Olympus SW 770

I bought my first "waterproof" camera over 20 years ago. I can't remember the brand, but it was one of the only ones available for under $1000 (that was a fortune back in 1984). Yes, you could get it wet and take a picture from the water, but the pictures were so blurry you might as well have waited until you were back on land because you could barely distinguish a boat, much less a person once you got the prints.

The Olympus SW 770 is the underwater camera I wish existed in the 1980's. Ironically it costs about $300, the same price I paid for my first underwater camera; technology has advanced as prices have not, and that is always a good combination. We have come a long way in two decades. The Oylmpus SW 770 not only takes crisp clear photos (from as far down as 33 feet underwater), but you can also take mini movies, drop it from 5 feet, freeze it, or step on it, and it will still perform. It's a tough exterior with a smart interior; it's smart enough to know when and what to shoot so that you get a stable image even if the subject is moving or you are; remember that you can use it underwater, so chances are good that you will be moving in the water.

The pictures are remarkably clear, even if you are shooting in the movie mode, you can actually capture that dolphin swimming past you or that stingray swimming towards you. Everyone can now take the kind of pictures that only those with a professional's budget used to be able to take.

Hmmm, underwater photographer, could be a fun new career, but I wonder if there is a way to blog underwater?