paddling with a camera

Here is the entire list of their 2007 Select Award with more information quoted for the waterproof cameras. I added a link to amazon.com for each camera if you are in a shopping mood or just want more information. You can buy Pentax Optio W30 at amazon for less than $200 including shipping.

• Best Camera under $500: Canon PowerShot G9
• Best Camera under $400: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7
• Best Camera under $300: Canon PowerShot A720 IS
• Best Camera under $200: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7
• Best Budget Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70
• Best Hybrid Camera: Canon PowerShot S5 IS
• Best Ultra-zoom Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18
• Best Ultra-thin Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100

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• Best Underwater Camera: Olympus Stylus 770SW
  

  There are only a handful of digital cameras that can go underwater without any special housing, and the 770SW can travel the farthest below the surface. Most underwater cameras can go as deep as 10 feet, but the Olympus Stylus 770SW can go up to 33 feet. It can also sustain 220 pounds, withstand the impact from a 5-foot fall, and tolerate temperatures to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. These specs make the Olympus 770SW a perfect choice for snorkeling, mountain climbing, and even everyday outings with toddlers. The 7.1-megapixel camera has a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. It is very compact and the 27 Shooting modes, including four underwater Scene modes, make it easy to use. The 770SW also has a built-in manometer that calculates air and water pressure and can record the elevation in the file info. There is also a flashlight and alarm clock. The Stylus 770SW retails for $379 but can be found for a little less now that its successor, the 790SW, is on the market. The newer version can only go to 10 feet underwater, though, so the Olympus Stylus 770SW takes the award.

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• Best Family/Child-Friendly Camera: Pentax Optio W30

  If your last digital camera was ruined by your careless teenager or toddler, you’ll understand the value of the Pentax Optio W30. This 7.1-megapixel digital camera can go underwater as deep as 10 feet – not enough to go scuba diving, but enough to ensure that a drop in the sink or a spill of lemonade won’t damage it. The Pentax Optio W30 has a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen, along with face recognition and television-quality video recording to capture first steps, elementary school band concerts, and graduation. It measures 4.2 x 2.1 x 0.9 inches and its rectangular shape resembles a cell phone. Kids and teenagers will love the 20 Scene modes and interesting color effects, such as fish-eye and cartoon-like frames in the Playback mode. Parents will love that it is easy to use and doesn’t easily damage. The W30 retails for $299.

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• Best Value: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
• Best Innovation - 4 GB of Built-in Memory: Sony Cyber-shot T2

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