Best Waterproof Cameras of 2019: Underwater Camera Roundup

Built to withstand the elements, these rugged waterproof cameras are gaining in popularity thanks to their ability to take great photos in places that bigger DSLR and mirrorless cameras can’t go without expensive underwater enclosures. To help you choose the waterproof camera that will be right for you, we’ve selected some of the best rated and full-featured models on the market in 2019 along with the important specs like shock resistance, lcd screen size, megapixels, and the maximum depth you can take the camera to underwater.

Every camera on this underwater camera list is capable of video recording, often in 1080p Full HD, and many come in various colors. While black or silver is always a classic look for cameras, if you’re planning on taking your waterproof camera under the waves or out on an adventure, consider a bright color that will stand out if you happen to drop it. Because these cameras are all built to be rugged, you’ll be able to spend more time enjoying yourself and less about keeping your camera clean and dry.

If you’re planning on going boating or diving with your waterproof camera, buying a floating wrist strap like this one by Nordic Flash is a worthwhile and relatively inexpensive purchase that can prevent your camera from sinking to the bottom if you accidentally drop it. You’ll find plenty of tips, advice, and useful information that will help you make a buying decision below the camera information.

Tips for Buying a Rugged, Waterproof Compact Camera

Waterproof compact cameras are designed to be tough, making them ideal travel cameras, perfect for bringing on vacation or using around the pool or at the beach. While regular compact cameras are reasonably durable, they definitely aren’t waterproof and even things like sand, mud, and dust can get damage a typical compact camera that isn’t sealed. With numerous choices from brands like Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Olympus, and SeaLife, it’s definitely not easy to make a quick decision about which camera is right for you. To help you choose the best camera model to buy, we’ve put together some buying tips and advice, as well as a list of features that you should evaluate.

Waterproof Compact Cameras vs Underwater Housings and Waterproof Camera Cases/Bags

For those who want to take pictures underwater, but haven’t yet taken the plunge, it’s often a tricky decision over whether to purchase a waterproof compact camera, or a regular camera plus a waterproof underwater housing or case.

Underwater housings are essentially protective shells that encase cameras they’re specifically designed around, and are typically made of thick plastic or aluminum, and are often capable of being submerged to depths of 30 meters or more. Like most camera accessories, underwater housings come in a variety of price points, but high-performance housings designed for advanced compact cameras, mirrorless cameras, and DSLR cameras can be quite expensive, sometimes as much as or even more than the camera they are designed to protect. For professional underwater photographers and serious enthusiasts, the ability to use their advanced camera beneath the waves, while still being able to access the important manual control buttons and dials justifies the cost.

Flexible waterproof cases like those made by Aquapac are affordable options for photographers who want waterproof protection for their cameras, but don’t need a housing that can withstand significant depth. Like underwater housings, these types of flexible cases come in a wide variety of sizes, capable of fitting different cameras.

For people who want a camera that can be used both out of the water and underwater while snorkeling and diving, waterproof compacts offer good image quality and excellent rugged durability. For a vacation ready camera, it’s tough to beat the versatility and convenient compact size of waterproof compact cameras. If you plan to travel frequently and want a camera that’s small enough to fit in your carry-on luggage, while still capable of delivering impressive image quality whether your day involves SCUBA diving, winter activities in the snow, lounging around the pool, or hiking through the rainforest, a waterproof compact is a solid choice that will leave you prepared for every kind of climate and condition.

Action Camera vs Waterproof Compact Camera

More than perhaps any other type of camera, the biggest competitor to waterproof compact cameras are action cameras like the GoPro Hero7 Black and Sony FDRX3000. If you’re searching for a camera that you can take underwater and use on land, chances are good that you’ve considered an action cam as a possibility. Action cameras bring a lot of exciting features to the table – in many newer cameras, 4K video recording and time-lapse creation are built in features.

GoPro Hero7 Black — Waterproof Action Camera with Touch Screen 4K Ultra HD Video 12MP Photos 720p Live Streaming Stabilization

• HyperSmooth: Get gimbal‑like stabilization—without the gimbal. HERO7 Black corrects for camera shake to deliver insanely smooth footage
• TimeWarp: Capture super stabilized time lapse videos while you move about a scene. Increase the speed up to 30x to turn longer activities into shareable moments
• Live streaming in 720p: Share while you’re there. Live stream in 720p on social, get HyperSmooth stabilization as you broadcast via the GoPro app and save footage to your SD card to check out later
• Rugged + Waterproof: Share experiences you can’t capture with your phone. HERO7 Black is rugged, waterproof without a housing to 33 feet (10m) and up for any adventure

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Sony FDRX3000/W Underwater Camcorder 4K, White

