Polaroid has dipped its toes into the waterproof camera market in the UK for the first time with the introduction of the X800E compact and we were invited along to see it in action.
This lightweight 8MP snapper is waterproof up to 3m, so that you don't have to worry about using it by the pool when you're on holiday. Sporting an 8x digital zoom, the camera also features a 2.4-inch LCD screen, along with face tracking as well as smile and blink detection.
The tiny camera fits in the palm of your hand, so it's really nice and compact, and the bright yellow casing means that it'll be easy to spot if you lose you grip on it in the water. While the fascia sports the striking canary-yellow finish, the edges and buttons feature a black rubber finish which added plenty of extra grip while we were testing it out in the water.
Although the screen resolution isn't the best that we've seen on a compact, it's perfectly usable for a camera in this price range. We found that the display was certainly bright and clear enough for reasonable viewing in what was a relatively dimly lit product room.
As the camera is designed for use under water, there's no touchscreen operation, so you're reliant on a small selection of rubber-covered hard buttons at the side of the display instead. Operation is nice and simple which, combined with the low price point, should appeal to younger consumers who are looking for a durable snapper to take on their hols.
The Polaroid X800E will be supplied with a USB cable and is due to launch in October, priced at £49.99.
