T3 summarizes the best underwater cameras you can buy right now
Author: Amy Davis Last updated 2021-11-02T23:58:10.098Z
Although the onboard camera functions of smartphones are continuously enhanced, and most flagship smartphones are at least waterproof, a dedicated camera that is truly extensively waterproof and rugged to push the limits is usually still the most important.
With all the cameras in this list, you can use them in all your adventures without worrying about getting them wet, how long they can be immersed, or if you like snorkeling or scuba diving, don’t worry about how deep you are Take them.
Although there are not many new products entering the underwater camera market, many of the underwater models already on the market are excellent, and it is easy to understand why they continue to perform well.
Our guide includes several different brands, including the best compact cameras designed to be waterproof and/or rugged, and the best sports cameras that work slightly differently but are also suitable for underwater or waterside actions .
Waterproof cameras are also worth considering when planning a family vacation or day trip. Because they can withstand a little bump and roll, they are very suitable for hanging in a beach bag, don’t worry too much.
Buying the best waterproof camera for you depends largely on what you want to achieve with this type of camera.
If you are an avid underwater photographer and want the best possible image quality, it is worth investing more in an underwater camera than just being satisfied with a snapshot of a beach holiday. For the same reason, if you are an enthusiast, you might be looking for a camera with more advanced features than simpler point-and-shoot cameras.
You also need to consider how waterproof you need the camera. If it's just for splashing water on beaches, coastlines, or rivers, then a small amount of waterproofing will do. However, if you like more serious things, such as diving, then you will need something that can cover greater distances and be exposed to the water for longer.
Next, you may need to consider size and weight. All models here are suitable to be carried with you, but some are smaller and lighter than others. If you want to use something like thick gloves when shooting underwater, you should also consider how simple/easy it is to operate the camera. Finally, you may want to consider whether there are any accessories that you may want or need to use with a waterproof camera, as this will increase the volume (and cost) of your setup.
The best overall waterproof camera we chose is Olympus TG-6, which perfectly combines portability, high image quality, advanced settings and very useful waterproof settings. If you want to save a little cash, but you want a powerful point-and-shoot camera, then the Fujifilm XP140 is a good choice. For action all-rounders, GoPro Hero 10 Black is the best choice.
Read on to learn more...
The TG-6 is an ideal camera for adventurous people. Its rugged and durable characteristics make it ideal for capturing various adventurous behaviors that your mobile phone or standard camera may not survive.
Although there are always some compromises, the image quality of the TG-6 exceeds your usual expectations of this type, partly because it is equipped with a good-performance lens and f/2.0 maximum aperture for shooting in low light.
Underwater photographers benefit from dedicated underwater settings such as a specific white balance mode, underwater HDR and microscope mode for super close-ups.
Hobbyists can also benefit from being able to shoot in the original format, which is missing from most formats mentioned elsewhere in this guide. We would like to see more manual control, but it is closer to perfection.
The Fujifilm XP140 is a very basic product, but it is very suitable for some scenes where you might not want to expose other types of cameras or mobile phones.
It can be up to 25 meters deep, which is a good plus point for the price. It also has anti-shock and anti-freeze features, so you can use it on all types of adventure holidays and day trips.
The camera is also very simple and easy to use, the buttons are moderately sized and easy to understand and interpret even when wearing gloves or when visibility is limited (such as when diving underwater).
However, the compromise here is definitely image quality. Although it requires a fully qualified snapshot, your smartphone can almost certainly do better. If you just want to record some kind of underwater or difficult adventure record at a low price, then it is worth studying, but if your budget can be extended to it-there is better performance out there.
The main competitor of the Olympus TG-6 is the Panasonic FT7, which is better in some aspects, but worse in others. However, if you are most concerned about water resistance, being able to dive to a depth of 31 meters may make the FT7 a winner-even though it is only 1 meter taller than the Nikon Coolpix W300.
Although this is a camera that is fairly easy to grasp and understand, the buttons are a bit cumbersome, which is bad news for use in situations where visibility is low or when you are wearing thick gloves. The biggest exception is the shutter release button, which is large and textured-maybe this is what you need in most cases.
In the case of sufficient light, the image quality is good enough, because the aperture of the lens is quite narrow, it will be affected a little in low light conditions. This may not seem like a big deal, but at deep water temperatures, the light is also very low, so it is worth considering whether the TG-6 is a better choice.
