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The GoPro revolutionized the world of both professional and amateur video recording. All of a sudden, anyone with a modest budget was able to pick up a GoPro and document everything from biking adventures to surfing lessons with minimal experience—all through an incredibly small piece of gear that offered unparalleled quality and functionality. The GoPro is undeniably awesome. The only problem is that it’s also expensive, and since its groundbreaking inception, a string of incredibly similar and far more affordable products have entered the market—meaning that you no longer have to break the bank if you want to capture some truly stunning video of your next big adventure. There is a wide range of camera options on the market that are fully waterproof. It means that, aside from taking them with you by the beach or pool, you can also submerge them in water to take breathtaking underwater shots. Before purchasing one, you should do ample research about a particular camera’s specs because you’d want to ensure that it has an excellent sensor, battery life, etc. Here are some of the best waterproof cameras money could buy in 2022.
The Olympus Tough TG-6 is many people’s top choice for a waterproof camera because of its overall performance. You can submerge the camera up to 50 feet underwater, and it’s even shockproof, crush-proof, dust-proof, and freeze-proof. It even comes with anti-fog capabilities, so you can get crystal-clear footage no matter what the conditions are. The camera comes with a 12MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor and wide-angle F2.0 lens with a maximum zoom of 8x. Users can expect their images and videos to have superb detail and vibrant colors. The Olympus Tough TG-6 is also capable of macro photography, and its Microscope Control Mode allows you to magnify up to 44x. You also won’t need to worry about playing around with your settings when filming underwater because the camera features five underwater shooting modes. The camera can shoot 4K footage at 30 fps or 1080p video at 120 fps, and it can also film high-quality slow-motion content. You can never forget the technical details of your memories with this camera because its Field Sensor System takes note of your location, temperature, and movement. You can also add a date and time stamp to each of your photos. The Olympus Tough TG-6 has a decent battery life because you get up to 340 images or 50 minutes of video per charge. For continuous recording, you get a maximum shooting time of 29 minutes.
Waterproof, shockproof, crush-proof, dust-proof, and freeze-proofShoot 4K video at 30fps or 1080p video at 120 fpsExcellent macro capabilitiesFilm slow-mo videos
Can only be submerged up to 50 feetMenu could be more user-friendly
If you like going on deep dives and want to capture those once-in-a-lifetime encounters with marine life, you will love the Nikon Coolpix W300. This camera is waterproof up to 100 feet, so you will have a lot of opportunities to take amazing content underwater. It’s also dustproof and shockproof, surviving drops from up to 7.9 ft. You can also take the camera with you when you’re snowboarding or skiing during winter because it can survive temperatures as low as 14°. The Nikon Coolpix W300 promises high-quality images and videos thanks to its 16 MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. It features a fast f/2.8 NIKKOR zoom lens that can still provide stunning content even in action-packed conditions or when light is fading. The camera’s lens has 5x optical zoom for you to get your subject in the frame even if you’re far away. Its Hybrid VR (Vibration Reduction) ensures everything is stabilized even when you don’t use a tripod or gimbal. The Nikon Coolpix W300 can capture 4K Ultra HD or 1080p Full HD videos, and the best part is that it also records stereo sound. For those who want to post about their adventures online instantly, you can use the camera’s Short Movie Show feature that conveniently compiles your favorite clips and adds music and special effects. You will also like how it can record time-lapse or superlapse videos. The camera is easy to hold because of its large grip, and its anti-reflective LCD screen makes viewing your content even in bright light a breeze. Users can quickly transfer footage from the camera to their smartphones or tablets because it has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The camera has an eCompass, GPS, depth gauge, etc., so you can track technical details about your photos and videos. For those who like filming at night, the camera’s built-in LED light will be beneficial for illuminating fark environments. You don’t need to be an expert to get breathtaking photos with this camera since you can pick between 20 different scene modes or let the camera decide for you by using the Scene Auto Selector feature. Upon purchase, customers will receive a free rechargeable battery, camera strap, and USB cable.
