Review of the Nikon Field Jacket FJ-CP1 Water-Resistant Case

For years I have been fascinated with underwater photography. However, I rarely use film so I didn't like using those disposable underwater cameras. I enjoy the instant gratification given by digital photography. You take the photo, you see the photo on the LCD screen, and then you can quickly see it full size on your computer too if you need to. So I was overjoyed when I found out that there was a water resistant case for my Nikon CoolPix S5. Finally, I too could join in on the underwater photo fun.

Initially, I was just a bit worried that my nice little point and shoot would be ruined by water damage because the case would probably leak. Several of my friends expressed this same worry and therefore never took their cameras underwater. Thankfully, my worries proved to be unfounded and the FJ-CP1 has never let in even one drop of water. With this water-resistant field jacket, I'm able to snap photos of all my friends in the pool without worries.

Great Uses for the Field Jacket

Aside from taking photos of the kids while they're swimming, there are a few other things I've found this case to be useful for. When I went whale watching, I didn't want my camera to get any ocean mists on it, so I put it in the field jacket for protection. The FJ-CP1 is very easy to hold securely, so despite the lack of splashing on the boat, I was glad to have brought the case along. When the boat was rocking back and forth, I was able to easily retain my grip on the Nikon CoolPix S5 thanks to the field jacket. This is a good case to have with you at waterparks too, even though you probably won't want to take it down a water slide. At the beach, it will help protect your camera from the waves and the sand as well. If you volunteer with sea lions, you might find this useful too (okay, so maybe there aren't that many people who volunteer at marine mammal rehabilitation centers). In any case, this field jacket should be well worth buying even if you don't have a pool.

Why I Love The FJ-CP1

Even if I could just take a few basic photos underwater with this water-resistant case, I'd be happy. It is a pretty awesome field jacket though, giving you many options while you're underwater. You can still use the zoom underwater, something I honestly didn't expect to be able to do. You can also still use the face finder if you enjoy that feature. It is possible to play back the photos or videos you took while underwater too, without taking the camera out of the field jacket. You can even flip through menus and delete photos you don't like, all without removing your camera from the protective housing. The case doesn't fog up either, so my photos have come out crystal clear despite being taken underwater (so long as I am close enough to the subject for it to be reasonable that it should be clear). It is also very easy to put your camera into the field jacket should you need to get your camera ready for an underwater photo op quickly.

My Few Problems with This Water-Resistant Case

Nothing is perfect, but this case comes close to perfection. I've missed photos a couple times because it's difficult to press the camera's controls with the buttons given. However, if they weren't so hard to push they probably wouldn't be water-resistant enough to protect your camera. The other thing is, this case only goes down to 3 meters (9 feet, 10 inches). This is not a problem for your average home pool, but what if you dropped it in the 12 foot deep pool at college? The pressure could kill the case and thus your camera would be ruined. So if you planned to go scuba diving with this case, you can forget it. But hey, I'm sure there is some other case out there for you. The other thing is, you can't use the wheel on your camera while underwater. I pretty much expected this, as I can't even imagine how Nikon could have designed underwater housing that could work on the camera's neat little wheel. I was impressed that they made sure the zoom worked with this case. The bad thing about not being able to use the wheel though, is that you're stuck with the mode you picked before putting the camera in the case. No switching from action to movies underwater. You can however, still you some features on the wheel if they were features that you pressed the wheel for rather than turned it. You can still use macro mode or even the timer. So all in all, I'd say Nikon did extremely well with this case.

If you want to make all your friends jealous at the next pool party, buy the Nikon FJ-CP1 for your camera. This is a really fun field jacket that lets you use most of your camera's features without making you worry that your camera is going to get ruined while underwater. Besides, you know this field jacket would make your snorkeling trip this summer way more fun. The FJ-CP1 tends to go for around $100, but if you don't have a point and shoot yet, you might be able to find a package deal on a Nikon CoolPix S5 with the field jacket. This water-resistant case is definitely well worth the money and I think anyone who goes near the water would find it useful as well as fun.