After testing a number of models, the best waterproof and rugged camera is the Olympus TG-5, which is exceptionally versatile yet fairly easy to use and offers very good quality photos and beautiful video at 4K-resolution. Olympus has a successor, the Tough TG-6, which has a higher-resolution display and a few other minor improvements.
Coming in at a close second is the Nikon Coolpix W300, which can go twice as far underwater at the TG-5 and can also capture very good quality photos and video in 4K-resolution.
The GoPro Hero7 Black is our favorite rugged action camera. Not only is it waterproof to 33 feet without needing any extra housing, but it has improved motion stabilization, which should help make your videos look smoother.
You might also want to consider the Hero7's successor, the Hero 8 ($399), which offers better image stabilization, built-in mounting points so you no longer need to use it with a case, and optional accessories that increase its functionality, such as a shotgun mic and external light. Stay tuned for our review.
Ricoh's new WG-70 (available mid-March for $279.95) has a 5x optical zoom lens, 16MP CMOS sensor, a microscope mode, and six LEDs for taking macro shots. It has a non-touch color LCD monitor, and is waterproof to 46 feet (14 meters) and shockproof from 5 feet (1.6 meters). However, the max resolution for video is 1080p.
The Olympus Tough TG-5 sports a 12-MP sensor, f/2.0 lens, Olympus' latest TruPic VIII image processor, and a 4X optical zoom. The TG-5 also includes what Olympus calls a Field Sensor System, which tracks your movement, temperature and location, so that you can see your stats later, or embed that info directly into your footage. And because this camera is part of Olympus' Tough line, you get some serious durability that includes water-resistance up to 50 feet, shock-resistance up to seven feet, and operating temperatures that extend down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
Our favorite deep-diving camera, Nikon's 16-MP Coolpix W300 has the same 100-foot water resistance as the previous model, the AW130, while increasing shock-resistance to withstand falls from heights of up to 7.9 feet. We liked that it includes a slightly more powerful 5x zoom lens (from 24mm-120mm) than the Olympus lens (24mm-100mm), which is helpful for capturing close photos and video footage without degrading image quality, which happens when you use digital zoom.
Like the TG-5, the W300 can capture video at up to 4K at 30 fps, and will even let you shoot and save stills in the middle of recording a video. We liked the variety of video settings, including time-lapse and superlapse movie mode. But we were disappointed that it lacks slow-motion features like the TG-5. The W300 sports built-in a GPS, altimeter, depth gauge and point-of-interest mapping. And like all of Nikon's recent cameras, the W300 features the company's Snapbridge tech so you can connect your phone to your camera using NFC, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for super simple photo sharing. The Coolpix W300 is available in yellow, black and orange.
If Olympus' and Nikon's cameras are too pricey for your budget, FujiFilm's FinePix XP130 may be more to your liking. It's waterproof to 65 feet, can withstand drops from about 6 feet, and can withstand temperature ranges from 14 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Its 16MP sensor and a 5X optical zoom lens that goes from 28 - 140mm (35mm equivalent). It can also shoot 1080p video, and a Cinemagraph Mode lets you take still images with moving elements. It also has Bluetooth to make it easier to transfer photos from the camera to your smartphone or tablet.
Fujifilm has a newer XP140, which is waterproof to 82 feet, takes 4K video at 15fps, and has an ISO range of 100-12,800, but that camera costs around $200.
The GoPro Hero7 Black has all of the things we liked from the previous model: a 12-MP sensor for still shots and up to 4K video (at 60 fps), slo-mo video at 240 fps. But, a new image-stabilization feature means that your footage above the water will be just as smooth as that below. In addition, you can now live stream from the camera using the GoPro app, so people can watch your derrings-do in real time. As before, the camera has an impressive voice control system, which means you can control the camera by simply telling the camera to "start video recording" or "take a photo." It's also waterproof to 33 feet without needing an extra case.
GoPro and third-party vendors offer a huge number of accessories, including touch-screen backs, external monitors, filters and multiple options for mounting the camera on just about anything you can imagine. Clamps and suction cup mounts are available for surfboards, cars, bicycles and more for recording POV videos, time-lapse videos and still images. It's easy to share images, thanks to the camera's built-in Wi-Fi and free app for Android, iOS and Windows Phone mobile devices.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 has one of the best phone cameras on the market, and its Active counterpart lets you use it on your next hike or swimming trip with confidence. The Active is MIL-810-STD tested and packs a shatterproof display, meaning you can drop it face-first onto just about any surface without a problem. It can also survive being submersed in up to five feet of water for up to 30 minutes, complete with a dedicated shutter button for snapping a few underwater shots.
This rugged phone's 12-MP dual-pixel shooter captures rich and vibrant daytime photos, and its f/1.7 lens excels under low light. The S8 Active's fast autofocus is a great fit for action shots, and its 8-MP front camera packs its own flash for epic nighttime selfies. Complementing the phone's camera is Samsung's Activity Zone app, which includes a compass, barometer and flashlight button to make exploring easier.
