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Best Underwater Camera For Snorkeling
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| Olympus Tough TG-6 | Nikon W300 | GoPro HERO 8 |
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Underwater Snorkeling Camera Reviews
1. Nikon W300 Waterproof Underwater Digital Camera
Last updated on July 4th, 2023 at 11:05 pm
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- Sensor type: CMOS 1/2.3″.
- Image recording format: JPEG
- Underwater depth: up to 30 m
- Lens system: 12 Elements in 10 Groups
- Frame rate: up to 7fps at 16 MP
- Weight: 231g
- Pixels:76 megapixels
Features:
Nikon Coolpix W300 is a great point-and-shoot camera for rugged underwater shooting. Nikon has been around for decades and aims to satisfy customers with state of the art features and brilliant design.Design
W300 impressed us with the dustproof, waterproof, and freezeproof body covered with an invisible case that protects it against any rough surfaces. The built-in GPS tracks your adventures and sharing them with your peers becomes much easier with the Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity options. Fortunately, W300 comes in a variety of bright colors with a black version for minimalists. A rubber-sealed flap with a twist-lock keeps the ports and slots protected while the lens and screen have an additional transparent plastic covering.Performance
Surprisingly, W300 acts as a tough competitor against its rivals with a 921000-dotted VGA resolution screen. You may need to find an area away from the sun to shoot your images to prevent any reflective rays of the plastic. There are several controls to edit your images, including flash, timer, and exposure compensation controls with a signature scene shooting mode. W300 is a treat for photographers fond of automatic controls and settings but not so much for manual users who may have to go deep into the main menu screen to make the desired edits. The autofocus system didn’t disappoint us either as it locked on to the desired subject pretty fast and accurately, especially under bright lighting: something all point and shoot cameras are blessed with. The 16 megapixel CMOS sensor is a valuable addition that results in bright, punchy images with a high level of detail under great lighting conditions. On the other hand, low light images may show some slight hints of noise, blurred details, and high sensitivity but nothing too major to ruin the image. It is able to record 4K videos that certainly boosts the sharpness and punchiness up by a notch compared to Full JD clips.Bottom line
There’s no other word to define this camera except robust. With resistance against every natural force, it ensures that the photographer gets the perfect image despite the weather conditions. If only the 4K videos offered more sharpness, we would’ve considered Nikon W300 our best bet.What we like:
- Easy to operate
- Built-in GPS
- Stunning images under good lighting
What we don’t:
- Can’t shoot in RAW
- doesn’t shoot well under low light
2. Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera
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- Sensor type: CMOS 1/2.3″.
- Image recording format: JPEG, Raw
- Underwater depth: up to 15 m
- Focal length: 4.5 to 18mm
- Frame rate: up to 20fps at 12 MP
- Weight: 253g
- Pixels: 12 megapixels
Features:
Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera, without any doubt, gained its position as a hot seller ever since its release. Most people refer to it as one of the best waterproof cameras Olympus has ever produced, thanks to its resistance against several natural factors.Design
It’s waterproof up to 50 ft, dustproof, crushproof, freezeproof- you get the drill. Moreover, the dual-pane protective glass body seems to protect it from all sorts of harsh photography conditions, so you’re upset at how weak your smartphone feels, you know where to go. There is a manual flash with 18 increments so you can adjust it according to the current shooting scenario. The flash also works as an LED lamp to replicate natural lighting- great for portraits.Performance
We were surprised by the downgrade from 16MP to 12MP 1/2.3″ sensor. However, you don’t need to fret as Olympus managed to convert this flaw to a major advantage: a bigger photosite leads to better low light performance. Underwater conditions aren’t exactly” bright” thus, Olympus would work pretty well under those circumstances. Moving on, the 4.5-18mm lens has an aperture speed of f/2 that, when combined with a 100-12800 ISO range, produces spectacular images. There is chromatic noise, but nothing too harsh to ruin your photography experience. What would an underwater camera be without effective image stabilization? Fortunately, Olympus comprises of built-in image stabilization with an innovative field sensor system to track your movements and information related to location. You can add the compiled data as filters on your images to boast about your experiences on social media. It would be unfair of us to not mention the various recording modes ranging from 4K at 30fps, 720p at 240fps, 360p at 480fps as well as 1080p up to 120fps. For a device specifically meant for underwater shooting, the manufacturers went above and beyond to enhance your shooting experience. You can’t miss the signature Underwater microscope mode along with others, including macro, snapshot, and HDR. The first two modes are some of the best features of Olympus TG-6. Moreover, the burst mode allows users to shoot around 47 frames at 20 fps.Bottom line
You won’t notice a difference in the upgrade from TG-5 to TG-6 in terms of design, but we enjoyed the major difference in performance and functionality. It’s one of the best cameras out there for underwater shooting and a valuable investment.What we like:
- 4K resolution
- Great microscope mode
- Rugged body
- Great battery life
What we don’t:
- Small sensor
- Limited telephoto range
3. Panasonic DC-TS7K Lumix TS7 Waterproof Tough Camera
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- Sensor type: MOS 1/2.3″.
