It’s so fun to be living in a time where we don’t have to worry about our cameras getting wet in action as most action cameras are now waterproof, also the image quality has never been better. To go deeper, this article is dedicated to answering the question: “Which are the 11 Best Budget Waterproof Cameras?” Best waterproof cameras  are judged on value for money, quality of picture, robustness and waterproofing itself.

Why are these cameras better than smartphones? They are more rugged, they have zooms and they’re simply more waterproof, plus they are designed to be held underwater as opposed to your phone. One afterthought worth considering is also price. If you lost your waterproof camera under water you’ve lost a fraction compared with a smart phone.

Waterproof cameras are great for taking surfing, diving and even snorkeling, action shots or plain downpour water pics of your garden. With nuances in mind some people may like a lanyard for better grip while others would find protection a nuance worth opting for above others.

So, submerge yourself in the article of my ’12 best waterproof cameras,’ you can get your hands on…

Which are the 11 Best Budget Waterproof Cameras?

1. GoPro HERO 8

With Water resistance down up to 33 feet, the GoPro definitely has become the tag name for ‘adventure camera’ all for the good reasons and that’s why you are seeing this as the first option in our list of best waterproof cameras. The GoPro Hero 8 is relatively simple to use and takes super solid photos even when you’re on the move.

The GoPro Hero 8  has improved image stabilization (a marvelous upgrade, since action photography can be shaky, to mention the least) and now it has excellent with live stream support. Just like most cameras, video recording really takes a dig into the battery life on the GoPro Hero8.

The battery lasts about 45 minutes if you’re going to shoot at the highest resolution (4K) which ais better than 1080p (read my article Is 4k Video Better Than 1080p?)

If you are thinking to buy this camera, do check out some of the best GoPro Hero 8 SD cards and best GoPro Hero 8 accessories that you don’t want to miss.

2. Nikon W300 Waterproof Underwater Digital Camera with TFT LCD

the Nikon W300 is a serious abuse taker and I’m not even joking, this one can hold up to stunts from kids, out of the water and harder testes in the water; ability to work even at water levels down to 100 feet. If that doesn’t impress you, the Nikon Coolpix W300 can operate with aplomb even in temperatures below freezing. An Aperture of 28 is great for a camera of this size. However, one handed use is not great.

What? You somehow drop your cameras from a floor above?  No problem, drop this bad boy from more than seven feet in the air, and my tests underpinned the description: it bounces and doesn’t crack; gritty sand and dust doesn’t scratch or enter the W300. 

On the software front there are all kinds of navigation and tracking features, like an amazing GPS, compass, altimeter, and depth gauge. On the downside if it is a downside: the color range is limited to one hue.

3. Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera

The Olympus TG-6 is an attempt of Olympus’s  to continue the company’s tradition of making some of the best waterproof cameras.

The Olympus TG-6 comes loaded with impressive rugged specs, pretty amazing image quality, plus it shoots crisp quality 4K videos. the device has pretty strong battery life and a tracking feature that generally tags your photos according to the environmental location. There’s a convenient safety lock on the USB and HDMI door so no water can get in.

Talking about the various modes present on the TG-6, the camera comes loaded with numerous macro and underwater shooting modes. The display can be seen clearly underwater even in the dazzling sun.

At 20 frames per second, this camera is top quality at capturing action shots both in and out of the water. The great thing is you don’t need lots of accessories, this camera can be taken out of the box and hurled in the water if the waterproof doors are locked.

4. Fujifilm FinePix XP130 Waterproof Digital Camera 16.4 MP Camera, 5 X optical Zoom

Waterproof down to up to 65 feet (20m), this is one of the best waterproof cameras and be set up to take a remote shot, which is really great for those people without any designated photographer. Plus you can drop it from a height of 5 feet seven – so it’s rugged.

Its rugged design protects this camera from falls, dust, and frigid temperatures. Bluetooth and geo tagging on the XP130 means you can send yourself photos as it’s Wi-Fi enabled and also keep track of where you’ve been which is a nice feature.

Another cool feature on the Fujifilm FinePix XP130 Waterproof Digital Camera is the burst mode, which functions similar to that on latest mobile devices. It’s great for those moments where you want to get a flurry of action shots and later pick the best of all. 

Priced at a competitive lower range, the XP130 is a no brainer. It’s not sophisticated but a great budget camera.

5. Campark ACT74 Action Camera 16MP 4K Wi-Fi Underwater  – Budget

Ever thought that a low budget camera could be so good that people would actually consider it over the market leading cameras like the GoPro? The Campark ACT74 Action Camera is the camera which is a budget Gopro with the finer nuances removed like a non reflective screen, better screen quality among others.

People are really obsessed with this camera because of its significantly affordable price. This camera from Campark is a fun camera because of features like, Time-lapse, loop recording, and slow-motion, giving you plenty of options while recording. However, it’s 720 p at 90 frames, the Gopro is 1080p at 140 frames. There is the Wi-Fi support making it easy to share your photographs to your phone and friends. 

The Campark ACT74 Action Camera is waterproof to up to 98 feet when you are using the waterproof case, though, you would have to use it every time you go underwater.  The Campark ACT74 Action Camera comes with necessary additional accessories that allow you to mount it on a helmet and stuff while going out.

Typical Action Camera I’d say!

6. PANASONIC LUMIX Waterproof Digital Camera 

The PANASONIC LUMIX Waterproof Digital Camera has been crowned with the title of the best waterproof cameras in it’s class by TechRadar and we know they don’t lie!

This particular camera by Panasonic can be described as the Nikon W300’s cheaper and slightly less rugged sibling. 

