This is a camera that works perfectly fine underwater, be it saltwater or lake water or any water.
These cameras also give you the freedom to take pictures where other cameras won’t, and they are often called weatherproof cameras.
Water-proof cameras are specially manufactured and designed to be completely tight, giving no room for not even a drop of water.
This includes the battery compartment of the camera, which is well protected. It has a locking mechanism that makes sure it is well sealed before you take a dip into the pool or beach.
There two trendy types of water-proof cameras out there; they are Water-proof compacts and Action cameras.
Water-proof Compacts
Resembling a standard compact camera, the difference between the two cameras is that one is water-proof, and the other isn’t.
Water-proof compacts have bright colours so that you can find them easier to locate when you lose it underwater.
They also have an impressive optical zoom lens, making you take pictures of underwater creatures far from you.
The lens gives you the best quality, regardless of how far the creature is.
Types
1. Panasonic Lumix TS20 16.1 MP
From one of the most trusted camera brands manufacturer, so be rest assured you are getting an excellent Water-proof Camera. This camera isn’t only useful underwater. It works well as an Action camera too.
Another of its unique qualities is its lightness, weighing just 4.3 Ounces.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Multi-purpose
- High-quality pictures
- Very light
Cons:
- The best feature of this camera is that It doesn’t have any flaw, that’s to show you it’s the best in the market
Cost: $159.99
2. Olympus Tough TG-6
This camera has four outstanding proof qualities cooked up in it. The qualities include water-proof, freeze-proof, crush-proof, and shock-proof.
This camera is very durable and comes with a 4K camera resolution, which makes this camera very unique from the rest. Amazing right?
Pros:
- Water-proof, shock-proof, freeze-proof and crush-proof
- 4K resolution
- Eight underwater picture modes
- Very durable
- Can zoom up to 8 times
Cons:
- Expensive
- A bit laggy
Cost: $374.99
3. Nikon Coolpix W300
Whenever this camera falls from you, don’t worry about it cracking or breaking because it is made from very rigid materials. It is water-proof, shock-proof, dust-proof, and freeze-proof.
It is also recommended for deepwater explorers because it can go deeper than 30M underwater.
Pros:
- Very rigid and durable
- Multi-purpose
- 5x zoom capabilities
- Barometer
- 4K resolution
Cons:
- Controls not easy to navigate
Cost: $386.95
4. Ricoh WG-60
The Ricoh WG-60 is nicknamed the Swiss army knife among tough cameras. It is equipped with some ring lights around the lens, which functions as a macro light or torch, allowing the user to see what they are doing underwater. It also keeps the subjects or creatures illuminated.
It has some cool features that make it considerable. It has a microscope mode that lets it focus at a distance of about 1mm.
The Handheld Night Snap feature captures a variety of images of a low light scene in a fast sequence and combines them to create a blur-free composite image.
The body is made with serious protection, making it able to stay submerged in 46ft of water for up to two hours.
Pros:
- Decent zoom range
- Useful built-in ring lights
Cons:
- No 4K video
Cost: $339
5. SeaLife DC2000
SeaLife cameras are known to be one of the best when it comes to underwater diving. It can withstand temperature as low as -29C and at a depth of 60m sea level.
It has the ability to produce RAW files. The camera has two components, the big red outer housing, and the internal camera. When on land, the internal camera can be used without the housing.
The internal camera is still water-proof, even without the housing. For deep dives, it is best you look for additional kits that light up or illuminate your subject or the creature.
Pros:
- Water-proof down to 60m
- 1-inch 20 megapixel sensor
- Big button
- Available with or without lighting
Cons:
- Not 4K
- No zoom
Cost: $699
Action Cameras
Hikers, bikers, and undersea explorers mostly use these types of cameras. Why do all these people use it? It is because they are smaller and lighter than the water-proof camera, they can be easily mounted on a helmet or a chest harness or the head.
This type of camera does not have the optical zoom lens water-proof compacts have. They give impressive 4K high frame rates, which means fantastic video quality, which many water-proof cameras lack.
Still having a hard time picking out the type of water-proof camera you need for your trip, well the list below shows three of the best Action Cameras out there;
Types
1. AKASO EK7000 4K Wi-Fi
This is the best-selling Action and Water-proof camera on Amazon. It has a 4K HD camera resolution with a 10 meters Wi-Fi range and a long-lasting battery life of up to 90minutes.
Pros:
- One of the best water-proof and Action cameras in the world
- 4K HD resolution
- Wi-Fi and HDMI available
- Long-lasting battery
Cons:
- Can’t withstand water pressure for too long
- Very expensive
Cost: $4999
2. GoPro Hero 8
This camera has a built-in mount, which is fantastic because now you won’t have to buy a mount for your camera. It also comes with an anti-shaking and superb image stabilization system.
Pros:
- Image stabilization system
- 4K HD resolution
- Built-in mounts
- Up to 10m underwater capabilities
Cons:
- Smaller screen
Cost: $299.99
3. DJI Osmo Action
This camera is very similar to GoPro Hero 8. It has almost everything, but like all things, it is not perfect. It lags at higher resolution, it is worrisome and is not very reliable, but it’s a cheaper alternative to GoPro Hero 8.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Image Stabilization system
Cons:
- Lags at high resolution
- Not very reliable
Cost: $229
This article guides you about making the right choices and making sure you get the best quality of resolution camera.