and even offer an integrated video function for entry-level devices. However, in order for the recorded films to look as appealing as possible, the camera should have at least Full HD resolution, which ensures razor-sharp clips.
Zoom function
Almost all common underwater cameras are equipped with a zoom function, so that objects that are far away can also be “pushed in” and captured as an image or video. But beware: It makes an important difference whether the existing zoom function is optical or digital. Only optical zoom allows lossless zooming that does not affect the quality of image or video. The digital zoom, on the other hand, degrades the image quality with each individual zoom operation, so it is not recommended. If your favorite underwater camera only has a digital zoom, it is best to ignore it completely and instead – if possible – simply swim a little closer to the object to be filmed.
Automatic auto focus and white balance
If you attach great importance to flawless images, you should pay attention to an integrated autofocus and automatic white balance when buying an underwater camera. The automatic autofocus automatically focuses on a targeted object, which of course proves to be particularly advantageous for fish and other sea creatures. The automatic white balance, on the other hand, ensures that the colors are automatically adjusted, which is extremely important in the constantly changing lighting conditions under water. The result of both components in combination are sharp photos with significantly fewer color casts and perfect colors.
And finally ...
Underwater cameras are a good investment to take beautiful pictures underwater while on vacation. So that you can enjoy your new camera as much as possible, it should have sufficient water resistance and a resolution of at least 10 megapixels - the camera should also have a video function, image stabilization and an optical zoom, as well as automatic autofocus and white balance.
Make sure that your underwater camera comes with a hand strap or at least allows you to attach one. This way you always have the camera with you safely during a diving trip and don't have to worry that it accidentally makes acquaintance with the seabed.