• Ultimate image stabilization from Balanced Optical SteadyShot Professional 4K with ZEISS lens and Exmor R CMOS sensorCamera control.Power Requirements 3.6 V (battery pack),Battery type NP-BX1
• Splash-proof body or use incl. waterproof housing down to 197ft. Selectable viewing angle: Wide, Medium or Narrow and 3x zoomHigh quality 12MP still images and up to 10 fps in burst mode
• Interval record at 8.3MP for stills and 4K time-lapse videoHigh Quality stereo sound with wind noise reductionBuilt-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, HDMI, USB and mic jack
• Intuitive interface, 3x rec. lights and adjustable beep volume;Shoot at desired angle with adjustable FOV and zooming

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If you primarily want a rugged, waterproof camera for shooting ultra-wide angle high resolution video underwater or during extreme sports, action cameras are up to the job, and they have the advantage of being very small, lightweight, and easy to mount to nearly anything. For still photography though, the optical zoom capability and easily adjustable exposure controls of waterproof compact cameras gives them an edge.

Choosing the Best Waterproof Compact Camera

Every camera user is different, which means there’s never a waterproof camera that is the “best” for everyone, but there is usually a camera that is the best for you. Figuring out which camera that is can be tricky, but you can make the decision making process much easier by making a list of how you plan to use it and what features are most important to you.

Things you might consider:

The maximum depth you plan to SCUBA dive or snorkel to with your waterproof camera

Each model of waterproof compact camera is built to withstand underwater usage to different depths. As anyone who has ever been to the bottom of a pool can attest, the deeper you go, the greater the water pressure. For most people buying a rugged compact camera, the typical underwater usage will be around the pool and while snorkeling in shallow water – tasks that every one of the cameras above can easily handle. If you plan on SCUBA diving or free diving with your waterproof camera though, you’ll want to be sure to choose a model that can be taken to the maximum depths you’d be diving to. 

Whether the camera supports RAW capture

For many people who just want to capture some great snapshots while on vacation, taking JPEG images is often the easiest. Serious photography enthusiasts typically prefer to shoot RAW images though, a lossless file format that preserves more image data and requires processing using software. Some waterproof compact cameras only offer JPEG image capture, perfect for most casual users, while others offer the option of capturing photos in either JPEG or RAW formats, ideal for serious amateur photographers and professionals.

The deeper you go underwater, the less red and orange light is able to pass through the water – consequently, underwater photos tend to have a strong blue/green tint. You can learn more in this guide: Why Do Underwater Photos Look Blue and Green?

Shooting images in RAW format allows underwater photographers to easily adjust the white balance to bring out the real colors of an underwater scene.

If GPS is built in for geotagging images with location data

GPS (Global Positioning System) uses satellites in space to determine location. Cameras with built-in GPS are able to tag images with location data, a very useful feature for those who travel frequently. Rather than wondering months later where you were when you took a particular photo, GPS data allows you to know exactly where you were!

If the camera is Wi-Fi enabled for quickly transferring images to your smartphone or computer

Wi-Fi is a feature found in lots of electronic devices these days. Wi-Fi enabled compacts can make it easy to transfer images and videos wirelessly to your smartphone or computer or directly to a printer. Wireless connectivity can also allow you to control some cameras remotely via smartphone apps. Wi-Fi connectivity isn’t a feature that you’ll find on every rugged compact camera, but it is becoming more common on newer cameras.

Video recording quality and features

Virtually every digital camera these days can record video – even waterproof compact cameras. Some rugged compact cameras have more advanced video capture features than others though, with some capable of recording 720p HD video and others capable of recording higher resolution Full HD 1080p video. If still photography is your primary interest, the video features won’t be of much interest, but if you plan to take the occasional video, you’ll definitely want to compare video specs.

Choosing a Color

Black might be the typical color for most cameras, but rugged compact cameras can often be found in much brighter colors. While black is a traditional choice for cameras, if you plan on diving with your waterproof camera or taking it into challenging environments, consider a brightly colored camera, as these more vivid colors will stand out if you happen to drop it.

Using your New Waterproof Compact Camera

You might be tempted to jump right into the water as soon as your camera arrives, but you’ll want to make sure you read a few important things in your camera’s user manual first. Even though waterproof cameras are designed to work while submerged, you’ll need to always make sure that the card/battery compartment cover is always securely locked in place before using the camera in the water. After exiting the water, you should always make sure the camera is dried off before opening the battery compartment, to make sure no moisture enters the camera.

Learning About Underwater Photography

Taking pictures underwater is a lot of fun, but it is a bit different from photography on dry land! For one, things appear larger underwater than they really are, so if you’re trying to fit a large subject in the frame, you’ll need to be further from it than you would need to be on land. You can learn all about underwater photography in this guide, here on ItsJustLight:

How to Take Pictures Underwater: 10 Underwater Photography Tips » ItsJustLight.com

Helpful underwater photography tips and tricks for photographers to use while diving and snorkeling to take the best pictures underwater!

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