Other useful features include 4K photos, which allows you to extract still images from 4K videos, in-camera USB charging and built-in viewfinder, the latter is rare for this type of camera.
On paper, the Nikon W300 is one of the best models in our buying guide. It provides excellent sturdy credentials, including almost class-leading water resistance (and there is only one meter difference between it and the Panasonic FT7, which is only the smallest difference anyway).
Other useful features include built-in GPS, 4K video recording and 5x zoom lens. The W300 has some disappointments, especially in terms of price, including the lack of raw format shooting, and the buttons are a bit cumbersome, but other than that, it is a very good all-rounder.
If you are a loyal fan of the Nikon brand, then this is your best choice, but in almost all aspects, the Olympus TG-6 is better than it. If you need deeper waterproofing than its competitors provide, it is certainly a good competitor.
A leader in the field of action cameras, the latest Hero 10 Black model is the ideal model for those who want an all-round model that is good at shooting in many different conditions-especially if you like video.
This latest model of the new processor can achieve a resolution of 5.3K at up to 60fps, or up to 120fps if you are willing to stick to 4K, which is ideal for slow-motion shooting.
People who like surfing and other water sports might look to GoPro, especially because the many different accessories and stands mean you can use it with equipment such as surfboards and paddleboards.
Snorkelers and shallow water divers may also be tempted, but the maximum depth is 10 meters, and those who want to go further are more suitable for some of the higher-level models in this buying guide.
Although Hero 10 can be used for still photos, it is primarily a video-oriented device and may or may not be suitable for you. It is also quite expensive compared to some of the models here, so if you are just looking for a simple product suitable for family travel, it may be overkill.
In other words, if you want the best action camera on the market now, it is the best choice.
This is another excellent all-round compact camera that can serve various users well, especially if you are looking for a sturdy and reliable camera suitable for beach and family outings.
It can be used more seriously, has some good waterproof certificates, and the digital microscope mode is particularly attractive-a set of lights around the lens means you can take some wonderful underwater close-up shots, which may appeal to snorkelers and divers .
When the light is sufficient (or the scene is illuminated by built-in lights), the image quality is best, but it will produce some good photos that should be suitable for the needs of ordinary home photographers.
The biggest disappointment here is the screen, which is small and low-resolution-but compared to the Olympus TG-6, this may help reduce costs, which is arguably forgivable.
Although GoPro may be a well-known brand in the field of sports cameras, there are still some interesting alternatives on the market.
One of the most recently added is DJI Osmo Action 2. Its modular design is a fun, versatile and highly customizable option, perfect for travel and sports holidays.
It can shoot slow motion video at 4K speeds up to 120fps, and a range of other frame rates for more conventional shooting. It cannot match GoPro Hero 10 Black's 5.7K shooting exactly, but unless you are a serious videographer who desires ultra-high resolution, it may not cause you trouble.
In addition to the resolution, you get other useful features, such as the "Horizon Stabilization" image stabilization function, which is very effective in very unstable conditions-although it is worth noting that this can only be used up to 2.7K Resolution.
What is really interesting about Osmo Action 2 is the modular design. There are a series of useful different modules, you can install and remove the basic unit according to your needs. Along a similar line of thought, you can also install and remove it on different stands depending on what you are doing-helping to keep you hands-free while capturing motion.
Like other sports cameras, this is primarily for video shooters, so if you prefer still photos, one of the other cameras listed here may be your best choice.
If you are a serious diver and need something to reach depths that the other cameras listed here simply cannot manage, Sealife Micro 3.0 is an option-that is, unless you want to start investing in underwater enclosures and rigs Other types of cameras.
In addition to being able to reach a depth of 60 meters, the Sealife camera is permanently sealed to ensure that no water seeps into it. The trade-off here is that you can't get the kind of flexibility that other models provide-but if you need this depth, then it's a sacrifice worth making. You get a fixed lens and a small sensor, but it can still produce good images.
You can buy the camera separately, but one of the attractions of SeaLife Micro 3.0 is that you can also buy various kits. If you want to dive deep, it is worth adding Sea Dragon LED lights to your shopping cart because the light will be low.
Amy Davies is a freelance journalist covering cameras on T3 and many other websites. She is also a close-up editor of an amateur photographer's magazine, and when she is not writing about the camera, she may take pictures of her cute dog.
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