Home > Consumer Reviews > DicaPac WP400 Small Zoom 160 X 105mm Waterproof Case

I purchased one of these to take pictures while snorkeling during my (very) recent trip to the Philippines. The case works exactly as advertised in as much as it kept my camera dry and permited easy access to the function buttons on the back of my Pentax Optio M10 camera.

Unfortunately, because the case is basically a flat envelope enclosing a rectangular shape, the on/off (minor) and the shutter (not so minor) buttons were not so easily accessed making quick picture taking difficult. The lense housing also obscured the periphery of some shots when the camera was not perfectly aligned.

Considering the price and the fit to a wide range of cameras, I would definately recommend this for snorkeling. It's depth rating is actually deeper than some model-specific cases by companies I won't mention here.

I used this on a snorkeling trip in Maui, and was very pleased with the results.

Pros:
- Does what it's supposed to do: keeps your camera dry under water.
- Didn't have a noticeable impact on image quality.
- Includes a good wrist strap.

Cons:
- While the buttons are relatively easy to access, any slider-switch or wheel controls are very hard to use while in the case. For my camera (a Canon SD450) this meant mode switching was tricky. This wasn't a big deal for me as I rarely switch modes anyway, but you should check the controls on your camera to see which ones may be affected by this issue.
- Does not provide any protection against pressure. So while it's fine for snorkeling or swimming, it's probably not a good choice for anything where you'll be going really deep (like scuba).
- A bit scary to use, since there's only a thin layer of plastic protecting your camera from destruction.

Tips:
- Test it in your sink or bathtub using some wadded up paper towel instead of a camera to make sure the case doesn't leak. It might be good to do this at the beginning of any trip just to make sure it hasn't gotten damaged since you last used it.
- Also, make sure the lens cap is on good and snug, and that the "zipper" seal is completely engaged before going in the water.

I reviewed this product with an ecstatic 5 stars several months ago. It worked great in several swimming pools, on a trip to Hawaii, and through half of our time in Belize. Unfortunately, halfway through a snorkeling trip, I noticed what looked like water in the bag. Before I could get back to the boat, my $300 canon was dead. Before you ask, yes I properly sealed it. My advice is to get the real case, or buy a cheap waterproof model. The only reason not to have one is that they don't do video.

Took this with me snorkeling the north shore in Oahu HI. Worked as advertised. It's a little hard to change the camera setting with this on while underwater, but for what it is I would certainly recommend this.

it's great to take pictures underwater...
i tried it before putting paper instead of my camera, i think it's a great test to do before fou actualy put your camera in.