Fujifilm has been developing a range of waterproof cameras for some time and the latest model is the Fujifilm FinePix XP140. Get a flash diffuser.Some waterproof-and-rugged cameras have impressive macro, or close-up, features, but light is limited underwater. Fit a circular flash diffuser around your camera lens and you'll get much better illumination for your small-scale subjects. Waterproof cases and housings The Olympus PEN E-PL10 has been designed very much with the amateur photographer in mind. It comes with lots of beginner friendly shooting modes as well as advanced helpful features like in-body image stabilisation and in-camera Raw editing. This camera also includes a silent shooting mode, tiltable LCD screen and 4K movie quality making it a desirable choice.

The Olympus TG-860 is the upgraded TG-850, in a nutshell. It came out in February 2015 and, what with it being a newer model, this has brought on several improvements. It’s thinner and somewhat lighter. The flip-out screen is just as wide (3in across) and the camera also has an image stabilization feature built into its lens. The lens is wide angle, too (21mm), which makes it great to capture ample landscapes and waterscapes. It includes four underwater shooting modes, namely Dive, Snorkel, External Light and Flash. The camera also features three additional colour correction settings based on the depth of water you are diving in. Use a Rain Cover: Rain covers are a popular choice for keeping your camera dry. They are essentially waterproof bags designed to fit over your camera and lens. Some are made to fit specific camera models, while others are one-size-fits-all. Rain covers usually have a clear window so you can still see the camera controls and they generally allow access to the camera’s buttons and dials. Additional functionality is obtained by pairing the camera with a dedicated GoPro app. There are also tons of useful accessories available for it.Nikon has included a ton of fun shooting modes, including super-lapse, night portrait, exposure lighten, and close-up. And unlike the other waterproof cameras we favor, the Nikon includes both an LCD and an eyepiece to help you frame every shot. The OM System OM-1 is an incredible Micro Four Thirds camera. Unlike the “waterproof” and “underwater” cameras that comprise the rest of the buying guide, OM’s cameras aren’t built for diving. However, they are built to withstand extreme weather and survive significant water. If you aren’t looking for a camera for snorkeling, but rather, for photographing in any weather condition or surviving major splashes, then the OM-1 is the best option. Absolutely! Underwater cameras are not limited to underwater photography use only. They function similarly to regular compact cameras when used on land. The Olympus E-M1 Mark III and OM-System ‘Olympus’ OM-1 have Starry Sky AF; it has also been ported on to the newer OM-System OM-5. From a design perspective, the camera only features two external buttons that include the mode button and the shutter release.

Micro Four Thirds cameras are able to offer a physically smaller camera body, as well as smaller lenses to match. This can make the system much more portable and well-suited to travel and street photography. Furthermore, the smaller sensor size of Micro Four Thirds incurs a 2x crop factor, effectively doubling the focal length of a lens. Mounted on an Olympus camera, a 50mm lens behaves like a 100mm lens, giving you telephoto reach from a smaller and cheaper lens compared to full-frame. If you’re going to plunge your very expensive camera into water you need to be sure that the case you are putting it into is waterproof! Nauticam camera cases are the best around and although they don’t come cheap you can be assured your equipment will stay safe up to 100m in depth. We think Micro Four Thirds has a lot to offer photographers and videographers alike – you can read more on why we love the system in our piece on why Micro Four Thirds offers something no-one else can. Can Olympus cameras use Panasonic lenses?

If you're after fresher imaging tech in a waterproof camera, the GoPro Hero11 or Hero12 are both worthwhile alternatives with 27MP sensors and much better video features, though stills photographers are likely to miss the macro and zoom capabilities of the TG-7. The SeaLife DC2000 features full manual controls including aperture controls from f/1.8 to f/11. Being able to shoot wide open at f/1.8 will ensure great subject separation while drawing in as much light as possible. Olympus is well known for developing hybrid technology which makes video, vlogging and live streaming easier to produce, while also adding lots of features for stills photographers. A wide selection of M.Zuiko Micro Four Thirds lenses are available to complement your creativity, with many high-quality primes and zooms in the range. The sensor covers a wide ISO range (100 to 12800) but defaults to a maximum automatic setting of ISO 1600. You can change this in the settings menu, though picture quality suffers at higher settings. The TG-7 snaps sharp, clear photos at ISO 100, with a slight dip in fine detail from ISO 200-800. The pictures are soft at ISO 1600-3200, and blurry at ISO 6400-12800. The lens loses light when you zoom in, so keep it at its widest angle for the best results in dim settings. 4.5mm (25mm equivalent), f/2.0, 1/30-second, ISO 800 The Olympus Tough TG-6 is the company's sixth-generation premium underwater camera. It features a 12 Megapixel sensor, 4X optical zoom lens, numerous sensors and, of course, serious protection against the elements. Key specifications

Although this camera is not the most recent, the features and technology included are still very much impressive. This includes its 5-axis in-body stabilisation, 4K video, fully articulated touchscreen and 121 AF point feature. Olympus raised a few eyebrows (mine included) when it launched the E-M1X, a big new professional camera aimed squarely at the sports and wildlife market, but with what looked like very similar specs to the existing Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. A DSLR-sized Olympus camera? Isn't the whole point of Olympus cameras that they're the most compact on the market? When it comes to features the Olympus TG-6 comes with a host of shooting options from 16 different scene modes to an aperture priority setting. The ISO ranges from ISO 100 to 12800, and the bright F2 lens enables faster shutter speeds for capturing moving subjects. The camera is also capable of recording 4K movies. It’s also worth mentioning it made it onto our list of the top 12 best waterproof and underwater cameras! Waterproof cameras are designed to be submerged in water to certain depths for specific periods. The depth and duration that the camera can handle should be specified by the manufacturer.

