Rollei X-8 (Tchibo) is better than expected

I had read the bad reviews and hesitated by purchasing this camera. Then I tried it in the store and the tester made blurry photos - hence I avoided first on a purchase. But then the price dropped to 1/2 of the recommended retail price. Because I dared to buy and do not regret it so far.

I opted for the silver variant, since no paint can flake off. The camera is not easy, and looks to the real metal trim front and rear of quality - thus unfortunately visible fingerprints. Workmanship is good - closure for battery etc. is robust. The buttons are also handy to use with firm pressure.

Photo quality. During the day everything was okay - a little weak in the dark - noise still going, but the images in the auto setting when shooting up to 3 m are slightly out of focus. However, this is not the case with the scene modes. I've been using in the water "moving fish" as a motif setting, so be sharp pictures at close range up to 3 m. With greater distances, the focusing functions. Better than any cell phone is the quality not as good as compact cameras with larger lenses. There are several settings (s. Description), the smile detection works and the panorama function of the accompanying software combines any number of photos up to 360 degrees. That does not offer my Canon IXUS 100.
Video - Standard quality VGA - but quite insensitive when shaking. Recording is carried out in a low tone, but there is no speaker for playback. (Waterproof halt).

Speed. 6 seconds from power on to first photo. Half a second of clicking to the photo. That's still bearable. A pity, however, that saving 5 seconds lasts - until the next photo pass so 6 seconds.

Battery lasts long even with flash (300 photos).

Display is sufficient side clearly visible from below / above worse. Brightness is adjustable. Display is located behind a slightly reflective glass.

Application area - good for sports, rain, water park and water sports. For diving only conditionally, since only waterproof to 10m.

I had been an analogue SLR, a cheap Fixfocuskamera for underwater images up to 40m depth and a Canon IXUS i Digital (4 MP), Casio Z600 (6 MP), Canon IXUS i 100is (12 MP). After some familiarization I underwater, shot at boats / Jetski etc. beautiful pictures. These are not very good quality, but normally I would have had in these situations too scared to better and significantly more expensive cameras.

The camera is a compromise, but at an affordable price, it offers a comparatively large amount. There was a 1 Gigabytekarte and camera bag in and external battery charger, software and TV / USB cable.

I would buy the camera again. Who quickly many images would Underwater succession in right good quality, must continue to wait for the miracle Compact or 200, - for an underwater housing plus 300, - to 800, - to spend on a good camera.

I would have given almost four star but does not everywhere
I reached PRICE - performance ratio.