The Waterproof Camcorder

If you're wanting to capture video underwater there are a few options.

Purchase a waterproof camcorder. This can often be a good option if you'll be doing quite a bit of filming underwater. The primary drawback is that the number of choices is somewhat limited. You can see some of the top choices below. Purchase a camcorder with a waterproof housing. This option can get a bit expensive if you purchase a high quality housing designed specifically for your camcorder. The better housings can cost several hundred dollars but it can be a good choice for those who do a great deal of underwater filming and have a camcorder that has all of the features they want. We have a few housings listed below. Purchase a waterproof still camera, or camera with waterproof housing, which can also record video. Increasingly still cameras have video capabilities. If your filming needs are pretty basic then you might want to consider one of the waterproof camera models. Make your own waterproof camera/camcorder housing. This obviously takes some time and effort, and requires a bit of skill, but can be quite affordable. We have an instructional video below.

Choosing a camcorder to use underwater isn't too difficult but there are of course a few things to think about first:

Just as with any camcorder purchase, consider image quality/resolution as well as sound quality. Sound isn't always your first priority when filming underwater, but if the device will be used above or away from the water as well, sound quality becomes much more critical. Determine what features you want. How much zoom is desired? How about image stabilization (which can eliminate some of the unwanted movement)? Remember, the optical version is superior to the digital version. Length of recording. Think about how long you want to be able to record before needing to download. Think about your filming needs and the depth at which you will be filming. The various waterproof camcorder models can be used at different depths of water. Some are good only in shallow water such as encountered when snorkeling. Others will go deeper and can accomodate diving. Still images. If you're interested in being able to also capture still pictures make sure that the camcorder has the ability to do this, and perhaps do it while filming. Simple, easy to access controls. Operating a camcorder while underwater can take some practice and having controls that are easy to operate is important.