I finally bought a camera just for my fishing. I've been looking at waterproof digitals for some time and finally found one that meets my needs -the Olympus 1030SW.

It's a new model and has some really useful features:

-It's fully waterproof (to 33ft).

-Shockproof (will handle a 6ft fall).

-10MP, but has a small lens, so image quality is good (not spectacular as it needs a bit more light than a larger lens would).

-Wide angle lens, akin to a 28mm in an SLR. This is really handy as I often fish from a float tube and have to shoot in a very confined space.

Here are some samples of what it can do. I'm pretty pleased so far.

Very cool, I like the underwater shots!

That's a nice camera. I may get one in the near future. Carrying a near-full sized, non-splashproof Sony is a pain (though the mega macro is nice feature). The price for that Olympus, 10.1 mp is amazing. Olympus builds a quality product, too.

BTW, great reel, too!

those are wicked awesome photos!!!!

how much does that camera cost?

wow, I've been looking for one, out of my price range though (looks to be around 340 ish) =(

amazing camera!

It's pushing $400. Pricey I suppose, but a lot of camera for the money. Might just be the perfect compact angling camera.

Oh yes, Rowland reminds me: It has a very powerful macro feature, focusing as close as 2cm (0.8"). I've taken full frame shots of mid-sized mayflies -and it's very sharp with good lighting.

There is one thing I didn't know when I bought it: Olympus suggests the camera be sent in for re-sealing annually. I have no idea, yet, what that entails, time and cost-wise.

Rowland,

Yeah, that's a virtually spanking new C4. I was the reel repair guy in a tackle shop I worked at in the 80s. This reel was new, in the box, but had been robbed for parts. I ordered what was needed and have had it packed away since. Took it out just this year to put it to good use.

i bought my girlfriend one of those, shes love it. and it takes awsome underwater shots.

Looks like I know what to ask Santa Claus for Christmas this year.

Awesome underwater shots and beautiful scenery.  Thanks!

wow, did not even know they had those!  Thanks for sharing!  Awesoem underwater photos.

Sweet camera!!! Fantastic underwater shots.

Falcon

x2!

Cool camera. Whats it's maximum depth?

Max depth is 33ft.

There is another model in the line that is less expensive, but it is "splashproof" not waterproof and does not have the wide angle capability.

Max depth is 33ft.

There is another model in the line that is less expensive, but it is "splashproof" not waterproof and does not have the wide angle capability.

I have a lesser expensive model (stylus 790 sw) that is shockproof (5 feet) and waterproof (10 feet). the original price for it is around 300. I got mine online for 230. I would only recommend it if you love to take underwater shots or if u are really careless with ur cameras like me(i've broken two in 2 years from fishing). But i've found most of my pictures to not be as clear as I would like them two. It has 7 mp's but my other cameras with 6 mp's took clearer shots. the more expensive waterproof ones should be better tho

Yeah, the design requires a small lens, which needs more light than a larger lens would, for sharpness. The lens appears to be of high quality.

I am finding I need the flash more than I might otherwise. It appears to have a limited aperture size too, which limits depth of field. Nothing's perfect -yet.

I am pleased that I can finally carry a camera with me in my float tube though.

Max depth is 33ft.

There is another model in the line that is less expensive, but it is "splashproof" not waterproof and does not have the wide angle capability.

Thats awesome, you should snorkel near a brush pile and get some cool shots of bass in their natural habitat

Very nice photos. Ditto on the underwater pictures. They look great!!

Thats awesome, you should snorkel near a brush pile and get some cool shots of bass in their natural habitat

That's a really fun idea, but... the way light works underwater, you need to be REALLY close to something to get anything useful, then, any suspended material in the water cuts your distance much further. You need water clarity just not found very many places anymore. That's why most of the great underwater photos of bass were taken in the crystal clear spring rivers in Florida.

But there are things I can do at really close range, but not likely natural habitat stuff.

Very cool shots!!! Thanks for sharing with all.

Wow, cool pix.

It's waterproof to 33 feet?  LowBudgetHooker could use that feature.

Nice Camera!

I would like to find one with a fold out screen so I can see myself holding a fish    I usually fish alone and it is sometimes hard to get a good picture quickly and then release the fish.

rboat,

I mostly fish alone too. Here's what I did to cover this:

I've done some woodcarving in the past so I have a pretty detailed 15" largemouth carving. I used it get used to how I need to hold the camera (distance and pointing angle) for different shots. The uniquely wide lens allows for a lot of coverage. I can shoot myself and the fish without even fully extending my arm. This may be the primary advantage of this camera. I practiced a bit with the carving to get pleasing angles -like the belly held frontal shot you can see in the initial post. There are other nice angles I can make alone too.

This camera holds the image after the shot just long enough that I can judge whether I have the coverage I want. It also has a handy "last image shot" button that quickly shows the last image, if I need it.

I plan to rig a "keepsack" to the side of my tube that I can hold a fish in, if I need more time to get the correct shots.

thats cool man,and under water,wow thats clear water

Thought the best way to respond to your post was to bring this one back up.