Improvements in quality of waterproof / shockproof cameras in the last year?

[Train Wreck]

Please bear with me. I realize there is related information already in the forum, but some of the info here is 2+ years old and technology continues to evolve. I'm wondering if there are any absolute, stand-out choices for 2012 if you're considering getting one of the adventure cameras that are shockproof, waterproof, etc.I like Olympus point & shoot cameras in general, and have had several (one of which I broke recently). So now I need to get another camera and was considering upgrading to a more rugged type. I'm more interested in photo quality, durability, macro capability, and at least a 5x zoom. I'm interested in the waterproof feature because I would use it mostly for rainy type situations, not swimming or diving. I have read some negative reviews of the Olympus Tough series. The overriding complaint seems to be poor photo quality with Olympus. This surprises me because I got great photos and macros with the regular p & s. I don't know anything about other brand versions of adventure cameras. Please share your experiences - I need to buy a camera fairly soon, and I'm on the fence as far as the upgrade. If I can't make a clear choice, I'll probably buy another point & shoot, and keep it in an Otter Box.
Thanks!

[Another Kevin]

Get the one that this guy had:

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/17/...-it-got-there/

(Don't know what kind it was, but obviously it can stand up to a lot!)

[kayak karl]

for 2 yrs. i have had a pentax optio W-90. have had it in freezing weather and underwater and take it kayaking and hiking.
i just got the pentax optio WG-1 a little better pics. rest of of options seem the same.
hiking i froze a camera, drown 2 and sat on 1 and broke screen.
i posted about this camera before and was told it was a waterproof, point and shoot, piece of junk; but i like it

[Water Rat]

Please bear with me. I realize there is related information already in the forum, but some of the info here is 2+ years old and technology continues to evolve. I'm wondering if there are any absolute, stand-out choices for 2012 if you're considering getting one of the adventure cameras that are shockproof, waterproof, etc.I like Olympus point & shoot cameras in general, and have had several (one of which I broke recently). So now I need to get another camera and was considering upgrading to a more rugged type. I'm more interested in photo quality, durability, macro capability, and at least a 5x zoom. I'm interested in the waterproof feature because I would use it mostly for rainy type situations, not swimming or diving. I have read some negative reviews of the Olympus Tough series. The overriding complaint seems to be poor photo quality with Olympus. This surprises me because I got great photos and macros with the regular p & s. I don't know anything about other brand versions of adventure cameras. Please share your experiences - I need to buy a camera fairly soon, and I'm on the fence as far as the upgrade. If I can't make a clear choice, I'll probably buy another point & shoot, and keep it in an Otter Box.
Thanks!

I have an Olympus Tough TG 810. It has seen international travel, been bounced off rocks, held underwater to take pics of sea life... I think it take pretty dang good pics. I got it for work in Baja. I needed something that could withstand water and sand and heat and just my normal forays into the outdoors. I got it about a year ago and still have no complaints. I love that I can slide it in my pocket and go. I've never had any problems with Olympus. If you go with this one, the key is to make sure you wipe the seal before you lock the door. Keeps the water and grit out.

[Train Wreck]

I have an Olympus Tough TG 810. It has seen international travel, been bounced off rocks, held underwater to take pics of sea life... I think it take pretty dang good pics. I got it for work in Baja. I needed something that could withstand water and sand and heat and just my normal forays into the outdoors. I got it about a year ago and still have no complaints. I love that I can slide it in my pocket and go. I've never had any problems with Olympus. If you go with this one, the key is to make sure you wipe the seal before you lock the door. Keeps the water and grit out.

That's what's so hard to figure out - I went to imaging resource.com and they were just down on all the current Olympus tough models, including your model. I'm not a tech weenie, and a lot of the info flies right past me. For all I know, their standards of excellence may be a lot higher than mine. Are you satisfied with the quality of the photos you take? Is there a noticeable lag betwen the time you take a photo and the camera cycles into readiness for the next shot?

[Water Rat]

I went with my gut...I read some negative reviews from the "techie" world, but also listened when people were putting the camera to use in the real world. No camera (in this price range) is going to do EVERYTHING you want it to do. My big things were it needed to be waterproof and withstand lots of outdoor use. Of course, I wanted something that took great pictures, too. My biggest beef with this camera is that it doesn't take the best (or the worst) pics at low light. On some settings, there is a lag time in the readiness for the next photo. There is also a way around that. On a different setting, you can hold your finger on the shutter release button and the camera just takes pic after pic after pic. I have managed to get some awesome shots that way. Perfect for taking pics of very active dogs.

Photo quality... This camera does not take the same quality photos of the Nikon I will one day get. I just didn't want to lug a big camera around, with lots of parts. For the camera that it is - YES. I am more than satisfied with the pics this camera takes. Like I said, I just avoid the low-light situations. Even then, adjusting settings can get ya around that.

I do have to admit I was a tad worried about scratches on the 3" screen. I opted to use a screen protector and still (after almost exactly a year) have no scratches on my screen. That is even with having lived in a tent (Baja) for 3 months.

Not everyone will love this camera, but it has exceeded my expectations on many occasions. I would buy this camera again. This camera has survived much abuse!

[coach lou]

I have the Olympus Tuff 8000. Most of my gallery is taken with it. I bought it in '09', for snorkeling and fishing. It does indeed have a few limitations, zoom quality, A full day in the water will drain the battery. A spare battery is spendy. It works for now. When I'm ready for a new one, the technology will fix all of that. I like it, it is reliable and TOUGH!

