Understanding Your Snorkeling Camera Options
When it comes to underwater cameras for snorkeling, there are several categories to consider. Each category offers unique features and benefits, catering to different needs and preferences. Let's explore the top contenders:
Compact cameras with waterproof housings are a popular choice amongst snorkelers. These cameras offer excellent image quality and versatility, allowing you to capture stunning photos both underwater and on land. The waterproof housing ensures that your camera remains protected in wet environments. However, keep in mind that these housings can add bulk to your setup.
The Olympus Tough TG-6, or the latest OM Systems TG-7, is a highly regarded compact camera with a waterproof housing. It features a sharp lens, advanced image stabilization, and the ability to shoot in RAW format for professional-grade results.
Action cameras have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their compact size, lightweight design, and excellent video capabilities. These cameras are perfect for capturing your snorkeling adventures in high-definition video. However, they may not excel in low-light conditions or close-up shots.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is a well-regarded action camera that is widely used by snorkelers. It offers impressive video quality, advanced stabilization, and a user-friendly interface. With its compact size and wide range of accessories, the GoPro Hero 12 Black provides versatility for all your snorkeling needs.
If you're on a budget or prefer simplicity, waterproof point-and-shoot cameras are a great option. These cameras are specifically designed to withstand water exposure and offer ease of use. However, they may have lower image quality compared to other options.
When choosing a waterproof point-and-shoot camera, look for features like macro focus, which allows you to capture stunning close-up shots of fish and coral. This can add an extra level of excitement to your snorkeling photography.
4. Smartphone Housings
Increasingly smarphones are becoming the more preferred medium to use as a camera. Reasons for this being, is that the quality of smartphone cameras are continually improving, and one always has a smartphone in your pocket. More and more manufacturers are creating increasingly versatile underwatr housings, allowing operation either via an app, or via specialised touchscreen capabilities.
Key Features to Consider
When selecting the best underwater camera for snorkeling, there are several key features to consider. These features will ensure that your camera meets your specific needs and delivers high-quality results. Let's explore these features in detail:
Image quality is one of the most critical factors when choosing an underwater camera for snorkeling. Look for cameras with high megapixel sensors, as they produce sharp and detailed images. The resolution of the sensor plays a crucial role in capturing vibrant colors and fine details underwater.
If you enjoy capturing videos of your snorkeling adventures, consider the camera's video capabilities. Look for cameras that offer high-definition video recording, preferably in 4K resolution or higher. This ensures that your videos are immersive and of excellent quality.
Since you'll be using your camera in wet and potentially challenging environments, it's crucial to choose a camera that is built to withstand water exposure. Look for cameras that are waterproof up to a significant depth, ensuring that they can handle the conditions you'll encounter while snorkeling. Additionally, consider the durability of the camera to ensure it can withstand any accidental bumps or drops.
Battery life is essential, especially if you plan on spending extended periods in the water. Look for cameras with long battery life to ensure that you can capture all the breathtaking moments without running out of power. It's also a good idea to carry spare batteries or a portable charger to extend your camera's usage time.
When snorkeling, you want a camera that is easy to use and allows for quick adjustments. Look for cameras with intuitive menus, straightforward controls, and easy access to important settings. This ensures that you can make the necessary adjustments on the fly and capture the perfect shot without missing a moment.
These are our favorite underwater cameras for snorkeling and surf photography. Often snorkelers and surfers can feel lost and feel out of place when looking at underwater photo gear. After all, Snorkeling is a very streamlined activity, and therefore cameras for snorkeling must remain small and compact, unlike many camera systems for scuba diving. But at Bluewater Photo, we have some avid snorkelers and surf photographers on our team, so we put our heads together to find the best underwater camera systems for the shallow water explorers out there.
