Best waterproof camera

Since 2021, Olympus cameras have been sold under the OM System name. The Olympus TG-6 was our favorite waterproof compact camera – and this has now been reborn as the OM System TG-7. It is pretty much identical – but that is a good thing in our book, and ensures this newer version remains at the top of our recommendations for a rugged camera. Features we love include the built-in microscope setting that allows you to take amazing close-ups – and a Field Sensor System that records GPS coordinates and ambient temperature with your shots.

Producing 4K video at 30fps and offering the option to shoot Full HD video at 120fps for super-slow-motion, the TG-7 also has a generous 25-100mm optical zoom lens that lets you get closer and closer to the action. It’s got an improved chunky handgrip providing a secure hold on the camera, while the internal zoom mechanism means the lens never protrudes from the body, protecting it from knocks and bumps. We found the camera straightforward but sophisticated, making the TG-7 quite simply the best waterproof camera around.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Compact
• Sensor: 1/2.3in
• Megapixels: 16MP
• Lens: 27-108mm (equiv)
• LCD: 2.7-inch LCD
• Waterproof: 15m/49ft
• Shockproof: 2m/6ft
• Freezeproof: -10°C / 14°F
• Max video resolution: Full HD 1920×1080 pixels
• Colors available: Yellow or blue

Kodak is making a bit of a compact as one of the main players in the compact scene. And this waterproof zoom point-and-shooter is a great example of what the iconic brand is still capable of. The emphasis here is on value for money – significantly undercutting the cost of the Ricoh and the Olympus options, say.

So you need to be prepared not to get 4K video, and you don’t get a mains plug for the USB charging lead. But you do still get all the waterproofing and shock resistance that we expect from a rugged camera. For the money, we were very impressed for this robust little camera.

3. SeaLife Micro 3.0

Best camera for diving and snorkeling

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Compact
• Sensor: 1/2.3in
• Megapixels: 16MP
• Lens: 100-degree FoV, 19mm-equiv., f/2.8
• LCD: 2.4in, 260k dots
• Waterproof: 60m/200ft
• Shockproof: 3ft / 1m drop test
• Freezeproof: 23°F / -5°C (on land)
• Max video resolution: 4K 30fps
• Colors available: Black

SeaLife cameras are the most serious underwater option available without having to get into buying separate underwater housings and optical ports for your mirrorless camera or DSLR. The ability to be able to be taken down to depths of 200ft/60m is deeply(!) impressive, but it is photographically able too, thanks to a 16MP Sony-derived sensor and the ability to shoot RAW files.

The camera is permanently sealed to safeguard against any possible leaks and weighs just 329g. So, there’s no memory card needed, as you use the 16GB of built in storage instead to save your images and videos.

You can buy the camera on its own – but if you are using this for deep dives (and that really is the point of a camera like this), then we strongly recommend looking at the various kits including one or two of SeaLife’s powerful ‘Sea Dragon’ LED lights.

4. DJI Osmo Action 4

Best waterproof action camera

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Action camera
• Sensor: 1/1.3in
• Megapixels: 12MP
• Lens: 15mm (11mm in Ultra-wide mode)
• LCD: 2.25in (rear) + 1.4in (front)
• Waterproof: 18m / 59ft
• Shockproof: Unspecified
• Freezeproof: -20ºC / -4°F
• Max video resolution: 4K

All of the best action cameras are designed to be waterproof – and of all the current options we love the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 the most, edging out stiff competition from GoPro.

Its underwater credentials are impressive – it can be taken to depths of 18m straight out the box, and can dive down to 60m with an optional casing, if you want to use it for Scuba diving.

As with all action cameras, the camera is primarily designed for shooting wide-angle video – showing yourself or giving a first-person view. As such the stills capability is a tad disappointing – just offering a 12MP image. But the 4K video it shoots benefits by having a world-beating 1/1.3in sensor which ensures that the footage we shot with the Osmo Action 4 was a lot less noisy than that delivered by rivals. Just as importantly,

5. Kodak Sport Underwater Camera

Best underwater disposable

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Single-use
• Film format: 35mm
• Waterproof: 15m / 50ft
• Film type: Color
• ISO speed: ISO800
• Number of exposures: 27
• Lens: 30mm (approx)
• LCD: None, direct vision viewfinder
• Modes: Fixed shutter speed and aperture

Underwater disposable film cameras are your route to getting the cheapest underwater camera. These come preloaded with film, and are not re-usable, and you do have to pay extra for the processing of your pictures. But they are still a brilliantly cheap way to take photos underwater – or to use on the beach – and affordable enough to give to give to kids to play with on a pool holiday.

The Kodak Sport is good down to depths of 50 feet (15m) which would even make it attractive to the snorkeler. It comes preloaded with a 27-exposure roll of ISO800 Kodak MAX color print film – which you will obviously have to wait for (and pay for) it to be processed before you see your pictures. In our tests, we found that the camera gave pleasing results for a disposable – but only in good light; with no flash and a fixed exposure exposures taken indoors are unprintable.

6. Ricoh WG-6

Best mid-price waterproof camera

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Compact
• Sensor: 1/2.3in
• Megapixels: 20MP
• Lens: 28-140mm (equiv)
• LCD: 3in, 1,040k dots
• Waterproof: 20m/63ft
• Shockproof: 2.1m/6.8ft
• Freezeproof: -10°C / 14°F
• Max video resolution: 4K
• Colors available: Orange or black

With many camera companies withdrawing from the compact camera market, Ricoh is one of the few companies making a range of waterproof options – ranging right up to its industrial-grade G900 models. The WG-6 is an entry-level model – but impresses with its ability to be taken to depths of 20m without additional housing – and can be dropped from heights of 2m (6 feet).

It also has better camera credentials than some thanks to its backside-illuminated 20MP sensor and 4K video capability – and we loved that you get a decent 5x optical zoom, and GPS geo-location tagging. This makes this a decent alternative to our favorite OM System Tough TG-7, and comes at a lower price albeit without the advantage of a wifi connectivity to beam images back to your phone.