Waterproof camera suggestions

Here are a few pictures from my Panasonic lumix with the dive housing.

I love my d10 great pics. and vid and the sound recording is great its has taken a lot of beatings too still works great. The only draw back is the exclusive battery . I like the ones that run on AA.

I have an Olympus that's been Ok but not great - Pat's right about the video quality.  I have two Fuji's right now - the cheap ones that Martin described for $139 @ Costco - can't beat that for 12 MP and HD vid, but they're slow to take pics, and I've had battery connectivity issues.  Fuji did replace one for me though, no questions asked on a big water leak that may or may not have been my fault.  Domenic has the Canon that was over $300, and it's nice.  I need something that goes more than 10' deep other than my GoPro HD - as for it, I don't care for not having a view screen, and the media it uses cannot be easily edited. 

Whatever you do, get one!  It's so easy to put it off, but just for a relatively little investment at this point any of us have the means of creating very watery (and fishy) vids.  Good luck - have fun - share it here.   

Here's a blog I found interesting -
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/outdoor-waterproof-digital-cameras/

you can jump straight to the recommendations here -
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/outdoor-waterproof-digital-cameras/2/#outdoor_camera_recommendation

This is what put the Sony Cybershot DSC-TX5 on my amazon wishlist.  Only waterproof to 10' - but I'm planning on tying a chunk of noodle to it and using it from the yak.  I just want it to survive brief spills overboard, which are inevitable.

I have the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010.  waterproof to 33 feet, shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof.  it takes decent pictures, never used the video on it yet.  overall I am satisfied with it.  Here are a couple of pictures of Red Lake I took with it:




cost was in the low 300.00 range when I got it on sale at Best Buy.
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_digital.asp?section=stylustough

I've been using an Olympus Stylus 770sw for 3-4 yrs.
Pros- it has taken a beating, and remains troublefree
Cons- picture quality is just OK, the LCD screen is terrible unless its dark, uses more expensive xd card.
Jim

Wow, this is a great response, I really appreciate it and thank you all.. Now I just need to make a choice!

I've been using the Panasonic waterproof because they also offer a waterproof housing for it and it takes 720p video also.
So I use it w/o housing topside, paddling etc.
 For diving I've been a witness to waterproof housings leaking and wrecking a camera. (Seahunters camera on the last Islander trip)
So my reasoning is a waterproof camera in a waterproof housing gives you a little more insurance.

I need something that goes more than 10' deep other than my GoPro HD - as for it, I don't care for not having a view screen, and the media it uses cannot be easily edited. 

Sorry if I'm straying from the original direction of the thread, but I've been wanting a GoPro and have a couple questions.  The media is not easily edited, does that mean the software it comes with sucks, or no matter what video editing software you use it is still tough due to the way the GoPro works?  And, can you take still pictures with the GoPro?  Or do you have to take a still frame out of a video?  Oh, and how long of a video can you record?  Thanks for the help, I love the idea of the GoPro, just wondering if it really is that good.

I need something that goes more than 10' deep other than my GoPro HD - as for it, I don't care for not having a view screen, and the media it uses cannot be easily edited. 

Sorry if I'm straying from the original direction of the thread, but I've been wanting a GoPro and have a couple questions.  The media is not easily edited, does that mean the software it comes with sucks, or no matter what video editing software you use it is still tough due to the way the GoPro works?  And, can you take still pictures with the GoPro?  Or do you have to take a still frame out of a video?  Oh, and how long of a video can you record?  Thanks for the help, I love the idea of the GoPro, just wondering if it really is that good.

Shellback, this site might be of help to you:
http://pointofviewcameras.com/

I just looked, the Canon is waterproof to 33 feet.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-D10-Waterproof-Stabilized/dp/B001SER460

My Canon D10 is awesome. I guess I'll have to keep my dives to 33 feet or less.   
My kids use it all the time, and I don't worry since it's waterproof and shockproof.  The housing is sturdy.
Canon Digic4 processor has a good reputation.  Canon build and quality, you can't beat.
I've used it diving, fishing, and my kids have used it in the snow and underwater in pools.

Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Man I am rolling with the W10....I gotta upgrade. I guess that is a statement on how bullet proof the Pentax cameras are

I need something that goes more than 10' deep other than my GoPro HD - as for it, I don't care for not having a view screen, and the media it uses cannot be easily edited. 

Sorry if I'm straying from the original direction of the thread, but I've been wanting a GoPro and have a couple questions.  The media is not easily edited, does that mean the software it comes with sucks, or no matter what video editing software you use it is still tough due to the way the GoPro works?  And, can you take still pictures with the GoPro?  Or do you have to take a still frame out of a video?  Oh, and how long of a video can you record?  Thanks for the help, I love the idea of the GoPro, just wondering if it really is that good.

I've got two GoPro HDs.  It doesn't come with software.  I convert the file to an intermediate file format for editing use Cineform Neoscene which I bought for converting my Canon 7D video.  I'm using Sony Movie Studio for the editing, I just got the update which maybe able to do editing without any conversion. There are some freeware stuff that you can use.  I believe you can take photos but without a viewfinder or lcd and a zoom lens, I would say it's practically useless.

I use a cannon power shot S70 with cannon housing but recently I got a Nikon cool pix L22 camera and housin and they work great, here is a link to one for sale on ebay with housing
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Coolpix-L20-Digital-Camera-Underwater-Housing-/380299718252?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item588ba12e6c

i picked up a pentax optio w90... i absolutely love the camera for what i use it for... my dry camera is a cannon rebel xsi... and at a glance on the computer, the pictures are comparable in quality, just the rebel has numerous lenses and fancier settings... at any rate, i picked it up because of the ratings i had seen on numerous sites,  i can honestly say, i am even more pleased than i thought i would be (i never even looked at the w80 specs, if they are comparable, i would be willing to save the cash).  hopefully this season i will get to post more pictures as i won't have to tote around a SLR and be in fear of getting it wet....