- Image recording format: JPEG
- Underwater depth: up to 31m
- Lens system: 10 Elements in 8 Groups
- Frame rate: up to 30fps at 8.3MP
- Weight: 319g
- Pixels: 21.1 megapixels
Features:
There’s no doubt that Panasonic is one of the leading camera manufacturers with an edge over its competitors in terms of functions and image quality. The Panasonic DC-TS7K Lumix TS7 Tough Camera doesn’t prove otherwise.Design
TS7 didn’t resemble the point and shoot cameras in terms of its build as it was bigger and high on the weight scale. Despite not being pocket friendly, portability wasn’t a huge issue. The body consists of several buttons, dials, and knobs for full manual control, while the menu system is pretty simple and well organized. Their signature two-step lock seals the battery compartment under wet conditions while the electronic viewfinder was one of our favorite features.Performance
We can’t say much about the low light shooting, but the rest of our experience was incredible. Shooting images in rugged terrains ended up being fun rather than tiring due to the easy interface and Panasonic’s ability to switch modes effortlessly. The slow-motion mode shoots 1280 x 720 clips at 120 fps or less for a dramatic effect while the various scene modes gave our images more depth. Moving on, considering the 20.4 MOS sensor, our high expectations from the image quality were met. Shots captured under bright lighting boast a great dynamic range and solid tonal range. The high level of detail and vibrancy was unmatched, while the darker shots seemed to have false white tones and dull highlights. Furthermore, the video footage was even better than the final image quality making it a great substitute for your video camera. We loved the smooth 4K footage at 30 fps and were surprised to see how well it performed under low light.Bottom line
It’s hard to find a reliable camera that is waterproof up to 102 feet, but Panasonic DC-TS7K Lumix TS7 does. We appreciated the well-designed viewfinder along with the 4K video resolution- perfect for underwater video bloggers. However, we did find issues with the wide-angle lens alignment as it was quite narrow and defeated its purpose.What we like:
- Great electronic viewfinder
- Waterproof up to 102 feet
- Perfect waterproof locking system
- Manual exposure control
What we don’t:
- Wide-angle isn’t as wide
- Big and bulky
- Prominent shutter lag
4. Fujifilm FinePix XP140 Waterproof Digital Camera
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- Sensor type: CMOS 1/2.3.”
