Waterproof digital cameras are typically more expensive than their regular counterparts. They are often more bulky too, but Kodak has an affordable and compact model in the Easyshare Sport.

Following its trend of slapping the “Sport” name on anything that can be used in water, the Easyshare Sport was announced with a price of $79. We’ve yet to see the UK asking price, but we’d be surprised if it was this low, as it’s almost in the price bracket where you could buy the camera for one holiday just to use in the water.

Perhaps that is Kodak’s plan. Rather than being tempted to buy one of the more expensive (but fully rounded) waterproof compact cameras like the Olympus Mju Tough 3000 or the Canon PowerShot D10, maybe you’ll take the Kodak as a secondary camera.

In the hand it does feel a little basic and the finish isn’t brilliant, whereas the Canon and the Olympus are lovely to hold. Internally you get a 12-megapixel sensor and a fixed focus lens with no optical zoom. This perhaps explains the low price point, but autofocus and underwater don’t really mix as the camera is easily confused.

Around the back is a 2.4-inch colour display, with controls ranged to the side. Unusually it feeds off AA batteries which slot into the bottom under a double flap arrangement. Video capture comes in at a below-average 640 x 480 resolution.

We’re awaiting the pricing and we’ll certainly have a close look at the camera’s pros and cons when it hits the shelves in April, but we suspect it will be okay in the water and lacking out of it, a bit like a fish.