Updated April 4, 2023
In today’s world having a camera to record life’s precious moments is practically a continuous necessity for many as evidenced by the number of people using their cell phones for selfies and other shots of the environment and people around them. A number of iPhones and high-end Android models can be used for fairly sophisticated photos and video and are even waterproof to a degree. However, if you plan to take your camera into the water for extended periods for a sporting activity like snorkeling or scuba diving you will have a better chance of maintaining the integrity of the device and creating quality output if it has been designed for underwater use. With a properly fitted housing, most cameras will serve underwater.
This post is concerned with compact, for the most part relatively inexpensive cameras, that are significantly waterproof without having to use a housing. There are so many models on the market today that it may be a little daunting to make the appropriate selection for your own needs. To assist in the process a simple buying guide is just below to introduce key considerations. After that is a review of many of the best waterproof cameras. At the bottom, they are compared regarding several key features on a table.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For some additional reviews of underwater cameras and accessories, please check out these articles:
Scuba Diving Cameras Underwater Camera Housings Underwater Camera Lenses Underwater Strobes
Best Waterproof Camera Reviews Buying Guide
We are looking for a light and compact model that is easy to carry and pack for travel has many capabilities, is waterproof, easy to use, and not too expensive. Most automatic cameras are easy to use, but the auto function doesn’t work all that well underwater. For that reason a camera with a manual mode is desirable. We want a camera that can shoot wide-angle and macro on the same dive with wet lenses. The sensor is generally small on compact cameras, so the bigger the better. Here is a short discussion of some of the characteristics to consider.
Megapixels (MP)
The more you have, the better the resolution of the picture. The compact cameras we are examining have a range from 12 to 20 MP.
Lens
There is no quality or quantity sort of designation to compare in lenses. It is important to have a good one based on the maker’s build quality, reviews, and reputation. Samples of the photos or videos can also be a guide. For close-up work, a macro lens is valuable.
Video Resolution
Many very low-priced cameras use the top-level 4K picture which is quite clear. 1080P resolution is a step-down, but also very clear. The cameras in this review fit into these two categories.
Waterproof Depth
If you plan on descending more than a few feet below the surface the depth that the waterproofing is effective is a factor. The cameras reviewed here have a depth range of 33-200 feet (10-60 meters) without a housing. You need to keep this in mind so as not to exceed the capability of the camera. If you want to extend beyond the recommended range, you should consider another model or a housing.
Connectivity
Moving the files from your camera to another storage location is most conveniently done with a Wi-Fi connection. Some cameras also have Bluetooth capabilities.
Other Features
There are more and more special features added to cameras at the compact level all the time. Some of these include motion sensing, time-lapse, slow motion, zoom, microscope mode, music montages, live streaming, and more.
Best Waterproof Camera Reviews
- GoPro Hero7 Black
- Olympus TG-870
- Fujifilm Finepix XP130
- Nikon W300
- Ricoh WG-80
- Sony DSCRXO
- Leica X-U (Type 113)
- Canon Powershot D30
- Sealife Micro 3.0
- Sealife DC2000
- GoPro Hero6
- Olympus TG-5
Key Features
- Shoots 4K video at 60 fps or in Slo-Mo mode
- 2-inch touchscreen display with zoom
- Live streaming through Facebook Live
- HyperSmooth video stabilization
- Hands-free voice control feature
- Waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters)
- 12 MP CMOS sensor
The TG-870 is rugged and versatile suitable for the outdoors and underwater. It is a solid camera with a lot of features and capabilities that is a good model for a beginner to get started with.
Key Features
- 16 MP BSI-CMOS sensor
- 7 fps shooting speed
- Maximum ISO of 12,800
- Ultra-wide angle 21mm lens, 5x optical zoom
- Waterproof to 50 feet (15 meters)
- Shockproof to 7 feet (2 meters), crushproof to 220 lbf, freezeproof to 14° F, dustproof
- GPS and Wi-fi built-in
- Articulating screen
- Many optional features
- No manual control or RAW shooting
This is another rugged camera with many features for a photographer of action in a variety of circumstances and environments.
Key Features
- 16.4 MP BSI CMOS sensor
- Maximum ISO of 6,400
- 10 fps shooting speed
- 5x optical FUJINON zoom lens (28-140mm)
- Waterproof to 65 feet (20 meters), shockproof to 5.8 feet (1.75 meters), freezeproof to 14° F, dustproof
- Built-in image stabilization, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth
- Anti-reflective coating
- Geo-tagging capability
- Manual focusing
- No manual exposure or RAW shooting
- Light body
- Low price
The W300 is compact, rugged, and durable to extremes of temperature, depth, and shock that takes high-resolution photos and has fairly advanced 4K video capabilities.