Best Value Camera - SeaLife Micro 3.0 Camera
The SeaLife Micro 3.0 Camera just might be the easiest underwater camera to use for both photo & video. We recommend it to any diver looking for a no-frills, ergonomic source of underwater content. These are the shooters that may not be looking to get a professional image but need a simple tool to document their dive and what they see in the beautiful underwater environment. The SeaLife Micro 3.0 is designed to be permanently sealed, making it flood-proof for the camera's lifetime. There is no need for any o-ring maintenance and no need to worry about flooding. The battery life is also excellent - it can be operated for more than three hours which is great for a full day of diving.
- 16 Megapixel Sony CMOS image sensor
- Permanently sealed
- 3+ hours battery life
- Built-in 64GB memory card
- Easy operation
- "Easy Setup" feature
- Capable of manual white balance and RAW format for post-processing
- 100° Lens
Easiest to Use - SeaLife RM-4K Ultra Compact Camera
The SeaLife RM-4K Ultra Compact Underwater Camera is a small and compact action camera that features a 14 megapixel Panasonic CMOS sensor and allows you to capture 4K videos @ 30fps. This is great for divers and snorkelers as the camera captures sharp and colorful 14 MP photos and videos with its built-in color correction. Its fisheye lens gives you a 140° field of view. The ergonomics of the camera are also superb. It is effortless to operate, even while wearing thick gloves.
- 14 megapixel Panasonic CMOS image sensor
- Captures 4K video @ 30fps
- Built-in color correction
- Whopping 140° field of view with a fisheye lens
- Unique pressure lock thumb screw seal system
- Integrated with Moisture Muncher
- Four-button control system
- WiFi
- 2" LCD screen
Best for Macro - Olympus TG-6 Camera
The Olympus TG-6 Camera is small and compact and the same size as its predecessor (TG-5), which means the two cameras can share the same housing. The TG-6 is a top-rated underwater camera that can also be used when snorkeling as the camera is waterproof up to 50ft. So if you don't do much deep free diving, you don't need a housing! The camera features a high-speed 12 MP sensor designed for excellent low-light performance and noise reduction. It shoots 4k video, RAW photos and includes built-in WiFi, making transferring images on the go a breeze. What makes this very special is its microscope mode which excels in macro shooting.
Camera Features:
- Bright f/2.0 fast lens
- Anti-reflective coating glass around sensor (reduces flare and ghosting)
- 12MP high-speed image sensor for improved low-light performance and noise reduction
- Improved LCD: 1.04 million dots compared to 460 K dots on the TG-5
- Improved microscope mode
- Microscope mode available in program and aperture priority mode
- Dual Quad Core TruePic™ VIII image processor
- Image file format: RAW, JPEG and RAW+JPEG
- 4K and high speed video
- Field sensor system w/ GPS, manometer, compass & temperature sensor
- Waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof
- 3" LCD screen
Olympus TG-6 Packages:
- Olympus TG-6 Camera and Housing Bundle
- Olympus TG-6 Snorkel Package
- Olympus Macro Shooter Package for TG-6
- Olympus TG-6 Video Package
- Olympus Ultimate Package for TG-6
- Ikelite Olympus TG-6 Fluorescence Photography Starter Package
Best Advanced Snorkeling Camera - Canon G7X Mark III
The Canon G7X Mark III camera is a tiny camera with a large 1-inch, 20 MP sensor, a direct competitor to the Sony RX100 series cameras. It is an excellent, fast-focusing camera with great image quality and has a dedicated macro focus function. The camera also boasts 4K video, slow motion video, a bigger image buffer, a new stacked sensor, a better image processor, and quicker burst shooting over the G7X II.
