Does look good DJ, I'm also a Canon man but ended up with the Olympus. Keep in mind that the Olympus is at least 3rd generation water/shockproof though and I'm sure there is a bit to learn about getting these cameras right. Notice the Canon is 12.1 megapixels, seems to be a bit of a continuous horsepower race - don't really get why you need that kind of resolution when you look at the kind of shots our digital SLR produces with 6 megapixels even printed A3.

here is a preview of these...

www.cnet.com/

I have had Canon DSLR's for a while now and swear by them, but in compact cameras I have not been able to go past an Olympus I had at one stage. It produced images close to as good as my DSLR. For that reason I would probably sway toward the Olympus Mju Tough 8000 for equivalent specs or the 10mp Mju Tough 6000 for $450 is a pretty good option if you don't want the Scuba diving capability (only waterproof to 3m, good for surf shots still though).

You don't really want any more than 6 or 7 megapixels on a compact because all you do is lose resolution when printing, from the white noise. This is to do with the size of the chip in the compacts and software can only help so much.

Do you rekon waterproof to 33 feet means it can handle the water pressure of surf?
Could be a good option, the go pro is over priced in Aus.....

Hey DJ!

Being a fellow windsurfer, i would love to rig this sort of thing on my windsurfer!

I dont think it would work, due to the non slip!

But i was wondering how you took the last photo of you, did you just set it to take a photo in 10 secs!

or is there a funtion that takes photos every (x) seconds?

Cheers Steve

More info on the camera.

DJ

Canon's first waterproof compact looks like a little plastic gem from the ocean while the new A-series colors put Barbie to shame. Read about the new Canon PowerShot D10, A2100 IS, A1100 IS and A480 IS here.

A massive Canon-ball is hitting the digital camera pool, and it's the Canon PowerShot D10, the company's first underwater compact. Also new this year are revamped entry-level A-series models, the Canon PowerShot A2100 IS, PowerShot A1100 IS and PowerShot A480 IS. Color is hot for 2009 and Canon has gone to town on nearly all of its new models, providing the most eclectic assortment of palettes we've seen to date. Architecture is also overhauled, as we saw with the new Digital Elph lineup, and the PowerShot D10 looks like something out of a Teletubbies episode. Aside from a megapixel boost here and there, the A-series remains relatively unchanged internally for '09, so the spotlight belongs to the Canon PowerShot D10. Let's get our oxygen tanks on and dive in.

Sea Creature

The new 12–megapixel Canon PowerShot D10 is unlike any camera we've ever come across, resembling a little plastic pillow with angled corners. The Canon PowerShot D10 looks more like something we'd expect to find in Toys 'R' Us than Best Buy, but that's part of its allure. We have to applaud Canon for escaping from the rigid constraints of an uninspiring rectangular box design this year, and all of their compacts are visually discernable from one another. The giant consumer flag was raised when we found out that the Canon PowerShot D10 supports customizable face plates and "cool" straps, providing a level of iPhone-like customization within the digital camera world.

Canon's usually the company that sits back and watches all the other manufacturers iron out the kinks of a new technological phenomenon before swooping in and putting them all to shame. We hope that's the case with the Canon PowerShot D10, and the camera's specs seem promising. The Canon PowerShot D10 is submergible underwater up to 10 meters (33 feet) while the recently announced Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 and Olympus Tough 8000 can withstand a 33-foot plummet as well. The PowerShot D10 is also shock-proof up to 4 feet, freeze-proof down to 14 degrees, and dust-proof, making the new underwater orb a fierce competitor within its class.

The interface is fairly cluttered with controls and a four-way directional pad, and the Canon PowerShot D10 sports a 2.5-inch LCD, which might be difficult to see underwater due to its petite size. The 3x optical zoom means you'll have to swim a little closer to that shark in order to capture a decent shot, but zooming underwater is overrated. The Canon PowerShot D10 will ship in May for $380 and will be available in an Ocean Blue and Silver combination.