- Image recording format: JPEG
- Underwater depth: up to 25m
- Lens system: 13 Elements in 11 Groups
- Frame rate: up to 10fps
- Weight: 207g
- Pixels: 16.4 megapixels
Features:
Fujifilm FinePix XP140 Digital Camera, with its 16.4 MP CMOS sensor and 5x optical zoom lens, gained a lot of fans soon after it’s release. It boasts some of Fujifilm’s best features up to date and caters to everyone regardless of the skill level.Design
Finepix is a tough camera: waterproof up to 25m, shockproof up to 1.8m, and freezeproof up to -10°C. Pretty cool, right? It is ideal for shooting in various shooting locations regardless of the weather condition. The luminous green and black body look outstanding, but there are various other colors for those who’d prefer to tone it down. The lightweight, compact structure easily fits inside the pocket or your catch bag while snorkeling.Performance
Fujifilm manages to steal the show with the incredible image quality that boasts the best of each element. Even while using the standard-setting, the images have just the right amount of punch for a healthy glow. The landscape images seemed much lusher while the blues and greens didn’t seem to have any artificial undertone. Moving on, the autofocus system worked pretty well in terms of speed and accuracy: it didn’t waste any time in detecting and locking on to the desired subject. Fujifilm doesn’t lag behind in the editing department either: there are a number of digital effect modes to add to the excitement of your images, including fish eye effect, pop color, and toy camera filter. We couldn’t get over the stunning monochrome effect either with the perfectly chosen shades of black and white. The images at a low ISO sensitivity didn’t seem to have any sign of image degradation compared to ISO12800 that highlighted a lot of luminous and chromatic noise.Bottom line
There aren’t many ways to go wrong with the rough and tough Fujifilm FinePix XP140 compact camera. The overall image quality was better than expected, and even though we noticed some soft areas at the edges and loss highlight detail -the keyword being some, we would definitely recommend it to everyone.What we like:
- It is affordable
- Easy user interface
- Performs well under low light
What we don’t:
- No manual or RAW mode
5. Canon PowerShot D30 Waterproof Digital Camera
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- Sensor type: BSI-CMOS 1/2.3.”
- Image recording format: JPEG
- Underwater depth: up to 82ft
- Lens system: 10 groups / 12 elements
- Frame rate: 1.9fps
- Weight: 6.84oz
- Pixels: 12.1 megapixels
Features:
Canon PowerShot D30 Waterproof Digital Camera sets out in the market to compete with some of the leading waterproof cameras by renowned manufacturers, including Nikon and Panasonic. Armed with a 25-meter waterproof rating, there is no limit on enjoying your next underwater shooting experience.Design
D30 is an upgraded version of its predecessor, Canon D20, hence features the same sensor, processor and lens specs. Despite no crushproof rating, D30 offers a 2-meter resistance against shock, -10 degrees freezeproofing, and a whopping 25-meter waterproofing. It equips a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with a max sensitivity of IS03200 along with a quite old DIGIC 4 processor. Moreover, it features a 5x optical zoom with built-in image stabilization for sharp shots while the 140mm telephoto lens allows you to shoot subjects from a close range.Performance
Action-packed cameras need to be fast and accurate: why else would one invest in them? Fortunately, Powershot is ready to shoot in a second and doesn’t waste any time in focusing on the desired subject. The autofocusing system performs almost instantly under bright lighting with a delay of 1.5 secs under dark conditions. Moving on, the exposure metering is reliable, but you may need to edit some high contrast images through exposure metering compensation due to burnt-out highlights and dark shadows. Luckily, the lens doesn’t produce any visible distortion, while the image stabilization works incredibly to minimize camera shake. As we mentioned earlier, D30 features a 12.1 MP sensor that showcases high levels of details. At low sensitivity settings, you notice some grain noise with hardly any smoothing. There are several color enhancement options in the” My Colours” menu that allow you to boost vibrancy or swap colors.Bottom line
Canon D30, with its new design and rugged build, sets it apart from its rivals and makes it one of the best tough underwater cameras in the market. The outstanding image quality could be improved with a handle on underexposure. However, the overall experience was definitely worth the price.What we like:
- Great design
- Outstanding waterproof body
- Bright and vibrant images
What we don’t:
- Chromatic noise at higher sensitivities
- Narrow aperture lens
6. PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-TS30K Waterproof Digital Camera
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- Sensor type: CCD 1/2.3″.