The PANASONIC LUMIX Waterproof Digital Camera is certified to be waterproof to up to 26 feet (up to 60 minutes), can survive drops from five feet, and is able to withstand both road debris and freezing temperatures. Considering all this its safe to say that its definitely the cheaper Nikon W300. The PANASONIC LUMIX Waterproof Digital Camera comes with a handy 220MB of internal storage but we know that doesn’t matter until you actually forgot your memory card and are going to miss a shot of a lifetime.

One thing I liked in the PANASONIC LUMIX Waterproof Digital Camera  is that it’s small enough to fit in your pocket so leaving the bulky camera bag at home is possible.

7. Olympus TG-Tracker with 1.5-Inch LCD

The Olympus TG-Tracker is one tough device that even CameraLabs recommend. And to be fair it actually deserves that, because on record this camera is one of the quirkier underwater cameras. The design on the Olympus TG-Tracker is of an old-school camcorder that has been miniatured to look exactly like what I imagined how a GoPro would look if it were a camcorder, Yes exactly like that.

This camera has some impressive capabilities including being able to go to the depths of 100 feet without any harms which is not something you see on cameras in this range. You will need to add the underwater lens provided. That is why, we have included this one in the list of best waterproof cameras. 

This red or green camera can illuminate the darkness underwater with its massive 60-lumen light which is a great feature.  The screen of this camera for ease of access is made to be flipped out so that you can film comfortably and even track your filming locations. However, the OS APP needs some patience as it can lose connection at times.

The Olympus TG-Tracker has large buttons on its top edge for easy control underwater, the only downside being that you won’t be able to take still images while filming on this budget device. 

8. GoPro Max

The GoPro Max is a solid step that you can take in to entering into 360 and virtual reality filming. One thing to notice that the GoPro Max is totally different territory so it might not be as hardy as other models and can only reach up to a depth of 16 feet. That’s still fine for a snorkeling trip, some scuba diving or many river fishing trips.

The slow motion feature is great on the Max and not surprising given it’s 1080 at 240 frames per second. The software stabilization software is industry leading which is a consideration for any camera enthusiast. several photo modes are top quality including raw, HDR photos. Voice control is another benefit thats sets the Max apart.

The biggest downside on one end is that file size is not so forgiving on the GoPro Max and you would require a pretty hefty computer setup to compile and render it completely, on the other side, you get an Action Camera capable of shooting in 5.2K!!!!

9. SeaLife DC2000 HD Underwater Digital Camera

If a high image quality is your first priority and you don’t mind having a fixed focal length lens, then the SeaLife DC2000 is something you might want to give a shot. On its own, without the housing, the DC2000 can go up to 18m/ 60ft underwater. And when you put it in its included housing case, those numbers  toll up to 60m / 200ft. 

The Sealife DC2000 comes equipped with a 1″-type, 20 Megapixel sensor and a 31mm equivalent F1.8 lens. Image quality is remarkably better on the Sealife than the rest of the waterproof cameras in the same group. What’s more is that Raw is supported allowing you to get the most out of the focal lens of this camera.

The only downside here is that you won’t find GPS, super-close macro mode or even 4K video on the DC2000. Battery life is also sketchy if you compare it to the other cameras in the price range. However if you’re that “niche†diver whose first priority is to ‘focus’ on image quality, then nothing can beat the DC2000 in the group and that is why we have listed this in our list of best waterproof cameras. 

10. Panasonic DC-TS7D Lumix TS7 Waterproof Tough Camera

Panasonic’s new Lumix TS7 known as the Lumix FT7 outside the United States is on paper the latest and best waterproof camera on the market.

Panasonic opposing Olympus, which reduced the resolution on its TG-5, has thought of going the opposite direction, increasing the pixel count on the TS7/FT7 to 20.4MP which is way better from 16.1MP in the TS5 / FT5.

Lens coverage on this one is kind of the same as its predecessor with a minor change here and there. The Panasonic Lumix FT7 / TS7 offers a 4.6x zoom range that covers 28-128mm. What’s missing though is the Leica branding but still is one of the best waterproof cameras available in the market. 

What Panasonic brings new for the waterproof camera market is a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) in the Lumix FT7 / TS7, which works perfectly well.

The 1,170k-dot, 0.2-inch display on the Lumix FT7 / TS7 obviously isn’t the largest in the market but it surely does offer a useful alternative to those who don’t like shooting with the rear display, especially in bright light.

11. RICOH WG-60 Red Waterproof Camera

The Ricoh WG-60 comes with some pretty strong and “tough†credentials up it’s sleeve. First, it’s waterproof to a depth of whopping 14m/45.9ft and Second, this striking looking camera is shockproof from a fall of roughly up to 1.6m/5.2ft, while technically being able to withstand a force of up to 100kg/220lbs according to the company.

 The Ricoh WG-60 is also dust-proof, and can easily operate in temperatures down to around minus 10°C/14°F which is impressive. I dropped the camera by accident on to concrete from waist high an it landed intact with a gentle thud.

The 5x optical zoom on the Ricoh WG-60 has a much broader focal zoom range, ranging from 28-140mm, while also packing six LED macro lights dotted all-round the front of the lens barrel on the Ricoh WG-60 to make it able of delivering bright and uniformed lighting around the subject ideal especially for shooting underwater subjects.

The macro lights here has one more benefit, it provides other useful functions too, such as the LED Light mode, that allow the user to use the macro light for adding light to portraits in poor lighting conditions. This is definitely one of the better waterproof cameras. 

With this our focus on, “Which are 11 best budget waterproof cameras?” comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed reading which cameras are making a splash and which one’s needed a dunk, and we were able to help you in making a choice. If you use any of these best waterproof cameras, do let us know in the comments section below. 

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