Bottom of the Totem Pole

Aside from a fresh coat of paint, Canon's top two A-series models look identical to last year's equivalents. Though the Canon PowerShot A2100 IS and Canon PowerShot A1100 IS remain unchanged structurally, the Canon PowerShot A2100 IS has been upgraded to a 12-megapixel sensor and 6x optical lens. The PowerShot A1100 IS retains the same 10-megapixel sensor and 4x optical zoom.

Both cameras feature their respective 3-inch and 2.5-inch LCDs, but have been upgraded to Digic 4 processing. The Canon PowerShot A2100 IS will ship in April for $250 and the Canon PowerShot A1100 IS is set to leave the warehouse shelves in late February. The PowerShot A2100 IS will be available in Black only while the PowerShot A1100 IS will be available in four different pastel colors consisting of Pink, Green, Blue and Silver.

Canon's bottom rung offering gets a design overhaul this year, featuring a highly compact, rectangular design with rounded corners and minimal controls. The Canon PowerShot A480 IS is the only model to remain stuck with Digic 3 processing, but it has an upgraded 10-megapixel sensor and 3.3x optical zoom. The 2.5-inch LCD is also carried over, and that just about sums up the major changes for the entry-level A-series model. The Canon PowerShot A480 IS will ship in mid February for $130 and is available in Red, Blue, Silver or Black.

That's Ash.. He's a Malamute and one of the biggest that I've seen..

He's as big as a lion.. He's my friend Anne's dog...and he's a gentle giant..

DJ

I have a few friends with them and some have had similar drama's to you.

But they have had excellent service from Olympus and given new camera's.

I have my fingers crossed...and this is why I kept asking at dealers for other options like Canon and all said they don't make one.

What type is your Fuji camera?

DJ

Looks like you put in a lot of work on that setup DJ!
Is there not an easier way
BTW love the effort 10 out of 10

mac

One of the best waterproof cams for on/in water use video and still is any off the Pentax Optio WP Series 10/20/30. It has fully programable interval function for taking stills at any interval of time or number all in 7Mp Quality. The video is 640 x480 30fps Mp4 and a huge jump in quality over the GoPro.

They are still available cheap as an import or on ebay for under $200 Aussie.

I've had a WP20 for 3 years no problems, love the camera, highly recommend it. It was ignored here in Au because it looked plain ugly.

Cheers Rambo

I owned the Pentex. It died.

I owned the Olympus. It died. Poor quality photos anyway, so no great loss.

Now I use a Canon water proof housing on a pocket sized Canon. Hassle free durability and way better quality photos than either the Pentex and Olympus.

I'd love for this new Canon to have the same high quality seals as a water proof housing, but somehow I doubt it. Fingers crossed they were smarter than Olympus or Pentax because their cameras take way better photos.

My little Canon took such good photos, I was forced to upgrade my digital SLR because it made that camera look bad.

I've got the olympus as well. So far so good. But if I was getting a new one i'd be getting the new Panasonic Lumix waterproof model.
www.panasonic.com/au/404/?objectID=4891

It will be the best on the market as far as lens and processor goes but you are paying for it at $699. Give it 6 months and they'll be $499

I've always maintained the battery case seal on mine and never had a problem in 3 years with the Pentax WP 20. That includes being immersed in the ocean for 3 + hours in my pocket when i was stranded at sea when my canoe broke up. The interval function and the mp4 video quality of this CCD camera (yes CCD sensor not CMOS) is a good as most std DV camcorder footage and is image stabilized. The audio is also very impressive.

www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/pentax/optio-w20/pentax-optio-w20-review.html

It's not wide angle, but it's a huge step up from the GoPro for video quality and cheaper if you are looking for an alternative. Olympus has never had good video.

Get a cheapie on ebay.

Cheers Rambo

Has anyone found another source of those orange glaziers suction cups other than waiting for one to come from china? Are the black ones on ebay the same as the orange ones?

Bit expensive but

http://www.sportscamera.com.au/power-suction-cup-p-254.html

Should be around $7.00 US + postage otherwise try a local glazier or panel beater.