Key Features
- 16 MP BSI CMOS sensor
- Maximum ISO of 6,400
- 7 fps shooting speed
- 5x optical zoom NIKKOR lens with telephoto power and Hybrid VR image stabilization
- High-resolution photos
- 4K Ultra HD videos, time-lapse videos, super lapse videos, and music montages
- Waterproof to 100 feet (30 meters), freezeproof to 14° F, shock-proof to 7.9 feet (2.4 meters)
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Image stabilization
- Compact size
- Remote control with a smartphone
- No manual focusing or articulation touchscreen
- Reasonable price
The Ricoh WG-80 is very similar to the Nikon W300 in resolution and ISO range but is waterproof to a shallower depth. The WG-80 does have the enhanced digital microscope mode with 6 macro LEDs providing an even spread of lighting for well-focused smooth images. Currently, the pricing is substantially lower.
Key Features
- 16 MB BSI CMOS sensor
- Maximum ISO of 6,400
- 8 fps shooting speed
- Compact
- Great microscope mode
- Captures video in Widescreen 1080P HD at 30 frames per second
- Waterproof to 46 feet (14 meters), shockproof to 5 feet (1.5 meters), freezeproof
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- No image stabilization or 4K video
- Poor display
- Reasonable price
The RX0 is rugged and waterproof, with many creative performance features in a miniature body.
Key Features
- 15.3 MB 1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS sensor
- Maximum ISO of 12,800
- 16 fps shooting speed
- Super small size
- RAW and JPEG shoots
- High-quality Zeiss lens for high-resolution images
- Super slow motion
- Waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters), shockproof to 6.5 feet (2 meters), crushproof to 400 lbf
- No in-camera 4K video
- No auto-focus or image stabilization
- A bit expensive
The Leica XU (Type 113) is a professional-level waterproof camera made of high-grade materials with a great lens and many top features.
Key Features
- 16 MB APS-C CMOS sensor
- Maximum ISO of 12,500
- 5 fps shooting speed
- 23mm F1.7 Summilux ASPH lens delivers a 35mm equivalent angle of view performance
- Waterproof to 49 feet (15 meters), shockproof to 4 feet (1.2 meters),
- Durably built
- High-quality display
- 1080p HD video resolution
- Manual focusing
- External flash shoe, articulating screen
- No true full manual control
- No image stabilization or Wi-Fi
- Slow auto
- Heavy body
- Several times more expensive than the others here
The PowerShot D30 is a moderately priced camera that is rugged and waterproof to a depth of 82 feet (24 meters) without a housing. It has a fair array of features and options but does have a poor shooting speed to consider.
Key Features
- 12.1 MB 1/2.3-inch BSI- CMOS sensor
- Maximum ISO of 3,200
- 1.9 fps shooting speed (very low)
- Waterproof to 82 feet (24 meters), shockproof to 6.5 feet (2 meters)
- 1080/24p HD video and super slow-motion video at 640×480 (H.264)
- High build quality
- Built-in GPS and image stabilization
- Manual focusing
- Light-weight body
- No 4K video, Wi-Fi, or RAW shooting
- No articulating touchscreen
Four other excellent models that I reviewed in another post are:
These 4 are also included in the comparison table below. To see my review of them and several other compact and top-end cameras for scuba diving, please go here:
Waterproof Camera Comparison Table
| Picture | Camera | Waterproof Depth | Resolution | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | GoPro Hero7 Black | 33 feet /10 meters | 12 MP | 4.6 | $$ |
  | Olympus TG-870 | 50 feet/15 meters | 16 MP | 4.5 | $$ |
  | Fujifilm Finepix XP130 | 65 feet/20 meters | 16.4 MP | 4.4 | $ |
  | Nikon W300 | 110 feet/30 meters | 16 MP | 4.5 | $$$ |
  | Ricoh WG-80 | 46 feet/14 meters | 16 MP | 4.4 | $$ |
  | Sony DSCRX0 | 33 feet/10 meters | 15.3 MP | 4.4 | $$ |
  | Leica X-U (Type 113) | 49 feet/15 meters | 16.2 MP | 4.8 | $$$$$ |
  | Canon Powershot D30 | 82 feet/15 meters | 12.1 MP | 4.3 | $$ |
  | Sealife Micro 3.0 | 200 feet/60 meters | 16 MP | 4.5 | $$$ |
  | Sealife DC2000 | 200 feet/60 meters | 20 MP | 4.5 | $$$ |
  | GoPro Hero6 | 33 feet/10 meters | 12 MP | 4.4 | $$ |
  | Olympus TG-5 | 50 feet/15 meters | 12 MP | 4.7 | $$ |
Waterproof Camera Care and Maintenance
This article has some good basic maintenance guidelines.
For some additional reviews of underwater cameras and accessories, please check out these articles:
Scuba Diving Cameras Underwater Camera Housings Underwater Camera Lenses Underwater Strobes
Comments and Feedback
I hope you found this post on waterproof cameras interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
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