Best Underwater Cameras for 2012

Choosing a Compact Camera System

Features to look for in a compact camera

As you may know from reading the Underwater Photography Guide, it is important to select a compact camera that offers full manual controls, the ability to shoot in RAW, HD video, and the ability to accept wide-angle lenses. Fortunately we are now blessed with several cameras and great housings that meet these criteria. You should also check out our 2012 guide to the best mirrorless cameras for underwater photography

Canon S95/S100 in a Recsea Housing: Best choice for size & versatility

It's all about the image quality - and the newly designed, highly sensitive sensor in the high-end Canon compacts puts the image quality a step above all other compact cameras. Find the right subject, light it correctly and you will not be disappointed with your images.

With a bright F2.0 lens, a sharp 3 inch LCD, and a small size, there is not much to dislike about the Canon S95 or Canon S100. 

Recsea housings are machined out of high-quality solid aluminum, and have gained a reputation for being the smallest housings on the market. The newly improved designs of the Recsea S95 and S100 housings include a double o-ring design to prevent floods, a precision shutter release to make half-shutter presses easier, and large control dials that are easy to use even with large hands or thick gloves. Recsea designed an amazing rear control dial that mimics the camera's rear control dial - a feature that along with the large front control dial and double o-rings really makes this housing stand out over others.

One of the reasons people purchase the Recsea S95 or S100 is because they accept wet mount wide-angle lenses, such as the 150 degree Dyron 15mm fisheye lens with optional quick-adapt mount, which allows the lens to be added or removed underwater in one quick snap. 

The Canon S100 adds a new 24-120mm lens (instead of 28-105mm), GPS function, dedicated video button, the ability to zoom while taking video, 1080p video instead of 720p, slow motion video, recording, and a new sensor. However, because of the new lens, you will have slightly less angle of view with wide-angle lenses because you'll need to zoom in 1 click.

• Offers top of the class image quality in a compact camera
• One of the only compact camera options that can wet mount a fisheye lens, giving you the flexibility to shoot wide-angle and macro on the same dive
• Unlike the Canon housings, the Recsea housing offers access to both control wheels, a must for photography with a strobe. It weighs 1/3 the weight of the Ikelite housing.
• Tiny in size, fits the camera like a glove
• Unbelievable ergonomics and build-quality; double o-ring design, large control dials; precision shutter release allows half-shutter presses. Supports 2 fiber optic connections.
• Best price point on the market
• Choose the Canon S100 for the best video and the newest sensor; choose the S95 for the best price and a slightly wider angle of view with the fisheye lens

• Recsea S95 Housing only $799, Recsea S100 housing just $869
• Recsea S95 housing + camera only $1,199
• Recsea S100 housing + camera just $1,299
• Recsea S100 + Ys-01 strobe package, ULCS arm/tray $1,599
   
• Ultimate Recsea S95 package with strobe, 2 arms, macro & fisheye lenses $2,299
• Ultimate Recsea S100 package with strobe, 2 arms, macro & fisheye lenses $2,369 

The Ikelite S95 and Ikelite S100 housings are good budget choices, and are highly recommended over the Canon housings.

Canon G12 in a Recsea Housing - best choice for image quality

There is just something about the Canon G12 - it consistently produces the absolute best underwater photos I've seen in a compact camera, just a small notch better than the S95. The G12 is Canon's highest end compact, and everything about it just works better. This is something that doesn't come out in the specs, but it certainly does in the reviews and more importantly the images.

The Recsea G12 housing is a work of art. Machined from a solid block of high-quality aluminum, it offers front and rear control wheels, and a small, light size. Adding the high-quality Dyron 12mm fisheye lens gives you a stunning 165 degree angle of view for wide-angle photography. The Dyron 8mm fisheye is expensive but worth every penny, allowing you to do macro and ultra-wide-angle with the same lens.

