Daily Archives: September 23, 2019

There’s nothing worse than being unprotected in a rainforest downpour at the beginning of a bucket list trip, wondering if your camera’s electronics will work when you and the gear dry out. But waterproof isn’t just for under the sea anymore. Whether you plan to chase the turtles on your next snorkeling vacation, you have a ski adventure in your future, or you plan an evening kayaking out on your local river, you’ll want a durable waterproof camera to capture the action. The best waterproof cameras share features like resisting corrosion from saltwater and good battery life even in cold conditions. You also want seals that stand the test of time, plus good optics to capture your subject clearly. Color, particularly when you’re shooting tropical fish or that shredder against the bright snow and blue sky, should be true to life without fading or blurry edges. Back in the day, waterproof cameras were analog 35mm film models without electronics. Now you have plenty of solid choices in digital still and video models that work underwater and in other wet conditions. Here’s our comparison of the best waterproof cameras for digital image capture, plus a throwback disposable film version. 8 Best Waterproof Cameras Best Overall: Olympus Tough TG-6 Best for Action: GoPro HERO7 Black Best for Deep Water: Nikon Coolpix W300 Best for Prosumers: Panasonic Lumix DC-TS7 Best for Kids: Nikon Coolpix W100 Best for Selfies: DJI Osmo Action Best Budget - Digital: Fujifilm Finepix XP140 Best Budget - Disposable: Fujifilm Quicksnap Marine Best Overall: Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: 25-100mm f/2-4.9 Water Depth: 50 ft. Video Resolution: 4K Flash: Built-in Weight: .6 lbs. You’ll find this latest Olympus on the top of everyone’s list, and for great reasons. In addition to its ability to dive down to 50 feet, it withstands freezing temps down to 14 degrees F, drops of up to eight feet, and weights up to 220 pounds. Files can be transferred automatically to either your smartphone or computer through the Wi-Fi connection. You have great focal depth available with its zoom lens, super-fast at the wide end and reasonable at the tele range. The zoom happens inside the camera, so no lens will protrude and interfere with your surroundings. Videos are sharp in regular 30 frames per second mode or in 120 fps for later super-slow-motion viewing. Users like the bright clear images the TG-6 produces, while saying it has so many setting options that it can take a little time to figure out which are best for specific shooting conditions. Some find the three exposure settings (low, medium and high light) limiting, though workable for underwater work. The minor changes Olympus made between the TG-5 and TG-6 put the new version at the head of the class and best overall for our list. Click to See Price Best for Action: GoPro HERO7 Black Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: 14-28mm f/2.8 Water Depth: 33 ft. Video Resolution: 4K Flash: No Weight: .3 lbs. Everyone knows the GoPro brand, designed to be your go-anywhere rough-house special capable of withstanding everything from flips off ski jumps to high dives into the deep blue sea. Converting those 4K videos into adventure films in both slow motion and full speed and stitching together clips brought a whole new edge to the action filming world. Livestreaming to social media is another feature that brings in followers. A video stabilization system unique to GoPro smooths out the action. An after-market housing can be added to extend the water depth of this mountable unit, and other accessories give you the ability to attach it to almost anything. Or use it on its handle and let the world see what you do in the wettest of conditions, complete with well-recorded sound. This is a video-only camera; it has not been rated for shocks, drops or freezing. Users note the two-inch touchscreen sometimes won’t work, and the limited focal range is too narrow. These and other minor shortcomings don’t dissuade enthusiasts, though, naming this latest addition to the GoPro line as a true hero in the wet action world. Click to See Price Best for Deep Water: Nikon Coolpix W300 Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: 24-120mm f/2.8-4.9 Water Depth: 100 ft. Video Resolution: 4K Flash: Built-in Weight: .5 lbs. If you want a camera that functions in deeper water, add the W300 to your gear sling bag and you’ll be able to dive down to 100 feet, as far as you can go without factoring in decompression. This Coolpix also serves as a good dive guide, able to tell you your depth (or altitude on land) and give you compass readings. High 4K video resolution and the ability to withstand standard drops and super-cold conditions make it a good partner on all your wet adventures. Whether you’re shooting stills or YouTube video, you’ll be pleased with the range of focal zoom and aperture possibilities. For stills, RAW file format is not a possibility, limiting your post-production editing on your monitor a bit, and there is no Manual mode. Transferring files is easy with Nikon’s proprietary SnapBridge technology to phone or computer. Users note the LCD screen is for settings, livestream and playback, but is not an articulating touchscreen. Battery life is comparatively short. However, the unique deep water possibilities not found in other digital cameras without resorting to a waterproof case make this W300 a great partner for your next dive. Click to See Price Best for Prosumers: Panasonic Lumix DC-TS7 Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: 28-128mm f/3.3-5.9 Water Depth: 102 ft. Video Resolution: 4K Flash: Built-in Weight: .7 lbs. This Panasonic brings unique features to the world of wet photography and videography. Its built-in viewfinder helps you out for stills on land or when you’re rafting down those river rapids or at the water slide. The higher 20.4 megapixel count on the sensor also puts it above others on the list for the detail you’ll get. For deep water adventuring, it has a built-in altimeter and compass, though it lacks GPS location tagging for your files. Ergonomically, the shutter release is big and easy to find, even if you’re wearing gloves, though other buttons are smaller. For digital aficionados, it has a Manual mode, though only two aperture settings are available. This camera does not save files to RAW format, limiting your post-production editing scope. Some users complain that it is a complicated camera to use. For the intermediate underwater or snow hound, though, it provides a range of features not available in most waterproof cameras today. Click to See Price Best for Kids: Nikon Coolpix W100 Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: 28-140mm f/3.9-4.8 Water Depth: 33 ft. Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Flash: Built-in Weight: .4 lbs. For the young person on your list, consider this entry-level waterproof camera with enough features to keep them shooting without the distractions of too many options. Yes, the video resolution is not the highest, but for a standard low light or fast movement action (think flitting fish) it does the job for social media and friend sharing purposes. Best of all, it’s affordable compared to many waterproof cameras on the market today. The shutter release, buttons and housing are ergonomically-sized for smaller hands. If they drop it, chances are it won’t break. File transfers are easy via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. This is a beginner’s camera, lacking things like good battery life, image stabilization and professional camera optics. Image quality is not up to Nikon standards for some users. However, this is designed to be a good kids’ camera, rugged and durable, and offers them a way to waterproof their adventures and share them with their friends. Click to See Price Best for Selfies: DJI Osmo Action Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: Fixed ultra-wide 145⁰ Water Depth: 36 ft. Video Resolution: 4K Flash: No Weight: .3 lbs. This DJI unit is already a step ahead of the waterproof digital game with front- and rear-facing screens for two ways of framing with its little box, and by little, we mean drop in your pocket and have room left over for three more. The longer-lasting batteries are said to maintain their charge in cold conditions, something other manufacturers cannot promise. The RockSteady image stabilization system compensates for handshake and instability in action work as if the camera was on a gimbal. Firmware features make this camera particularly good in underwater settings, such as a video mode that transitions from light to dark and back again without losing sharp rich details. Algorithms assure dynamic color adjustments for effective representations of real life. Set your own combinations with custom settings adjustments and move between modes with the rear touchscreen. A few users have had problems with the waterproofing on the Action. Others note the lack of focus adjustments make some videos appear overly sharp. If you don’t want to worry about image stability, though, strap this DJI to anything using its various accessory mounts and lead the way to adventure. Click to See Price Best Budget - Digital: Fujifilm Finepix XP140 Camera Type: Compact digital Lens: 28-140mm f/3.9-4.9 Water Depth: 82 ft. Video Resolution: 4K Flash: Built-in Weight: .5 lbs. Budget usually means skimping on features, but in the case of this XP-140, you might not miss what little is missing. The easy zoom is accomplished by pushing the W (wide) and T (tele or tighten). Aperture settings correspond to the focal length within a narrow range. In addition to its deeper water possibilities, this camera is shock-proof, freeze-proof and dust-proof for other types of conditions. Image stabilization covers shake potential during action shooting. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth file transfer capabilities can be done automatically in real time while your adventure unwinds. Users note that the images aren’t quite as bright or sharp as what you’d find in other cameras, but worthy for its budget camera distinction. Its design is more point-and-shoot, though it does offer a good ISO range of 100-12800 with some issues are the edges. If you want an affordable rugged option you will worry less about losing in the lake, add this Fujifilm to your destination bag. Click to See Price Best Budget - Disposable: Fujifilm Quicksnap Marine Camera Type: 35mm single use Lens: 32mm f/10 Water Depth: 17-35 ft. Video Resolution: Stills only Flash: No Weight: .4 lbs. Disposable cameras have long been the center of the waterproof market, in large part because they were the first to seal their systems and make underwater photography something everyone could enjoy without breaking the bank. This Fujifilm is no exception, with no settings to change and no complicated instructions – just point and press the shutter release. This comes with 27 exposures on the 35mm film as is standard with disposable cameras. The camera is fixed at a shutter exposure time of 1/125th of a second with an aperture of f/10 on ISO 800 film, so low-light shooting is tricky. These cameras work best on a sunny day and close to the surface. Note that there are discrepancies between manufacturer listings on how deep this camera can go before the waterproof seals break. Keep in mind the after-shooting development processing required with 35mm film. Since this is a single-use camera, you’ll need a stash of them if you plan on multiple wet condition adventures. While image quality can look foggy, this disposable is a nice option if you aren’t a photo geek looking for a long-term commitment. Click to See Price Back to Top

Daily Archives: September 23, 2019

Best Waterproof Digital Cameras