- Image recording format: JPEG
- Underwater depth: 7.9m
- Lens system: 11 Elements in 10 Groups
- Frame rate: 8fps at 3 megapixels
- Weight: 143.7g
- Pixels: 16.6 megapixels
Features:
PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-TS30K Waterproof camera has got to be one of the best cameras out there in terms of underwater photography without going overboard with complex features and functions. It is an upgraded version of the well-acclaimed TS25 with several improvements.Design
Lumix TS30 is waterproof up to 26 ft, shockproof up to 5ft, and freeze proof up to 14 degrees while being resistant to dust. Moreover, all of these features packed into a compact, lightweight body makes it a part of every tourist’s shopping list. There are a variety of colors, including blue, black, and red, for those bored with the typical metallic silver camera finishing. With a 16.1-megapixel 1/2.33″ CCD sensor and 4x optical zoom, you get decent images while the increase in memory from 70MB to 220MB is worth praising.Performance
Lumix TS30 is more of an underwater camera than anything else, and the advanced underwater mode doesn’t prove otherwise. Thanks to the torchlight function, it becomes easier for snorkelers and scuba divers to capture their desired subject. Moreover, there are a variety of creative sports options, including 13 scene modes and 12 creative control modes, to make the most of your images. On the other hand, the time-lapse function allows you to shoot continuously at 1.3 frames per second or 8fps at high speed but low resolution. For videographers, there is an option of taking HD videos of 1280 x 720 pixels at 30fps and other low resolutions in MP4 format for effortless transfer. The 25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 lens has a 25mm wide-angle range for great close shots and street photography. Furthermore, the Autofocus system works brilliantly to detect the desired subject fast and accurately. Moreover, Face detection AF mode automatically detects the faces and locks the focus immediately. The featured proprietary battery shoots up to 250 shots in a single charge, which isn’t the best but adequate for most users.Bottom line
TS30 is the perfect rugged, waterproof camera that survives through some of the toughest photography conditions without breaking down. We were impressed by the compact design and easy-to-use interface at such a price.What we like:
- Great autofocus system
- Great image stabilization
- Perfect wide-angle coverage
What we don’t:
- Poor battery life
7. GoPro HERO 8 4K Waterproof Action Camera
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- Sensor type: CMOS motion sensor
- Image recording format:
- Underwater depth: 33ft
- Lens system: Focus free
- Frame rate: 60fps
- Weight: 126g
- Pixels: 12 megapixels
Features:
You must be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of the much appraised GoPro action series and their latest addition, the GoPro HERO8. As mighty as it sounds, it doesn’t disappoint photographers but rather ends up on their bucket list, thanks to the ergonomic design and powerful performance.Design
You won’t notice major differences compared to its predecessor, but we found some new, innovative elements, including a fixed lens with no protective covering and an improved microphone. Instead of a glass protector, the lens is covered by a smash resistant glass for more durability. Moving on, it has a comparatively thinner and taller body with no major weight changes. If anything, Hero 8 is more portable and pocket friendly. The compact yet responsive touchscreen has great visibility even under bright sunlight.Performance
Talking about videos, Hero 8 performs pretty well in that category by offering users to show from 1080p at 240fps up to 4K at 60 fps. The perspective changes between 4:3 and 16:9, while the Hypersmooth 2.0 stabilization enhances the overall result significantly. Under good lighting conditions, Hero 8 knows no bounds in terms of stunning image results, while the boost mode can be turned on to increase the stability to clarity ratio. Armed with an additional artificial lens, you get a brand new Narrow mode along with the previous modes: SuperView, Wide, and Linear. The Narrow mode shoots at a 27mm angle of view, similar to a smartphone, and bears no visible distortion. Talking about presets and filters, Hero 8 introduces the Time Warp 2.0 smart shooting mode that works as a time-lapse when you want to slow down a specific section of the video. It works at up to 4K at 30fps with all the widest digital lenses, including Superview and Linear, for the perfect footage. Moving on to image quality, it boasts a better dynamic range with more punch and vibrancy compared to its rivals. You may shoot a traditional HDR or RAW image while driving the ISO up to 3200. The battery stays charged for up to 50 minutes, similar to Hero7. Hero 8’s media mods: Media Mod, Light Mod, and Display Mod are worth mentioning as well since they set it apart from GoPros rivals.Bottom line
Hero 8 easily meets the threshold of a perfect action camera. We definitely prefer a bigger screen. However, the other amazing features, including high impact shoots and vibrant images, make up for it.What we like:
- Amazing digital stabilization
- Great time-lapse modes
- Variety of presets
What we don’t:
- Not meant for low light photography.