Fujifilm QuickSnap Waterproof 35mm Film Camera: My Choice When Snorkeling

The FujiFilm QuickSnap Waterproof 35mm Film Camera is a great camera for underwater snorkeling and for those places where you don't want to take a chance of losing or damaging a finer camera whether point and shoot digital or SLR. That would include sandy beaches,pool areas and water-parks.

Though I would prefer having a good waterproof camera or casing that could protect an existing one I have, this is my alternative when my wife and I go snorkeling.

Until recently we always used the Kodak brand of the same kind of point and shoot waterproof camera. I like this one better for underwater use.

What I Like

What I particularly like is the oversized wheel to advance the film and the oversized trigger to snap the pictures. Though I don't wear gloves when snorkeling, my hands are wet and the larger functions work better for me. I also find the shutter release clicks smoothly.

The Fujifilm QuickSnap Waterproof 35mm Film Camera is preset for photos 3.3' to infinity on land while for underwater use it's good for 3.3' to 10 ft.

The camera is said to be good, in reference to water pressure, up to 35ft underwater. It would be very rare that I would free dive that deep. My limit is probably more twenty feet, so I don't feel this is much of a restriction. For scuba divers it could be.

Haven't Lost One Yet

The camera box is completely surrounded by a sturdy plastic casing . It's what I would consider a usual sized throw away point and shoot. An oversized rubber band keeps the camera securely on my wrist and I have never had it slip off in many kinds of awkward circumstances like taking off my fins in choppy water when getting back in the boat or when my wife quickly shoves me between the black tipped reef shark and her when first spotted. I have never had one of these cameras leak on me, even with rough play.

I don't like the very small viewfinder and it's almost useless to me underwater because of my mask and I try to get as close to the subject matter, to fill the frame, as possible. I usually extend my arms, aim and shoot. We have however, near the top of the waterline, gotten good shots looking through the viewfinder. My wife takes pictures of me underwater from that vantage and gets great shots using that function.

Quality Images?

The camera gives good pictures, not great ones but, in most cases, I get perhaps five keepers from a roll of 27 shots. We happen to be quite discerning in what we put in our after vacation picture albums.

For use on the beach or around and in pools the camera gets extra props. It works well in full daylight and the pictures come out pretty well for a one time use camera. This is an 800 speed film.

For getting you pictures from the camera, the full camera is given to the developer and they keep it giving you the finished photos and negatives when developed. The cost is usually about $6-$8.

Summing It Up

The Fujifilm QuickSnap Waterproof 35mm Film Camera is a cheap alternative to an expensive underwater camera or waterproof casing for my existing cameras. I too timid to try one.
It's an easy camera to use and the oversized controls make it easy to use underwater. I find it better than the Kodak I always used previously. The design of bright colours and ease of use could also make it a good choice for a young child to use as their own personal camera on an outing. The hard plastic casing is quite durable if dropped.

The photos in good daylight are quite good. There is no flash on this camera. Underwater shots are good when the sun is out above. This is now my new choice of underwater camera for snorkeling.