Rugged Point & Shoot Cameras for Outdoor Photography

Rugged Point & Shoot Cameras for Outdoor Photography

Submersible, Shockproof, Freezeproof, Laser Focused on Preserving Adventures

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To say the entire imaging field continues to go through a tumultuous transition is an understatement. Nevertheless, active lifestyle cameras have maintained their position as a successful market segment. That’s because these rugged point & shoot cameras offer what many consumers want. They provide a fetching combination of high style, high performance and a robust, waterproof, impact-resistant, go-anywhere body build.

They are the broadest of broad-spectrum digital compacts. In fact, they are perfect for skiing, surfing, taking to the beach, on the boat, on a hike, in the woods, or any place one might think twice about taking an unprotected DSLR or mirrorless camera—or even a smartphone.

Most of the current everything-proof models featured here also deliver an impressive array of high tech. Their specs include Full HD or 4K UHD video capability; high-res sensors; big, high-res LCDs or OLED monitors; built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity along with GPS; and enhanced waterproof ratings to appeal to scuba divers.

These audaciously attractive cameras deliver a satisfying blend of high-end performance and shooting flexibility. That makes them a high-value proposition for consumers who want to go anywhere, in any weather, and bring back memorable images and videos. Need we say that the cameras covered here are superb choices for dealers and consumers alike, now that the outdoor picture-taking season is in full swing.

Eight Rugged Point & Shoot Cameras for Active Lifestyle Photographers

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-6

This just-announced adventure camera is the new flagship of the iconic Olympus Stylus Tough line. The floatable TG-6 incorporates a fast 4x, 25–100mm* f/2–4.9 lens. It also employs a 12MP, 1/2.3-inch backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor for enhanced low-light performance, noise reduction and ISO 100–12,800 sensitivity settings. Its TruePic VIII processor provides RAW capture, 4K/30p video capture and Full HD 120-frames-per-sec video. Also offered are a 25-point AF system, a zero-lag pro capture mode, 20-fps bursts and a variable macro system for 1cm shooting.

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Olympus Stylus Tough TG-6

Moreover, the TG-6 is waterproof to 50 feet, dustproof, shockproof to 7 feet, crushproof to 220 lbf and freezeproof to 14ºF. And it features nitrogen-filled sealed dual-pane protective glass construction for antifogging performance. It has an upgraded 3-inch, 1.04M-dot LCD monitor. And now five underwater modes include underwater macro and HDR, along with three underwater WB modes.

Notable are image stabilization (IS), built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, plus eCompass and manometer functions. Its Field Sensor system also includes a temperature sensor and on-screen data displays that overlay onto photos/video. Another special feature is microscope control mode with three magnifications. In red or black, $449.99.

Panasonic Lumix DC-TS7

This tough Panasonic entry features minimalist styling, an electronic live viewfinder (EVF) and a full feature set. It is waterproof to an impressive 102 feet, withstands a 6.6-foot drop, is freezeproof to 14°F and is crushproof to 220 lbf. It also boasts an integrated compass and altimeter. Plus, a built-in LED light helps when shooting in dusky underwater or nighttime environments.

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Panasonic Lumix DC-TS7

Its 20.4MP High-Sensitivity MOS sensor couples to an advanced image processor. As a result, it achieves full-res still capture of 10 frames per sec and 4K UHD video recording at 30/24 fps. It also provides sensitivity settings from ISO 80–6,400. Moreover, its 4.6x, wide-angle 28–128mm Lumix DC Vario lens has an extra optical zoom (EZ) function to enhance its versatility. It also incorporates Power OIS (optical image stabilization) to minimize the effects of shake in handheld shooting.

Outdoor photographers will also enjoy 4K photo mode to pick perfect moments from individual video frames recorded at 30 fps and saved as 8MP pictures. Other key specs include: a 1.17M-dot EVF; a 3-inch, 1.04M-dot LCD; Wi-Fi and geotagging support; and a post focus mode that lets users select the focus point after an image is captured. In blue, black or orange, $449.99.

Nikon Coolpix W300

Sleekly stylish but seething with moxie, the upgraded Nikon Coolpix W300 is waterproof to 100 feet, freezeproof to 14ºF and will withstand a drop up to 7.9 feet. It features a 1/2.3-inch 16MP BSI CMOS sensor as well as a 5x, 24–120mm f/2.8–4.9 Nikkor lens.

It also employs a 3-inch, 921K-dot LCD monitor with six brightness levels and hybrid (optical plus electronic) vibration reduction to combat the effects of camera shake. SnapBridge with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity enable sharing and remote control via a smartphone or tablet, plus GPS for geotagging.

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Nikon Coolpix W300

Other niceties include 4K UHD video recording at 30 fps; a maximum burst rate of 7 fps for stills; and sensitivity settings from ISO 100–6,400. Creative modes feature smart portrait and glamour retouch, plus a variety of special effects. Moreover, there’s a built-in LED light that can be used as a flashlight or to illuminate close-up subjects. In black, yellow or orange, $389.95.

SeaLife DC2000

This Spartan, underwater camera from SeaLifes aimed at serious scuba divers who want to shoot underwater at great depths. When ensconced in its included underwater housing, it’ll work down to a remarkable 200 feet, and without it, down to 60 feet.

