Vivitar ViviCam 6200W handles underwater shooting

It was just about this time last year that Vivitar snuck out of the woodwork to unveil a few ho hum shooters at PMA 2006, and now the firm is making a literal splash with its 6200W at this year's event. Deemed one of the company's first offerings since the recent acquisition by Syntax-Brillian, the six-megapixel compact touts underwater shooting abilities (up to ten meters), a practically worthless 4x digital zoom, SD card support up to 1GB in capacity, 16MB of built-in storage, PictBridge support, and a two-inch color LTPS display. Wrapped in "rubber armor," this rugged beast should take the abusive conditions of YMCA pools and oceanside fun with ease, but considering there's a complete lack of a flash onboard, we'd suggest snapping your photos whilst barely submerged. While there doesn't look to be a hard release date set just yet, it should reportedly hit shelves for around $233 whenever it lands.

[Via TGDaily]

[Phil @ Mar 11th 2007 12:59PM]

This is just stupid. Vivitar isn't the first (by a wide margin) to offer a waterproof shooter, and they're not exactly known for their excellence in photographic equipment design, so why should anyone buy this? What's the point?

[Dave @ Apr 30th 2007 11:26PM]

As a professional photographer I really beg to differ about your comment about Vivitar and quality equipment. I challenge you to find a professional photographer who did not use a 285 or 285 flash during the 80s, 90s, and even today with high tech digital cameras. There are still times when I need the compact power of my 285 and I don't feel like lugging around my Metz. Vivitar also had a fine line of lenses. This camera could just suprise you. For a snorkeling trip this would be a great camera. I guess the point is, not everyone wants to spend $350 and up for a digital camera for snorkeling. This is a great option.

[Chuckles McGee @ Mar 11th 2007 1:21PM]

Awww, camera handles underwater shooting? I was hoping it was a camera with a harpoon gun attachment.

[Gr1zz @ Mar 11th 2007 1:25PM]

As a avid snorkeler i would like to point out that the lack of a optical viewfinder is a major flaw. When your out for 2-3 hours at a time, snapping pictures using the screen will only grant you photos for the first hour then your sunk, because you STILL cannot change batteries in the sea.

[Dave @ Apr 30th 2007 11:24PM]

Cannot change batteries under the sea....hmmm. How's that changing film under the sea thing coming Gr1zz. 2-3 hours with the screen on. I haven't seen a digital camera yet that the screen stays on at all times. I don't think there will be a problem.

[mja1ajm @ Mar 11th 2007 1:58PM]

If there's no flash, then what is the weird cutout above the lens? It looks like a flash to me.

[Joe @ Mar 11th 2007 2:13PM]

There are tons of underwater digital cameras available on Amazon for MUCH MUCH cheaper:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_i_1/102-0877178-4382514?ie=UTF8&keywords=underwater%20camera&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aunderwater%20camera%2Ci%3Aelectronics&tag=freeplemanual-20

And unless you are diving everyday with a camera, I highly recommend you buy a cheap disposable underwater camera anyway.

[craig @ Mar 11th 2007 2:57PM]

Funny, Joe, that none of those are digital cameras. $233 is not expensive for a digital underwater camera and I've never heard anybody recommend disposable cameras for underwater use...at least no one who knows anything. I'll assume you don't qualify.

There is plenty of color available in the first 10m with ambient light. Though film can't get the color right under these conditions, digital can and the camera can still get useful results with or without a strobe. This is clearly targeted at the snorkeler. Can't say that I'd want it but I can see that some might. Digital zoom only sucks.

[Michael @ Mar 11th 2007 3:16PM]

If there isn't a flash... I wonder what that red button with the lightning bolt is for.

[Kevin @ Mar 11th 2007 3:17PM]

Who says it doesn't have a flash? The translucent cutout above the lens sure looks like a flash to me. And then there is the red flash button on the back of the camera...

(PDF link, sorry)

http://vivitar.dotfusion.com/imgs_sub/products/070307_newspec_pdfs/ViviCam%20SS%206200w.pdf

[John @ Mar 11th 2007 3:43PM]

No flash or optical zoom kills this. I do like the rubber armor though. I have yet to find a good point and shoot that can survive the first drop.

[brutal @ Mar 11th 2007 9:16PM]

waterproof to 30 feet. Not enough to be useful for scuba diving. next!

[felix Bonnier @ Mar 11th 2007 11:17PM]

When you make an assesment of a product you should really look at the document sheet first since it IS very evident that this camera HAS a flash both, as already said, looking at the flash WINDOW above the lens and at the RED button on the back of the camera with the very characteristic FLASH zag icon on it. Its so sad that an important info chanel as your selves often does silly mistakes like this and then people believe YOU and discard any further thought on the product which, had it been propperly evaluated, might have suited the fairly non techi, that looks at your site, perfectly. So PLEASE be more careful in te future of what you put in writing on your pages. LOTS of people LOOK at ENGADGET!!!!

thanks from an avid reader of your site

fb

[srw @ Mar 12th 2007 9:30PM]

Juat to put this one to rest, look here:
http://www.vivitar.com/imgs_sub/products/prod_6200w.pdf
"4 mode auto flash"

[Grizz @ May 1st 2007 9:10AM]

Dave, With a 1Gig card you can snap many hours of photos, its the battery that always goes first. Fish are not very photogenic and you may take 30-60 seconds to line up a shot. That much time with the LCD on per photo will sap the battery in under an hour. And its annoying to have to remember to turn the lcd on and off for each picture when your trying to enjoy the sights. Maby if the camera let you set the LCD to auto off in a couple seconds then my argument is a moot point.

[m88k @ May 31st 2007 11:51AM]

Uh, is it just me or does this look exactly like the Sealife Reefmaster Mini/Ecoshot? Admittedly they're both rated to much greater depths, but the rubber, shape, button layout and colors are all the same, as are the memory and battery. (Yes, SD and AA are common; thats why I put them last)

I've been wanting to see a review of those for a while; this Vivtar option suggests them being more readily available, cheaper, and more likely to be reviewed! :) I just want a cheap digital that will shrug of the rain and not mind being placed under the surface to get cool shots of streams.

http://www.sealife-cameras.com/cameras/ecoshot.html