I do bring my camera to the beach, and I have yet to have a problem. But you have to be careful, and use common sense.

I'm surprised that this got published here. This complaint should have been circular filed.

You can buy a water proof case that still enables you to take pictures but doesn't let in any water or sand while you take your pictures. *shrugs*

@Rachacha: The instructions that originally came with the electric outlet probably say something similar.

@xipander: exactly: take a picture of your family in front of the christmas tree with beach mode on? Poof! Family's in their swimtrunks on the beach.

Of course, this can lead to issues: "what the??! Who the HELL left the camera on beach mode? Aaron's bar mitzvah pictures are all ruined!"

You're ignoring, however, a lot of factors that may not be important to you, but which you don't have to be a professional to want. To be specific: more than 3.6x optical zoom (digital is worthless), manual exposure controls, RAW format, HD video, etc. That's not even mentioning difficult to quantify issues like color and smoothness or technical specs like CCD size. Currently, none of the non-pro waterproof cameras can offer more than point and shoot.

Hairdryer designed for use in the bathroom?

I don't know what its like where you live but in the UK it is illegal to fit 13 Amp wall plugs in the bathroom. Any plugs in the bathroom have a Shaver/Bathroom plug type fitting, and hairdryers only have a standard 13amp fitting.

Based on this I would say hairdryers are not designed to be used in the bathroom.

But this is beside the point. Just because a camera has a beach mode doesn't mean the lens barrel has been completely sealed against any contaminants.

@Seokso:
Mine is an olympus 10mp.
Unless you want a professional camera, the waterproof cameras have the same features as any sub $300 camera.

[www.break.com]

;-)

The picture settings are based on light not on where you are. Just because it has a mountain setting does that mean you take it up mt. ranier?

Yeah...just bury that camera in the sand and let the tide wash over it because if there's a beach setting it must be waterproof and sandproof!

I just took a quick look at my wife's instructions for her consumer point and shoot camera and it clearly states to be careful around water, dirt and all of those other nasty elements. All of my pro gear has the same warning, even my waterproof gear has the same warning.

We have a brain, people need to start using it.

....any skinny-dipping pics?

To make it survive an actual encounter with beach sand would require a sealed camera--that's going to add to the size, weight and price.

@davekoob: or have a girlfriend?? lol

@davekoob: odviously you are not a chick

Why are stories like this making it onto site? So many turn to this site for real stories about companies that have done wrong or done right.

This "woman rubs camera in sand and ruins it, thinks Kodak should fix for free" clutters the site and makes it look less professional. Ugh.

Just because the Canon EOS 1D is dust and weather resistant doesn't mean the prudent camera owner is stupid enough to take the camera to the beach without wearing some protection:

[www.bhphotovideo.com]

This reminds me of the time someone sued the Producers of "The Neverending Story".

It didn't take a whole lot of sand, but still-- *I* was the stupid one, not Panasonic.

Just be careful, or better yet, bring a disposable to the beach (or use your cell phone camera-- nothing with moving parts around sand, people!).

@Ronin-Democrat: Does the electrical outlet in your kitchen say "Do not stick a paper clip in the slots"?

@elangomatt: Not really, the warranty would likely be only for manufacturing defects, or breakage from "normal use". Bringing it to the beach and getting sand in the gears would likely not be "normal use" and certainly is not a manufacturing defect.

I frequently bring my digital camera to the beach, however I take it out only when I intend to use it, and when it is not in use, I keep it in it's neoprene case, and put the case inside a ziploc bag. If the wind is blowing, and I can feel the sand hitting me, the camera does not come out.

My guess is the OP threw the camera in a bag without a case, along with sunscreen and towels, and left the bag sitting on the sand allowing sand to get into the bag and consequently on the camera.

It's descriptive of a zone with lots of bright light, not an urging by the company for the customers to take delicate electronics onto the beach.

I learned how to fix many problems with laser printers that way.

See? Problem solved!

Beach mode is to take pictures of the beach without actually being on the beach.

So, take the shot from a cliff overlooking the beach, or a walkway next to the beach, etc.

/In other news, I've taken my casio camera, and my canon 20d to the beach and they both work fine. Probably because I wasn't using them to dig holes in the sand.

/Heck, I took my non waterproof casio kayaking up a river before (double sandwich bagged). And it was fine.

@sveyden: And no bringing in your own sand from home; you are expected to pay beach-prices for the food.

@sven.kirk: Yeah, but wouldn't that change have a material change to the terms of the warranty/guarantee? Therefore you should have been covered. ;-)

I am always amazed when I watch a making-of bonus feature and they have the movie cameras encased in what seems to be a gigantic baggie. Maybe the movie camera already has some sort of 'element-resistant' feature built in?

i would suspect that the camera has a one-year warranty that covers parts but only 90 day coverage for parts and labor.

after 90 days your warranty is effectively useless.

I would suggest being very very careful about taking ANY camera with a zoom lens to the beach.

I've got a camera with a dead capacitor, so every time the batteries are replaced, everything is reset to factory default. While I've used a soldering iron a few times in my life, I've decided I'll live with that until I replace the camera anyway.

I've had a Stylus 720SW for 3 years or so, and it is waterproof down to 30 feet, so I've taken it snorkeling. It is also shock-proof, claiming to be drop-tolerant up to some reasonable height above concrete, something I'll try not to test.

The current version of the camera is called the Stylus 8000, and it has a price point just under $300.00, so it costs about triple what the Kodak mentioned in the article goes for, but the Olympus is 12 megapixel versus 8.2 megapixel for the Kodak.

Posted from my other comment

I have an Olympus water proof camera that can be used underwater.. Damn thing got water in it and only works half the time now and fogs up the other half..

So they are not 100% either..

I guess now I'll always a bit of a doubt as to whether that's really true.

@diasdiem: It's a "sand" trap.

I had this happen with my Sony camera after taking it to white sands. You definitely have to be careful with them.

Also, if they already want money, unscrew the case, and see if you can blow out the offending sand/manually help the lens yourself. I've found unless there is actual damage to the gears, such as them being broken/in pieces, taking the case off allows you to blow/probe something out.

This is why I can't understand why people do not buy the water proof cameras.

I paid about $130 for my water proof digital camera. They have the same features and are the same as any regular digital camera but they are waterproof and shock proof.

People always take pictures at beaches, in the rain, around water, parties with spilled beer, etc. it is silly to not buy a waterpoof camera.

Poorly worded service, completely reasonable not to dole out a free camera.

While customer service is essentially correct that she should have taken better care of the camera, they need assistance with their, ahem, customer service skills.

IT'S A TRAP!