Tough/Waterproof Camera Shootout 2013: Conclusion
Six tough/waterproof cameras comparedSurvival of the Fittest:
2013 Best Tough/Waterproof Camera Shootout
Final Test: Toughness
We couldn't finish our 2013 Tough/Waterproof Shootout without testing the cameras under extreme conditions. After all, last year one of our contenders literally sprung a leak and we had to send it to the bottom of the heap for not doing perhaps its most important job. Naturally we had to wait until we'd completed all our shooting before subjecting them to drops, freezing temperatures and underwater pressure, just in case any of the models failed our tests.
Our goal for toughness testing was not to kill the cameras, just to see if they all survived at the lowest common denominators they claimed in being waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof. So we set our freezer to 14 degrees F and popped the cameras "on ice" for 30 minutes. All fired up immediately, though some had troubles focusing because of the icy frost on their lenses. (This wouldn't be an issue shooting in winter weather; the condensation & frost happens as you go from a cold environment to a warm one. Moving from warm to cold, you'd have no such problem.) Happily, all of the cameras snapped photos just fine when they were that cold, and after they warmed up, all six models worked just fine, including their autofocus.
Then we dropped the rugged models from 4 feet high onto a linoleum-tile floor (a fairly hard surface, but less likely to leave scratches on our demo samples than bare concrete), three times each. It didn't start out fun. We cringed as we let go of the cameras, and each camera made its own unique, awful racket as it hit the floor. Luckily, however, seeing them all come to life after the drop was fun.
For our final test, we submerged the cameras together in a homemade pressure chamber to a depth of 10 feet and left them there for 30 minutes. After rescuing them (see photo at the top of this page) and wiping them off, every single one of them turned on and took a picture with no problems -- and no leaks! We're happy to report that all six cameras passed our toughness tests with no after-effects.
2013 Tough/Waterproof Shootout Conclusion
As we mentioned at the beginning of our writeup, the goal of our waterproof shootout wasn't to single out any one of the cameras as our overall winner. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best camera for you really depends on how you'd use it. That said, three of the rugged, waterproof cameras we reviewed earned a coveted Dave's Pick as models we'd highly recommend, while two fell short despite their notable charms. Read below for our final conclusions on each of the six cameras.
Canon D20The D20 won last year's shootout with good reason. It's a well-rounded compact waterproof camera, and we don't just mean that for its curvy design (which does make it comfortable to shoot with!). Most importantly, it's a great camera to take with you into the pool or ocean depths, as the quality of its underwater stills and video both ranked first in our real-world testing. The D20 may not be quite as fast as some of this year's models, and its feature set may also lag a bit behind, but it's no wonder that Canon rested on its laurels and didn't feel compelled to release a new underwater model for 2013. The Canon D20 earns a solid Dave's Pick. Who should buy it: Casual photographers wanting the best overall underwater images and video Links to: |
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Nikon AW110The AW110 overcame the failure of its predecessor in last year's waterproof shootout by demonstrating that its increased ruggedness was more than enough not to spring a leak during this year's testing. Overall, the camera feels great in the hands, features an interface that's easy to navigate, shoots very good underwater stills and video -- ranking second place in stills and third in video -- and boasts that ultra-cool battery door. The addition of built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing and file transferring makes the camera even more versatile than the previous model. We just wish Nikon would remove the sharp strap lugs and place the lens in the center away from stray index fingers. Regardless of these quibbles, the AW110 nets a Dave's Pick from us. Who should buy it: Casual shooters wanting an all-around strong performer with Wi-Fi Links to: |
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Olympus TG-2The TG-2 scores high for its customizability, advanced features and excellent controls -- it's the only one we tested that had a physical Mode dial. For us, the TG-2 ranks as the best waterproof model for enthusiasts who like to spend time experimenting with settings and perfecting exposure, and that's suiting since the camera's images tend to come out underexposed when shooting in Auto mode. But that doesn't mean the camera take bad pictures; in fact, it's pretty good in low-light situations with its fast f/2 lens at wide angle, and demonstrates respectable image quality with better contrast than most of its competitors. We wish the TG-2's video was better -- we saw lots of unwanted artifacts and pixelation -- and we're not thrilled with the finicky battery/memory card door operation, but the camera stands out as one of the better waterproof models and is worthy of a Dave's Pick. Who should buy it: Enthusiasts wanting maximum customizability and good controls Links to: |
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Panasonic TS5The TS5 boasts an attractive design and a great feature set, including advanced Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities, an underwater Torch Light, Full 1080p HD video recording at 60 frames per second and 10fps still burst shooting. But otherwise the TS5's image quality proved to be mostly average, and in its dedicated underwater mode photos came out fairly flat with muted colors. Our underwater video tests showed that shooting videos in the Web-friendly MP4 format produced choppy, artifact-heavy results; we got much better results with recording in AVCHD format at a category leading 60p. Though its image quality was only so-so, we can't discount the camera's considerable features and functionality, so we give it a Dave's Pick. Who should buy it: Tech geeks wanting a ton of advanced features Links to: |
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Pentax WG-3 GPSThe WG-3 GPS packs in some ultra-cool features -- such as its Digital Microscope mode, front LCD gauge readout and inductive charging mode -- and a radical, rugged design. Unfortunately though, for us it just didn't pack in enough image quality, performance and usability to make the grade. Though the camera took decent pictures underwater and on dry land, it struggled in low-light situations despite being equipped with an f/2 max aperture at wide angle. Moreover, we found the WG-3's menu system was more difficult to learn than the others we tested. The WG-3 still has a market with adventurers who might choose style and ruggedness over image quality, but it doesn't earn a Dave's Pick. Who should buy it: Thrill seekers wanting a rugged design with the most aggressive styling |
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Sony TX30One of these things is not like the others. As we've now mentioned many times, the TX30 simply doesn't belong in the same category as the other waterproof cameras. It's definitely a rugged model, and capable of taking good high-resolution images with great color (arguably the best in the shootout). But the TX30 is almost unusable underwater, its slim, slick design makes it hard to hang onto and its OLED touchscreen is very difficult to view and operate at most depths. If you're looking for an ultra-compact, element-defying camera and you don't intend to photograph aquatic life with it, then it's a pretty nifty little, totally pocketable shooter with spy-gear looks. However, we can't recommend it as a Dave's Pick. Who should buy it: Casual shooters wanting an ultra-compact camera that's rugged and weatherproof (but not for underwater use) Links to: |
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We hope you've enjoyed our 2013 Best Underwater Cameras shootout as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. And we hope that we've helped you to better choose the model that will best serve your needs and will best suit your personal preferences and shooting style. All of these cameras are worthy contenders in some respects, and all have a target audience. So pick the one that best meets your needs and start capturing your adventures!
Happy Shooting,
The Camera Review Team at Imaging Resource
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