• The Canon G12 is the best option for macro photography. The G12 has the sharpest lens on the market in our opinion for macro, and offers the most magnification
• The Recsea G12 is the best option for wide-angle when coupled with the Dyron 12mm fisheye, and offers the widest angle of view on a compact. The only downside is that the fisheye lens is a port change done on land, not a wet lens.
• G12 is currently the top compact camera on the market, with pro style controls and performance
• Unlike the Canon housing, offers access to all control wheels, a must for photography with a strobe. It is less than 1/3 the weight of the Ikelite G12 housing - which is a good choice if you can't afford the Recsea and which will still give you great macro capability with the Dyron macro adapter.
• The Recsea housing supports 2 fiber optic connections. The Ikelite housing supports an electronic sync cord connection.
• Battery life is great, this is one of the few compact cameras that can actually last for a full 3 dives on 1 battery
• Best underwater photos we have ever seen from a compact are with the G12

• Recsea G12 Housing only $1,050
• Housing + Canon G12  $1,489
• Ultimate Recsea G12 package with Ys-01 strobe, 2 arms, macro & fisheye lenses $2,699

Taken with a Canon G12 + fisheye lens in La Paz, Mexico

Panasonic LX-5 in Ikelite or 10bar Housing: Great value

Recsea LX-5 for the highest build quality

For someone who wants to take photos & video of reef scenes and fish, the Panasonic LX5 + Ikelite housings offers some great functionality at a good price. For fast action situations, you can rapid fire your strobe and get perfect true "TTL", all in manual mode. The functionality and image quality of the LX5 is rated not far behind the S95 and G12 in reviews, and the price of the housing with a strobe, wide-angle and macro lenses comes in under $1,850.

• LX5 offers 24mm wide-angle
• Ikelite housing offers sync cable connect for fast-firing of shots, and low battery usage
• Housing offers "true" TTL with Ikelite strobes in all camera modes via an electronic sync cord
• Access to all controls.
• 67mm threaded port allows for great macro and wide-angle lenses to be added
• Best option for people also wanting to do underwater video, the LX5 allows for exposure controls while taking video
• Great price point
• Cons - only one control wheel, where the S95 and G12 have 2 control wheels; LCD is not as accurate as the S95/G12 LCD

• Ikelite LX5 Housing only $549.95
• Housing + camera just $919.95
• Ultimate LX5 package - housing, Ultralight arm & tray, DS-51 strobe, sync cord for true TTL, Dyron +7 macro lens $1,446

10 BAR LX5 housing

The 10Bar LX5 housing is quite small, and feels very comfortable in your hand. It is a solid, lightweight aluminum housing with a clear polycarbonate back so you can see inside the housing, a nice feature. 

• Well built aluminum housing, tested to 300ft
• Offers bulkhead for electrical connection, and also a fiber optic connection
• TTL available with YS-01 or YS-110a strobe
• Double o-ring design for better security
• Port has 67mm threads for a macro lens
• Port is replaceable with a wide-angle lens and dome
• 30% lighter than the Ikelite housings
• 10bar LX5 housing just $699.95
• 10bar LX5 +camera just $1069.95
• 10bar LX5 + YS-01 strobe package, Ultralight arm & tray $1,399
• 10bar LX5 + YS-01 strobe package, macro lens & wide-angle lens $1,929

 Recsea LX5 - just $999

• Unsurpassed ergonomics and build quality
• Changeable ports allows for dome port & panasonic LX5 wide-angle lens
• Tiny, lightweight housing
   

Compact camera comparison chart 

Notes:
1) All cameras tested in similar low-light conditions, focusing 2-10ft away
2) All cameras tested together in similar low-light conditions, focusing 2-12 inches away
3) Results are the approximate width of the smallest photo possible, taken with a Dyron +7 macro lens. Widths will be slightly smaller with a Subsee +10, and slightly larger with a Subsee +5.

Other camera choices

There are certainly other good compact cameras out there - like the Fuji X10, Olympus XZ-1, and the Nikon coolpix models - and we did check them out. However, after looking at all the choices, looking at the macro and WA capability, housing options, sensor ratings, etc - we feel that the options listed above are the best options.
 

You should also read our guide to the best mirrorless underwater cameras.