Can be submerged in water up to 100 feetDustproof, shockproof, and freezeproofHigh-quality photos and videosUser-friendly controls
No full-manual shooting optionNot the best low-light performance
When talking about the best waterproof cameras, you can always expect someone to bring up the GoPro. It has been a go-to choice for many people who want a reliable action camera over the years, and one of their best offers as of writing is their GoPro Hero10 Black. It features the latest GP2 engine that makes its overall performance surpass all its predecessors. The camera can take high-quality 23MP images and shoot 5.3K videos at 60 fps. You can take cinematic shots with the camera because it can capture 2.7K 8x slo-mo content. The Hero10 Black features HyperSmooth 4.0, making all your videos stable and smooth. You can expect better low-light performance from the camera, and your videos will look straight and leveled thanks to its horizon leveling with a higher tilt limit. Aside from the touch screen found at the back of the camera, it also comes with a new front camera that will make it easier to take pictures or videos of yourself. The Hero10 Black keeps the same rugged design as older models, and it’s waterproof until 33 ft. The camera comes with a new water-shedding hydroponic lens cover that does an excellent job at repelling water and eliminating lens flare. It uses the same 1720 mAh battery the Hero9 had, so you can expect the battery to last up to 2 hours per charge. You can use the camera for live streaming since you can turn it into a webcam and benefit from its HyperSmooth stabilization. The Hero10 Black has built-in Wi-Fi, so you can quickly transfer files from your camera to your smartphone.
Record 5.3K videosWaterproof until 33 ftHyperSmooth 4.0Front LCD screenWater-shedding hydroponic lens cover
Disappointing battery life
The Fujifilm Finepix XP140 is ideal for looking for a less expensive waterproof camera. You can submerge the camera underwater up to 82 ft, and it can survive up to 5.9-ft drops. The camera is also safe from dust, and it’s freezeproof until -10°C. Users can take amazing photos in many environments because of its 16.4-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. You won’t encounter significant image blur because of the camera’s trustworthy CMOS-shift Optical Image Stabilization system. The camera can automatically analyze your subject and adjust its settings for you, and its Eye Detection feature will immediately focus on your subject’s eyes and enhance portrait photos. Its self-timer mode is perfect for taking pictures of yourself, and it comes with a Smile mode that can automatically take a photo when it sees you smiling. The camera is pretty decent at taking videos because it can shoot 4K footage, but its 15 fps framerate might be too low for some. It’s easy to transfer content from the camera to your phone because of its low-energy Bluetooth technology. If you plan to mount the camera on a tripod, you can turn your smartphone into a remote using the FUJIFILM Camera Remote app.
Cheaper than rivalsCan be submerged underwater up to 82 ftFreezeproof, dustproof, and shockproofSelf-timer, Smile Mode, and Eye Detection
Can only shoot 4K videos at 15 fps
You don’t always have to break the bank to find a valuable waterproof camera because you can find options like the Akaso Brave 7 LE that come with a budget-friendly price tag. The camera alone is waterproof until 3.3 ft, but using the free waterproof case allows you to submerge it up to 131 ft. It’s similar to the GoPro Hero10Black because it comes with color screens on the front and back of the camera. The camera can take 20MP photos and 4K videos at 30 fps. We know taking videos or pictures while doing activities may result in blurry content, but this camera comes with 6-axis Electric Image Stabilization 2.0 that makes your footage look like you used a gimbal. The Akaso Brave 7 LE has Wi-Fi for easy file transfers to your smartphones using the AKASO GO app. You can even stream content from your camera to your TV because it has a built-in HDMI port. The camera comes with two 1350mAh batteries, so you can continue filming even when one runs out of juice. The camera comes with other freebies like a remote control, a battery charger, a bicycle stand, a helmet mount, a USB cable, and more.
AffordableFront and rear color screens6-axis Electric Image Stabilization 2.0Comes with 2 batteriesLots of freebiesWaterproof case makes it waterproof until 131 ft
Color screens don't have the best quality and user interfaceFront screen might be too small for someCamera itself is only waterproof until 3.3 ftCompetitors still have better image and video quality
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