Although not officially “everything-proof,” its rubber-armored housing is designed to withstand rough handling and tough environments. The DC2000 incorporates a 1-inch 20MP Sony BSI CMOS image sensor and a wide-angle 31mm f/1.8–11, 7-element aspheric lens for enhanced low-light capability.

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SeaLife DC2000

The camera captures Full HD 1080p video at up to 60 fps and full-res bursts at up to 10 fps. It provides picture-in-video mode, as well as program, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual exposure modes.

Other key features for underwater shooters include: a 3-inch, 920K-dot LCD screen; four underwater shooting modes with built-in color correction; 25 land scene modes; intelligent auto mode; RAW support; time-lapse capability; and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. $699.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-Tracker

This ruggedly styled Olympus action camera is waterproof to a depth of 100 feet, withstands a 7-foot drop, is freezeproof to 14ºF and crushproof to 220 lbf. Its fast, water-repellent, ultrawide-angle 13.9mm f/2 lens covers a 204º angle of view. Moreover, an integral LED headlight above the lens lets users shoot underwater or in dark environments.

The TG-Tracker records 4K UHD video at 30 fps, Full HD 1080p video at up to 60 fps and HD 720p video at up to 240 fps for slow-motion effects. It also captures 8MP still images.

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Olympus Stylus Tough TG-Tracker

Shots can be framed on the 1.5-inch, 1.15M-dot, tilt-out LCD monitor. Moreover, the camera connects to mobile devices via built-in Wi-Fi to monitor the camera, share remotely and transfer files using Olympus Image Share and Track apps.

Plus, when users switch to log mode, they can record data from the camera’s GPS, compass, accelerometer, thermometer and barometer, and view them on the monitor or download them for later use. Other features include: 0.5–60-sec interval capture for time-lapse photography; 5-axis electronic IS for stills and video; and support for microSD and SDHC/SDXC cards. In green, $349.99.

Fujifilm FinePix XP140

This recently released XP model retains the line’s perky, eye-catching contemporary styling. The latest downsized version of Fujifilm’s cool go-anywhere cameras has an upgraded 1/2.3-inch 16.4MP BSI CMOS sensor that provides 15-fps full-res bursts, 4K video recording and sensitivity to ISO 12,800.

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Fujifilm FinePix XP140

It also features construction upgrades. It’s now waterproof to 82 feet, shockproof to handle a 5.9-foot drop, freezeproof to 14ºF and dustproof. Redesigned for ease of use during outdoor activities, it has a grip and a double-locking mechanism for the battery compartment. It also employs Fujifilm’s color reproduction technology and a Fujinon 5x optical zoom, 28–140mm lens. The optical zoom range reaches 10x with Intelligent Digital Zoom technology, and it has an optical image stabilization mechanism.

The XP140 also features an evolved scene recognition auto mode, eye detection, auto-intelligent functions, 17 filter effects and self-timer mode, which automatically releases the shutter when detecting a smiling face. Bluetooth allows automatic, instant transfer to smartphones/tablets, as well as syncs the time and location from the smart device and attaches it to images, plus enables remote shooting via the Fujifilm Camera Remote app. In yellow or blue, $229.95.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 II

Sony’s upgraded RX0 II premium compact measures 2-3/8×1-5/8 inches and weighs 4.1 ounces. The diminutive P&S builds on the everything-proof and ultracompact qualities of the original RX0. The pocketable camera is waterproof to 33 feet, dustproof, shockproof to withstand 6.5-foot drops and crushproof to 440 lbf.

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 I

It also offers internal 4K recording at 30 fps with full pixel readout and no pixel binning; an LCD screen that tilts up 180º and down 90º; and in-body electronic IS for video recording. A 1.0-type stacked 15.3MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor and Bionz X processor provide enhanced color reproduction and skin tones, as well as an ISO 80–12,800 sensitivity range. A Zeiss Tessar T* 24mm f/4.0 fixed lens has a 7.9-inch minimum focusing distance for selfies or tabletop photos.

Additional features include: super slow motion, 1,000-fps video recording; uncompressed 4K HDMI output; 16-fps burst shooting; upgraded eye AF; interval shooting; and multi-camera options, with five cameras controlled wirelessly using the Sony Imaging Edge Mobile app. $699.99.

Nikon Coolpix W100

Nikon’s perky, outdoor compact is tougher than it looks. It boasts a rugged body that’s waterproof to a depth of 33 feet, freezeproof down to 14ºF and is capable of handling a 6-foot drop.

The Coolpix W100 employs a 1/3.1-inch 13.2MP CMOS image sensor as well as a Nikkor 30–90mm f/3.3–5.9, 3x optical zoom lens. In addition, the zoom can be extended to 6x with Nikon’s built-in Dynamic Fine Zoom technology. And the W100 provides a contrast-detect AF system with an electronic VR (vibration reduction) IS system.

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Nikon Coolpix W100

Other features include: a 2.7-inch, 230K-dot LCD monitor; Full HD 1080p video capture at 30 fps with stereo sound; a built-in flash; and Nikon’s always-connected SnapBridge with full Wi-Fi connectivity, NFC as well as Bluetooth. It even offers a friendly welcome screen, cartoon and neon effects, and glamour retouch effects. In blue or white, $159.95.

*All focal lengths are in 35mm equivalents, unless otherwise specified.

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