If you plan to take a waterproof camera when you go rock climbing, skiing, or diving, it makes more sense to get a waterproof camera that can withstand moderate drops and operate while completely submerged underwater.
Nowadays, buying a waterproof camera can offer you high-definition images, record 4K videos and immerse yourself without any problem with a good camera.
What waterproof camera to buy for a quality price?
Features of the main waterproof camera:
Tough TG-5 OLYMPUS waterproof camera
This waterproof camera features a 4x zoom lens. It operates underwater at a depth of up to 50 feet below the surface, can tolerate drops of up to 7 feet, and can withstand temperatures up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ricoh WG 70 waterproof camera
The WG-70 can withstand drops of up to 5 feet and can operate in freezing weather (14 degrees Fahrenheit) or up to nearly 50 feet underwater. It can’t capture 4K video and lacks Wi-Fi to transfer images to your smartphone, but at around $100 less than the Olympus TG-6, it’s a good option if you don’t want to spend as much on a waterproof camera. The “but” is that the images lose real color.
The GoPro may be a waterproof camera, but it doesn’t capture still images.
Action cameras like the GoPro Hero series have been eating the tough camera lunch for the past few years due to their ease of use, countless mounting options, and diminutive size. But its super-wide-angle lenses, while immersive for shooting video, produce noticeably distorted still images.
If your main goal is to take still photos, a rugged camera offers true optical zoom and superior optics that an action camera can’t match and has a larger screen to preview your results in the field.
What should you take into account when buying a waterproof digital camera?
Waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof: Since ruggedness is the main reason these cameras exist, we take into account the limits set by the manufacturer.
Snorkeling is unlikely to take you below 10 feet, but your camera’s depth limit should give you plenty of room in case you accidentally drop the camera underwater. We considered a depth rating of 40+ feet as a minimum (50+ was preferable). Likewise, you’ll need at least 5 feet (chest height for many people) of drop resistance. And almost all modern rugged cameras operate in subzero temperatures of up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
Macro and Close-Up Modes: Because light doesn’t travel very well through water, many underwater photographs occur very close to the subject of the photo. That means macro capabilities are important. All of these cameras can focus as close as 0.4 inches from the front of the lens.
