Billabong/Sony Cybershot TX10 $309

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Courtesy SonySony and Billabong teamed up to bring you the Cybershot TX10 (also available in pink.)

I had an underwater camera once before. It leaked. On a daytrip to the Great Barrier Reef. Impeccable timing, that one. It was eight megapixels, a tad bulky, and electric cerulean--as waterproof cameras are wont to be. Billabong and Sony's Cybershot TX10 is a considerable step up: a sleek silver casing, twice the image resolution, and HD video.

What it is:
In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably say that I was expecting the kind folks at Billabong to send me something bulbous and baby pink -- a $35 camera in a water housing that I could slam around a bit with zero remorse. Instead, they delivered the apex of point and shoot digital underwater(!) technology: the TX10. 16.2 megapixels can be brutally honest or stunningly crisp, either way, inarguably impressive. And five meters of water resistance are more than the average oceangoer's eardrums can handle.

Why it rules:
Despite emphatically declaring itself waterproof to 16 feet and shockproof, the TX10 doesn't look like a camera that should be able to endure submersion or, for that matter, a clumsy owner. Unnerved by its fanciness, I decided to take it for a walk in the rain before plunging into a real test. I may as well have taken it scuba diving. While shooting the brawny souls at "10-foot" Coolangatta, I was reminded of Glasgow, Scotland's torrents and it occurred to me that this might be the perfect travel camera: small, lightweight, chargeable via laptop, shockproof. And no need to worry about inclement weather.

The next day, Kirra was 5-foot and clean. Offshore winds. Barrels. I set out with the TX10 snugly over my shoulder. It is so slim that it didn't hinder my paddling at all. It did cross my mind that something silver flopping around on my back may not be the best idea with all of the recent shark incidents around here.

My single complaint about the TX10 is that the included wrist strap isn't exactly the most secure; if your arms are any bigger than mine, you're not getting that thing up on your shoulder, and when it slips below the elbow mark, it feels like it could easily continue sliding right down to the bottom of the sea. That being said, if you're serious about lineup position, you would likely invest in a more substantial strap.

Casey ButlerMy first day as a water photographer.

The camera itself is ridiculously smart and performs accordingly in the water. The touchscreen hides its buttons, so that you don't accidentally hit something weird, and it's fast. The image clarity is unbelievable. I thought about testing the manual settings, but honestly, it's hard enough surfing with a camera and worrying about not being sucked over the falls, not clanging it into your fragile fiberglass, not missing that set ... so I stuck with auto, and I wasn't disappointed.

If you find yourself bored between sets, the "Intelligent Sweep Panorama Mode" is capable of capturing 42.9-megapixel images, which is apparently the highest resolution among all compact, digital still cameras.

Finally, at the literal touch of a button, you can record 1080i-quality movies, which will play comfortably on your monster flat screen. If said flat screen happens to be 3-D capable, that'll also be handy for viewing your 3-D photos of coral, sea turtles, scantily clad bodies, or whatever you choose to document beneath the surface.

Where to find it:
The Cybershot TX10 is available for $309 (USD) through Sony.

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