Snorkeling: I have an opportunity coming up to do some snorkeling and was wanting a small point and shoot waterproof camera to take along. I have looked ay the Ricoh WG-7 that runs...

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I have an opportunity coming up to do some snorkeling and was wanting a small point and shoot waterproof camera to take along. I have looked ay the Ricoh WG-7 that runs around $250.
Does anyone have any recommendations on the Ricoh or any other P&S that will work for underwater shots?
Are P&S cameras capable of decent underwater shots?
Hopefully, it will be in full sun so that helps.

DavidM Loc: New Orleans, LA

Checkout the Olympus TG6 at the link below...

https://www.getolympus.com/us/en/tough-tg-6.html

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

The WG series cameras work fairly well in shallow water. A better though a little more expensive is the Olympus TG-6. It allows you to shoot RAW and is a tougher build.

With either camera or the similar offerings from Nikon it’s important to get as close as possible to your subject.

Hugh

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

tradio wrote:

I have an opportunity coming up to do some snorkeling and was wanting a small point and shoot waterproof camera to take along. I have looked ay the Ricoh WG-7 that runs around $250.
Does anyone have any recommendations on the Ricoh or any other P&S that will work for underwater shots?
Are P&S cameras capable of decent underwater shots?
Hopefully, it will be in full sun so that helps.

I will be very interested in seeing your results with whichever camera you choose. The Ricoh has an underwater mode that helps with the loss of reds as you get under water - perhaps they both have that. They both have flashes, although probably fairly weak for underwater. I vacationed on Grand Cayman Island about 25 years ago - there was a photographer there who rented out a Nikonos unit with flashes for a very reasonable amount (it came with a 36-exposure roll of Ektachrome and the rules were that you couldn't open the camera to replace with new film - she really didn't want salt water inside!). It was great to be able to get some nice photos of the beautiful corals and fish seen while snorkeling!

Bolthead Loc: PA

I bought a Fuji XP point n shoot a few yrs back, for the exact same reason.....snorkleing in Cozumel. This camera worked great. Sadly I lost those photos, but I do have some from in my pool to show you.

(Download)

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Bolthead wrote:

I bought a Fuji XP point n shoot a few yrs back, for the exact same reason.....snorkleing in Cozumel. This camera worked great. Sadly I lost those photos, but I do have some from in my pool to show you.

Thanks for the images. They turned out nice- sorry about the Cozumel images.
I ordered a Olympus TG-6 from Walmart that had it listed for $409.00

Phil327 Loc: South Florida

I have been using an Olympus TG-5 for a few years. Great camera in the water or on land. Get a floating camera strap to attach to the camera. I also use a tether so I can let go of the camera to swim. One thing I have learned while snorkeling in shallow water. Or with a lot of people in the same area. There will be a lot of sand in the water and the pictures will not come out all that clear ( turbidity ) Best pictures will be in deeper water with fewer swimmers nearby. Also I put a sports finder on the camera - the screen on the camera is sometimes difficult to see in the water.

Opusx300

tradio wrote:

Thanks for the images. They turned out nice- sorry about the Cozumel images.
I ordered a Olympus TG-6 from Walmart that had it listed for $409.00

I bought the TG-6 a few years ago and have used many times when snorkeling. I am more than happy with the results and don’t think you will be dissatisfied. Enjoy your trip.

V2volk Loc: St. Louis area

DavidM wrote:

Checkout the Olympus TG6 at the link below...

https://www.getolympus.com/us/en/tough-tg-6.html

In my opinion and I have used many, Olympus hands down! Spend the extra and get a decent camera. I had an old Cannon that was decent but they don’t make them anymore.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

tradio wrote:

Thanks for the images. They turned out nice- sorry about the Cozumel images.
I ordered a Olympus TG-6 from Walmart that had it listed for $409.00

Good choice. Much better IQ than the Fuji.

Abo

Bolthead wrote:

I bought a Fuji XP point n shoot a few yrs back, for the exact same reason.....snorkleing in Cozumel. This camera worked great. Sadly I lost those photos, but I do have some from in my pool to show you.

The boy looks a bit blue mate. Try moving the white balance slider a bit to the right

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

tradio wrote:

I have an opportunity coming up to do some snorkeling and was wanting a small point and shoot waterproof camera to take along. I have looked ay the Ricoh WG-7 that runs around $250.
Does anyone have any recommendations on the Ricoh or any other P&S that will work for underwater shots?
Are P&S cameras capable of decent underwater shots?
Hopefully, it will be in full sun so that helps.

Do some research about underwater photography before you go. Backscatter from flash ruins every flash shot in the ocean. Some people use waterproof bags, look at B&H, for their terrestrial P&S or cell phone. Much cheaper for a one off event.

Hip Coyote

tradio wrote:

I have an opportunity coming up to do some snorkeling and was wanting a small point and shoot waterproof camera to take along. I have looked ay the Ricoh WG-7 that runs around $250.
Does anyone have any recommendations on the Ricoh or any other P&S that will work for underwater shots?
Are P&S cameras capable of decent underwater shots?
Hopefully, it will be in full sun so that helps.

I have the Fuji for when I go into the water. It works just fine. But, as an Oly shooter for all my other stuff I’d get the Tough. It has some of the really cool features that Oly out into its m43 cameras. That would be my first
Choice.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Hip Coyote wrote:

I have the Fuji for when I go into the water. It works just fine. But, as an Oly shooter for all my other stuff I’d get the Tough. It has some of the really cool features that Oly out into its m43 cameras. That would be my first
Choice.

Have you tried the 11X close-up yet. Absolutely amazing. We use it at my work to record incoming boards and small defects on small electronic components. Does better than our $1K+ cameras even with cropping.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

just a point to consider: be sure to have a good wrist strap on the camera and use it. A friend used his point and shoot and didn't have it attached to his person. He dropped it in very, very deep water and never recovered it.