Summary: Best underwater camera around

Comment: My Vectis has been through thick and thin with me and never let me down. It was expensive at the time I bought it (1999) but the pictures it has taken are priceless and it still performs like a champ. I've decided to retire mine and take the plunge with a digital but would replace it if I could find one for a reasonable price. They seem to be hard to come by anymore. Im guessing people like myself just keep them until they fall apart.

Summary: Good service

Comment: I have had my Minolta Vectis Weathermatic for about 4 years and have used it mainly when sailing and around boats and beaches. It always produces good shots and has never let me down. I am on my 3rd battery which I think is pretty reasonable. I like it because it is chunky and solid and can take the knocks and drops. I have never used it underwater but it shrugs off immersion in waves and sitting on (and in) a hot, sandy beach.
I am looking at a digital camera (maybe the Olympus waterproof/shockproof) for the convenience and smallness of digital but am not sure that it will match my Vectis.
Bill Giles

Summary: Highly recommended

Comment: I have owned this camera for 5 years now and it's been through the ringer and is still in great shape. The key is to rinse it off and keep it clean especially after salt-water use. The picture quality is great underwater as well as land use.

Summary: Caveat emptor

Comment: This camera has had a recurring problem wherein the "replace battery" icon flashes and the camera will not allow us to take any more photos - even after replacing the battery. This camera was purchased for vacation photos and three times now it has malfunctioned and needed repairs during the vacation, effectively making it useless. The zoom feature was previously repaired under warranty after minimal use. It took 3 months for Minolta to return the camera on that occasion. Our experience may or may not be rare, but it was bad enough to dissuade another purchase from Minolta.

Summary: Always a surprise

Comment: I have bought it 4 months ago and I never no if the pictures will be good or bad. The flash seems very weak (or it may be a problem with the light reader) and indoor pictures are usually so dark they are not worthy. Outdoor pictures with good light are usually very good !

Underwater pictures also need good light. Indoor pools are not an option for UW pictures as flash is really weak.

I bought this Vectis Weathermatic after being an [other brand] user for 7 years. I work as an agricultural consultant and most pictures I take are outdoors. My [other camera] finally fell into an irrigation canal and I decided to replace it with a waterproof, shock resistant camera. But with my [other camera] I always new what to expect, with my Minolta I never now if the pictures will come out with good light or not.

Another CON: can't take pictures if object is moving (no matter if ASA 400) as it can't focus correctly.

Conclusion: this camera will probably last longer than my [other camera] but I will probably replace it before as I am not satisfied with the quality of the pictures.