Review of the ViviCam 6200w Underwater Camera

The Vivitar ViviCam 6200w is a 6.0 megapixel underwater camera. Although it is listed as an underwater camera, it is also equipped for multi-purpose.

I purchased this camera for a snorkeling trip, hoping to acquire some great photos of our tropical vacation. After tedious research and a lot of second guessing, the Vivicam 6200w appeared to be the best camera for the price range ($100 to $150).

Pros

Instead of being a normal camera in a waterproof case which is standard for the cameras in this price range, the ViviCam's waterproofing is in the body of the camera. The gasket that seals the batteries and the memory card area is very durable. The interior of the camera was dry after being in and out of the water up to an eight foot depth. In the water, the rubberized housing made it easier to hold, plus the extended wrist strap prevented me from losing the camera as it does not float.

The menu for accessing the various features is very user friendly even under water. The ISO is adjustable as well as the exposure and it does have a mount for a tripod. For an inexpensive underwater camera, the 4 times zoom capability is good.

Cons

The battery drain is enormous! Fresh batteries were used and the camera drained them within two short thirty minute dives. We were able to take about 20 pictures before the battery was gone.

The two inch LCD monitor is great for out of the water, but viewing underwater through a mask created some issues. The images were hard to see and blurry in some cases. Even though the camera has a zoom, to get those really close shots, you still needed to hold the camera as close to the subject as possible. At arm's length, the image on the screen was indecipherable.

Due to the design of the housing, the buttons are hard to push but this is understandable due to its underwater capabilities.

All in all, the ViviCam 6200w is what I would expect for the price I paid. It would be a good camera to give to the kids while snorkeling. It is fairly indestructible and easy to use as a point and click. If you are looking for a more detailed photo or if you will be venturing underwater often, I would suggest you spend your money on an investment piece and leave this camera to the kids in the pool.