[Water Rat]

I have the Olympus Tuff 8000. Most of my gallery is taken with it. I bought it in '09', for snorkeling and fishing. It does indeed have a few limitations, zoom quality, A full day in the water will drain the battery. A spare battery is spendy. It works for now. When I'm ready for a new one, the technology will fix all of that. I like it, it is reliable and TOUGH!

I got 2 spare batteries and a tripod (never used it) and a flotation bracelet (never used it) package on Amazon for $29. I just keep the spares handy then charge up at the end of the day. That reminds me... I need to go find a new solar charger for Baja next year.

[Tipi Walter]

One way is to look for the highest rated point and shoot camera and then 3 or 4 models will pop out, such as the Canon G11 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC LX5. I went this route and could care less about shock-proof or waterproof as hey, I don't drop my cameras and they don't get wet. So I went with the Lumix and carry a total of 6 batteries for an average trip of 20 days. These 6 will get me thru three weeks w/o re-charging at 0F temps.

[Train Wreck]

One way is to look for the highest rated point and shoot camera and then 3 or 4 models will pop out, such as the Canon G11 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC LX5. I went this route and could care less about shock-proof or waterproof as hey, I don't drop my cameras and they don't get wet. So I went with the Lumix and carry a total of 6 batteries for an average trip of 20 days. These 6 will get me thru three weeks w/o re-charging at 0F temps.

Thanks. I've been looking at some of the Lumix cameras, and the battery info is good to know.

I never dropped a camera either, till hiking this summer...I tripped and fell, and killed my camera. I was carrying it in a soft pouch at my waist. It wasn't even an epic fall. I literally tripped over nothing, hit the dirt, no rocks, had a soft landing. But I guess the shock of impact broke the LED screen and shook up the innards. That's why I'm thinking about shockproof. I don't know if the otter boxes are enough to shield against drops, etc. if the camera isn't built to handle it from the inside out.

[Train Wreck]

I went with my gut...I read some negative reviews from the "techie" world, but also listened when people were putting the camera to use in the real world. No camera (in this price range) is going to do EVERYTHING you want it to do. My big things were it needed to be waterproof and withstand lots of outdoor use. Of course, I wanted something that took great pictures, too. My biggest beef with this camera is that it doesn't take the best (or the worst) pics at low light. On some settings, there is a lag time in the readiness for the next photo. There is also a way around that. On a different setting, you can hold your finger on the shutter release button and the camera just takes pic after pic after pic. I have managed to get some awesome shots that way. Perfect for taking pics of very active dogs.

Photo quality... This camera does not take the same quality photos of the Nikon I will one day get. I just didn't want to lug a big camera around, with lots of parts. For the camera that it is - YES. I am more than satisfied with the pics this camera takes. Like I said, I just avoid the low-light situations. Even then, adjusting settings can get ya around that.

I do have to admit I was a tad worried about scratches on the 3" screen. I opted to use a screen protector and still (after almost exactly a year) have no scratches on my screen. That is even with having lived in a tent (Baja) for 3 months.

Not everyone will love this camera, but it has exceeded my expectations on many occasions. I would buy this camera again. This camera has survived much abuse!

Hmmm, that is more encouraging than I expected. If you could choose, would you take this camera on a thru-hike, or opt for something else?

[coach lou]

Choo Choo, do you see the dents in the face?
DSC00044.JPG

[Train Wreck]

Choo Choo, do you see the dents in the face?
DSC00044.JPG

Yeah!
Are you telling me it still works?

[Water Rat]

Hmmm, that is more encouraging than I expected. If you could choose, would you take this camera on a thru-hike, or opt for something else?

When I do my thru-hike (2013 or 2014) this is the camera I will be taking with me.

[Water Rat]

Choo Choo, do you see the dents in the face?
DSC00044.JPG

I dropped my camera on some exposed reef rocks... I THOUGHT my camera was going to look like that (or worse). I was happily surprised to find I only had a scrape on the corner of my camera. These cameras are pretty cool! My last camera (Canon) did not survive a much less horrible fall. Not in the habit of dropping cameras, but it is nice to not kill the camera if I do make an error. So nice to be able to take the camera kayaking, out with whales, etc and not have to worry about whether or not the camera is getting wet.

[coach lou]

Yeah!
Are you telling me it still works?

Check my gallery, all the new pics came from this camera.

[Water Rat]

Were those dents caused by Pepe chewing on the camera?

[coach lou]

Fishing, Snorkeling, Backpacking, pepe may have been involved.

[10-K]

I have an Olympus Tough TG 810. It has seen international travel, been bounced off rocks, held underwater to take pics of sea life... I think it take pretty dang good pics. I got it for work in Baja. I needed something that could withstand water and sand and heat and just my normal forays into the outdoors. I got it about a year ago and still have no complaints. I love that I can slide it in my pocket and go. I've never had any problems with Olympus. If you go with this one, the key is to make sure you wipe the seal before you lock the door. Keeps the water and grit out.

I have this camera too and have 2 complaints:

1. It turns on by itself because the power button is exposed and the battery runs down.... Nothing sucks worse than pulling it out to take a picture and finding a dead battery.

2. Battery life is very short if I an manage to not have it spontaneously turn on.

These days I just use my iPhone. It actually has a pretty good camera and in airplane mode it'll hold a charge for several days.

[coach lou]

Check my gallery, all the new pics came from this camera.

My hair is black in the old pics