This is my experience with waterproofed cameras.
It pays to do some online research on current models. Every
year...improvements will push different models to the front of the line. At the
time I purchased mine...the Panasonic TS2 was the top....no longer true, as the
current generation(TS4) of the series showed leakage issues from different reviews
including customer reviews on amazon.
In terms of waterproof cameras...Like waterproof reels(no matter
the brand)...You need to consider and treat them as water
resistant... especially in the salt. Even though these cameras are
rated to be submerged for long periods I do not. It treat is as
splash resistant with an occasional underwater shot or two.
My TS2 is two years old and hasn't leaked yet. But it has show signs
of pitting...the metal shell has corroded from the salt. I can only
guess that eventually the waterproofing will be breached. For my
camera and others...you are supposed to soak them in fresh
water after use in the ocean. I mostly do not...and perhaps only do
it every 10 outings if I remember. I am lazy...and I will eventually
pay the price.
My first surf camera was not waterproof. It slipped out of my camera bag without
me knowing...Then I saw it tumbling in the wash. Toast! My second was a
"waterproof" Pentax Optio W30...awesome camera, but the first time wading with
it....it was underwater for about five minutes... the waterproofing was breached.
Toast! Pentax replaced it with a new one and it lasted for about a year before the
waterproofing failed again. I babied the camera and it rarely was submerged. That
camera took awesome pictures. Now I have the Panasonic TS2...I like it but still do
not have it dialed in in terms of picture quality. It is still going strong, but I have
been limiting its time underwater. This season I started wetsuiting...and I keep the
camera in a small drybag on my belt.
It seems that in general the technology is getting better. The doors and gaskets
have become more reliable. The biggest note is that although these are claimed to be
waterproof....it does not mean that they are beach or ocean proof. It just takes some
sand or salt buildup to give water a passage into the electronics. You
need to maintain them and baby them a bit in these environments.
If bulk is not an issue...camera housings are an option. I do not have
experience with them so I can not give advise, but will say I have a
preference in canon products and if I were to go with a camera with
a waterproof housing, I would bee-line to cannon. I feel canon is the
easiest and nicest point and shoot on the market. Their waterproof
version does not get good reviews....which is why I do not own one.
Below is the search I did this fall past came up with the Olympus Tough TG-1 as being
the top pick of all the life-proof camera. I do not own one, but I did the
research for a friend.
I hope the info is helpful.
Conclusion - Waterproof Camera Showdown - The Best Waterproof Camera 2012
Pentax Optio WG-2 review - Pocket-lint
Olympus Tg-1-Ihs Review: Overview
Best LifeProof Cameras - 2012 Edition
Olympus Tough TG-1 Digital Camera Review - DigitalCamerainfo.com