Review of the Vivitar 6200w

www.vivitar.co.uk Waterproof photography used to be a specialist area restricted to those willing to pay large sums for unwieldy housings. Vivitar’s latest offering is robust, waterproof to 30ft and affordable, but how does it fare both in and out of the water? As expected with a camera aimed towards underwater photography, the ViviCam 6200w’s specification is dominated by its sub-aqua capabilities. The 6MP CCD sensor and 2in LCD are protected by a robust and somewhat ‘toy-camera’ feel rubber armour, providing a maximum depth of 30ft. The maximum ISO 200 is modest, as is the lack of optical zoom, with a 4x digital zoom being the only zoom option. Image capturing is handled through either Auto or eight scene modes. The design of the ViviCam 6200w is unquestionably water-orientated, and while serving a purpose when used in the water, the result is a camera that has the feel of a toy model, which makes it clunky outside of the water. It is, however, relatively simple to use, with the large buttons making in-water image capture and review simple. OUR VERDICT While the ViviCam 6200w provides acceptable results in use in the water at an affordable price, the overall feel of the camera is such that using it any place else is an unpleasant experience. What Digital Camera Score 75%