Camera Features:
- DIGIC 8 image processor
- New stacked CMOS sensor
- 20 fps burst mode (upgraded from 8fps)
- 70 shot RAW buffer (upgraded from 21 shots)
- Ultra-fast electronic shutter for shooting wide open aperture in daylight – 1/25,600s
- 4K video @ 30fps and 1080p @ 120 fps
- Slow motion video (120 fps in 1080p)
- Supports vertical video shooting (not for live-streaming)
- Supports live streaming videos to YouTube
- Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
- Ability to shoot panoramas
Canon G7X Mark III Packages:
Best High-End Snorkeling Camera - Sony RX100 VA and VII
*Both are excellent for image quality, autofocus speed, & shooting video*
The Sony RX100 VA & RX100 VII cameras are top-of-line compact cameras. One notable feature of the camera is its autofocus; it is lightning quick in both cameras, making them great for capturing action/behavior photos or shooting fast animals like sharks and sea lions. These cameras feature a large 1" sensor with 20 MP resolution. Each camera is equipped with excellent image quality, fast autofocus, useful video modes (like slow motion), and full manual controls.
The RX100 VA's key upgrade is 24fps sequential shooting, enhanced image buffer, and a customizable menu system. The RX100 VII has some minor improvements over the VI, including quicker autofocus with a better autofocus tracking system, burst modes without blackout, and faster processing. The RX100 VII comes at a heftier price tag, but it's a great option for people who want to take advantage of its autofocus tracking system - especially for video, which can now be captured for an unlimited amount of time.
RX100 VII Key Features:
- 1-inch 20.1 MP stacked CMOS sensor
- BIONZ X processor
- Built-in 24-200mm (equivalent) f/2.8-4.5 zoom lens – same as the RX100 VI
- Electronic shutter up to 1/32000s
- 4K video with full pixel readout (no pixel binning)
- S-LOG2, S-Log3, and HLG picture profiles
- Pop-up EVF (2.36 million dots)
- No more built-in ND filter
- Tilting touch screen LCD
- Wifi and Bluetooth capability
RX100 V/VA Key Features:
- 20.1-megapixel 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor
- 315-point phase detection autofocus system - focuses in 0.05-sec
- 24 fps RAW burst with AF tracking for up to 233 photos
- Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70mm F/1.8-2.8 lens
- Anti Distortion Shutter minimizes rolling shutter effect when recording video
Sony RX100 Mark VA and VII Underwater Housing Packages:
Sony RX100 Mark VA and VII Underwater Housing Options:
Best Full Frame Snorkeling Camera - Canon EOS R5
*45 Megapixel photos, 8K/30p & 4K/120 video recording, incredible autofocus, 20fps burst shooting- what more could you want?*
Key features:
- New 45 Megapixel Full-Frame CMOS Sensor and Digic X processor
- Canon's first 5 axis In-Body Image-Stabilization (IBIS) which works in conjunction with optical IS RF and EF lenses. Up to 8 stops of correction
- Improved Dual Pixel II Autofocus
- 5,940 AF points
- 100% of the sensor has AF coverage!
- ISO 100 - 51,200
- Animal eye AF detection (for birds, cats, and dogs) - it works on macro fish 20-40% of the time!
- 12fps burst shooting with mechanical shutter
- 20 fps burst shooting with silent (electronic shutter)
- 180 shot RAW image buffer
- Dual card slots - 1x CFexpress and 1x SD UHS-II
- 8K video @ 30p, 10- bit 4:2:2 - using the full width of the sensor!
- Internal RAW and C-Log recording
- 4K oversampled video up to 120p, 10-bit 4:2:2
Underwater Snorkeling Housing Options:
- Ikelite 50DL Canon EOS R5 Underwater Housing - Depth rated to 50ft unlike 200DL housings that are depth rated to 200 ft
- AquaTech Canon EOS R5 Edge Water Housing
Best Smartphone Options
Best Universal Housing - Kraken Sports KRH04 Universal Smart Phone Housing
Underwater Snorkeling Housing Options:
Best iPhone Housing - Oceanic+ iPhone Housing
The Oceanic+ Dive Housing is specifically designed to work seamlessly with your iPhone. Compatible with iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer models, this housing allows you to take advantage of your iPhone's powerful camera capabilities while diving.
