I spotted this camera in a thrift shop, and was mildly amused by its appearance. I figured it was a toy camera of some sort. It looked like a Lego camera that got baked with batch of brownies, but certain features stood out that piqued my curiosity. Upon closer inspection, and particularly after seeing the Canon logo, I decided it warranted further investigation and might even be worth the $8.00.
The feel of the very sturdy plastic construction made me wonder about its purpose. Most point-and-shoot plastic cameras feel flimsy and cheap. This feels like the plastic is thick and built to withstand some abuse. The sealed lens cover was another giveaway that something was different about this camera. The single, large control knob seemed deliberately designed.
Allow me to introduce the Canon Sure Shot WP-1, which quickly became the camera I take out when I don’t want to risk anything else to the elements. Upon reading the manual, I learned that while it is billed as “waterproof”, it is not designed for underwater use. Yes, I know there are those that swear it is fine to use underwater, and many have successfully done so.
There is a cousin to the WP-1, which is the Canon Sure Shot A-1, or Prima AS-1. It looks nearly identical, but it was marketed as an underwater camera capable of submersion up to 5 meters. Some will argue that they are the same. I’ll leave that discovery to someone else. Interestingly, the little graphic on the close-up setting on the A-1 is a fish, whereas on the WP-1 it is a flower.
If you’re looking for a film camera designed for submersion, There are better cameras build for diving and designed to withstand the rigors of that sport. The WP-1 is better suited for use in conditions that would be detrimental for most cameras. Water, dust, and sand are enemies to fine cameras, and this was designed to survive those elements, within reason.
The film and battery doors have rubber gaskets that can be compressed and lose resilience over time. Remembering that this camera could be over thirty years old, this is the first thing I checked and cleaned after testing the general operation. I ran a very thin layer of silicone grease over them to add a little insurance against leakage (even though the manual says not to).
The viewfinder is generous and the controls are simple. Modes are controlled my the main dial on the front, and are as follows: Flash off, Flash on, Power off, Automatic, and Close-up. It requires a single CR123 battery, which seems to last a good long time. Autofocus is silent and fast. There are no manual focus or exposure controls, as it is fully automatic.
I was surprised by the remarkably good image quality coming from this lens. It is contrasty and the colors pop. This is no toy camera. The lens is a 32mm f3.5 lens, which I suspect was designed for this system. Normal focus range is 1m (3.3ft) to infinity, and with the close-focus setting engaged it focuses from 0.45m (1.5ft) to 1m (3.3ft).
I got a call from an old friend with an invitation to a fly fishing trip high up in the Southern Utah mountains. I would not be fishing from the shore, but from a float tube. This little Canon stepped forward to volunteer and came on this adventure with me. The fishing was so good that I forgot to take pictures most of the time, but I got a few on the lake and along the way.
The middle of a lake, without the benefit of a boat, was certainly not the place for a camera vulnerable to water damage. I quickly realized that having a weatherproof camera opened up all sorts of opportunities. Canon’s little worry-free weatherproof wonder can go nearly anywhere. That has value.
As I am writing this, my daughter-in-law is on a trip to Northern Europe. Prior to departing on this trip, she asked me if I had a film camera she could take with her. She would be in Germany for Oktoberfest, and then onto Norway for some canyoneering. Each of these activities could represent a significant risk for more delicate cameras. Moreover, she wanted something that was hassle-free and automatic. My mind immediately went to this little Canon.
I gave her a quick tutorial on the camera’s controls and loading the film. No problem there. A couple of rolls of Kodacolor film went into one of Sissi Lu’s airport film bags and off she went. I’m just hoping she remembers to have the film hand-checked…