Ricoh WG-6

The Nikon Coolpix W300 features a 24mm (35mm equivalent) wide lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Image quality is good but not great, especially in dark settings, and this is partly attributed to slower autofocus and not having a wide enough aperture on the lens. The Hero8 features a live burst mode that captures 1.5 seconds of footage before and after you press the shutter button. This, in turn, provides you with up to 90 frames to choose your ultimate image from. The camera shoots in RAW and allows for various modes to match conditions including various night modes. No camera that goes underwater has this combination of reasonably bright lens and closeup capability (especially at that price point). I can point this compact into crevices where lagers cameras in housing won't fit, especially concerning external flash. Which should you choose? Tough cameras are probably better for photographers, offering a greater level of manual control over stills, and often being equipped with optical zoom lenses. They tend to be easier to handle generally, with more physical controls, and also will often have a built-in flash, which is hugely useful underwater where the light is poor.

One key advantage the OM-5 brings compared to the previous E-M5 cameras is its significantly improved weather-sealing. The OM-5 is IP53 rated, and is the most affordable camera with that rating currently available. It means you can venture fearlessly into nature without worrying about a sudden downpour ruining your camera. Image quality is great too, with the OM-5 producing great-looking JPEGs that need minimal editing to look fantastic – perfect for those who’d rather be behind a camera than in front of a computer. The FinePix XP140 has a 16MP sensor, an ISO range of 100-12800, and a 5X optical zoom lens that goes from 28-140mm (35mm equivalent). It can also shoot 4K video, albeit at a low frame rate of 15 fps, so videos may look a bit choppy. A Cinemagraph Mode lets you take still images with moving elements, and a Smile Shutter feature will automatically take a shot when you can see everyone's teeth. It also has Bluetooth to make it easier to transfer photos from the camera to your smartphone or tablet. How to choose the best waterproof camera for you The comparison between the TG-3 and the Canon D30 is almost inevitable and there are pros and cons to both cameras. Bear in mind that, as of the time this article was written, the Olympus TG-3 was already old news, in the terms of the digital camera market. Released over one year prior, this camera still manages to score highly, both when compared to other models within the same price range, as well as in comparison to similar cameras. It comes with an impressively large 3in screen and a uniquely wide aperture (f/2.0) for its class. It can shoot high speed movies, at 240fps and also allows landscape enthusiasts to combine several pictures into a dramatically impressive panoramic view. Enthusiasts of this camera boast its battery life, which at 320 pictures when the Li-ion battery is full, stands out as above average. The in-camera editing mode allows users to create HDR quality photos, by overlaying several exposures of the same shot. And if you’re keen on capturing details of your over-ground and underwater adventures, you’ll be happy to learn that the 1cm macro mode can reveal some hidden gems. The camera also comes with a fairly decent built-in GPS which will serve as useful guidance in your travels, making it a really godd Olympus waterproof camera for adventures and hikes. The XP140 features a broad range of shooting modes and playful filters accessed via a fairly standard Fujifilm menu that is easy to navigate. It does shoot video in 4K however only at 15fps making this recording mode somewhat limited. However, a great feature is that this camera can shoot a burst mode with up to 15 frames per second. This is great if you are shooting fast-paced action or adventuring.From a technology standpoint, the Fujifilm FinePix XP140 has a great range of features including connectivity to smartphones for geo-tagging and image transferring. It features eye-detection autofocus and also a smile recognition shutter release – great features for photographing the kids. Olympus mirrorless cameras claim the world’s most successful sensor-shift stabilisation as well as some of the best weather sealing found in any system. Olympus Tough waterproof cameras are completely waterproof, perfect for water sports, holidays and diving, with the Olympus tough TG 6 offering underwater macro and 4K recording to 15m. The best waterproof camera typically offers automatic and scene modes for general photography, and some models might also offer manual control over shutter speed and aperture. This isn't the model for you if you're looking for 4K. The Lumix only shoots in MP4. It also struggles in low light, both in finding focus and capturing grain-free images. However, if you're like most, and you want a camera to take on vacation, surfing, or for a day of beach fun, the Panasonic LUMIX TS30 will fit your needs and your budget. OM Digital torture tests its cameras, and the OM-1 is the only interchangeable lens camera on the market with an IP53 rating. IP stands for “ingress protection,” and an IP53 rating means that the OM-1 can operate with water falling onto it as a spray at an angle of up to 60 degrees. No, you can’t take it underwater, but that’s about the only place that the OM-1 can’t handle.