One of the standout features of the Oceanic+ Dive Housing is its automatic color correction capabilities. Underwater photography often presents challenges when it comes to capturing accurate colors due to the different lighting conditions and color temperatures beneath the waves. However, with the Oceanic+ Dive Housing, you can say goodbye to dull and washed-out images.
The housing's advanced digital color correction filters work in real-time to adjust and enhance the colors in your photos, ensuring vibrant and true-to-life images. This feature eliminates the need for manual color correction during post-processing, saving you time and effort while delivering impressive results.
The Oceanic+ Dive Housing doubles as a fully functional dive computer. By downloading the Oceanic+ app on your iPhone and pairing it with the Dive Housing, you can access comprehensive dive computer features right from your device.
Oceanic+ Housing Options:
Best Touchscreen Housing - DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 MAX Underwater Housing
The groundbreaking Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max underwater touchscreen smart phone housing allows you to use your smartphone up to a depth of 60 meters below. You can easily use all of your smartphone's features and apps thanks to the touchscreen's infinite functioning. It is the world's first diving enclosure for smartphones with an underwater full touch screen.
Seatouch 4 Max Packages:
SeaLife SportDiver Housing
The SeaLife SportDiver Smartphone Housing has been designed to be used with all the latest iPhone and Android phones. It is compact and lightweight and built from polycarbonate material with stainless steel, aluminum, and optical glass, enabling you to capture tack-sharp photos and videos. Setting it up is a breeze. Operation is also effortless with its large shutter lever and rear control buttons.
SeaLife SportDiver Packages:
Most Affordable/Best for Selfies - Nautismart Smartphone Housing
The Nautismart Smartphone Housing gives you the biggest bang for your buck. It is affordable yet durable. It is built from a polycarbonate material and features a 67mm thread attachment for macro & wide-angle wet lenses. It also features a transparent back which means taking selfies is possible! Compatible with both Android and iOS phones.
Best Underwater Camera Housings for Snorkeling
There are many underwater housing options out there. If you're a snorkeler or a surf photographer it can be difficult to navigate through your options. Afterall, do you really need a large, heavy aluminum housing rated to 200ft? No you probably want the lightest, easiest to use housing available.
Thankfully, at Bluewater Photo, we have surf and snorkel photographers on our staff who know exactly what you need. So feel free email us at sales@bluewaterphotostore.com or call 310-633-5052 and we'll get you set up.
In addition to our underwater smartphone housings and compact cameras that we offer, larger camera systems have two types of housings that work great for snorkeling - Aquatech Underwater Housings & Ikelite 50 DL housings.
Aquatech Edge Housings
*Lightweight, Easy to Use, Optional Pistol Grip, and Depth Rated to 10m (33ft)*
Aquatech Edge Housings are some of the most popular underater housings used by surf photographers. They are lightweight, compact and simple - everything you need for shooting action on the go. Aquatech has been in business for over 20 years so they have experience in design and engineering specific to the niche. The housings themselves have dual safety clips to ensure that no water gets in. Edge housings are designed for most popular camera models, so send us an email if you have difficulty finding your model. Here are some of the most popular models we carry:
Ikelite Canon R100 Underwater Housings
*Lightweight, Ergonomic, Full Camera Controls, More Affordable, and Depth Rated to 200ft*
Ikelite is well known among scuba divers for producing excellent polycarbonate housings with full control over the cameras they house. Typically, these housings are rated to depths of 200ft, but at the same time perform perfectly at shallower depths and in the surf. They are the best choice for avid photographers that need full control over every one of their camera controls while they are in the water, want a light-weight option for easy manoeuvrability in the water, and not something that will drag you down while finning around to get the shot.
Here are some of the key features of the Ikelite Canon EOS R100 200DLM/D underwater housing:
- Made from durable ABS-PC material that will not corrode
- Lightweight and has better buoyancy than other housings
- Built-in vacuum system for added safety
- Clear back panel for easy viewing of camera settings
- Ergonomic design for comfortable shooting with gloves