Digital cameras: Buying the best waterproof camera Waterproof camera photo gallery
Waterproof camera shots
We put the Canon Powershot D20, Nikon Coolpix AW100, Olympus Tough TG-1 and Pentax WG2-GPS through their paces on white-water rapids to see how good they are in the wet.
Below you can see just a few of the shots taken on these cameras, but if you want to see these cameras in action take a look at our waterproof camera group test video on our choosing the best waterproof camera page.
Waterproof camera gallery
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These Canon shots were taken on the Canon Powershot D20.
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The Nikon Coolpix AW100 did a good job of capturing the water droplets mid-splash.
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The Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS is wider than the other cameras and the button controls are quite clicky.
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Waterproof cameras on test
Canon PowerShot D20
This Canon has a 12.1Mp back-illuminated sensor to help keep shots looking bright. It has a 5x optical zoom and the lens starts at a wide angle of 28mm which will come in useful if you're shooting landscapes. Like all four cameras here, it can capture HD video at 1080p.
See our first look video of the Canon Powershot D20 to get a closer look at this camera.
Nikon Coolpix AW100
Like the Canon PowerShot D20, the Nikon AW100 has a 5x optical zoom and a lens that starts from a wide angle of 28mm. Its sensor has a higher resolution, packing in 15.9Mp which should help you to capture more detail. The face-detection function on this camera worked extremely well in our tests.
For full lab test results for this camera read the Nikon Coolpix AW100 review.
Olympus Tough TG-1
The TG-1 has a 12Mp backlit CMOS sensor. The 4x optical zoom won't get you as close as the other waterproof cameras here, but with a wide angle of 25mm you can fit more into a landscape or close-up group shot of friends, compared with the other three cameras. If you're taking it diving, it's waterproof down to a depth of 12 metres - 2 metres deeper than the rest.
Find out more about this camera in our Olympus Tough TG-1 first look review.
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Like the Nikon, the WG-2 has a 15.9Mp sensor and 5x optical zoom. The Pentax has exposure bracketing, which can be used to capture a single shot at a few different exposures - you can then select the best-looking photo to keep.
For full test results for this camera read our Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS review.
Which waterproof camera should you buy?
Some waterproof cameras offer more zoom than others to get you closer to distant action - handy if you're taking pictures of your friends in the sea from the comfort of your beach towel. Some include GPS to tag your photos with the location where they were taken - handy if you're travelling.
If you're not sure what features to look for in a waterproof camera, we can help you choose the right camera for you - see our advice on choosing the best waterproof camera.
- Best waterproof cameras - Find the best waterproof camera from more than 20 we've tested.
- Choosing the best waterproof camera - The pros and cons, and what to look for when buying.
- Best cheap digital cameras - Get a cheap camera for under £120 that won't make you weep if it gets damaged.
