Waterproof digital cameras are digital cameras that won’t be wet or damaged when falling in the water. The first waterproof camera was Healthways Mako Shark for extreme underwater photography, launched in 1958. It size was huge and the pictures produced were black and white. At present time, waterproof digital cameras are highly improvised with better optical quality and other ’modern’ features like zoom feature, auto flash, touch screen, and even GPS (Global Positioning System).

The differences between waterproof and ordinary digital camera were not just laid in its anti-leak casing, but also other important features to counter other effects that produced during taking photographs underwater; shockproof and freeze proof. Shockproof feature prevents the operator from getting shocked when touching the cameras or changing the batteries due to the conductivity of water to electricity. Freezeproof prevents the cameras –usually the lens- from broken due to sudden hit in low temperature. Opposite to its freeze proof ability, waterproof cameras are not modified to stand in high temperature. Some brands also offer dustproof feature.

At present, waterproof camera are no longer luxurious gadgets for extreme underwater photography, but more like a necessity in many common digital cameras. There are many kinds of waterproof digital camera; compact camera, SLR-type camera, candid camera, and camcorder. This feature also cause underwater photographs tend to be more popular to public. Digital cameras with waterproof feature are designed for tough situation, so it doesn’t need a lot of attention for the safety of the camera. This is good news for those who like to go to the beach, or are careless enough to drop coffee or other watery compounds. The price is also dropping every year, makes it more affordable. If we only need to spend a little more money to get waterproof camera, then why should we pay less to buy the ordinary one?