Don’t Fear the Water
Our social media feeds are inundated with images of bright beaches with stunningly perfect palm trees and the deepest blue water. But even taking your camera to the beach can be risky—sand gets in places you’d never think it could—and most models won’t survive a quick dip in the ocean.
You may already own a waterproof camera. The latest top-end iPhones and Android phones are IP rated for submersion for short amounts of time. And the rise of quality smartphones has gone a long way in reducing the number of dedicated point-and-shoots on the market. But even if you’re just taking a quick dip and want to snap a selfie, there are reasons not to take your expensive phone into the water.
If you lose it, you’ve lost all the data on it. It’s especially risky for travelers, as documents like boarding passes and hotel confirmations are often stored on your smartphone. And let’s not forget how much a new phone costs, once you’ve taken your monthly payment plan
So the answer is to get a waterproof camera. Something that doesn’t cost as much—so if something does go wrong, it’s not the end of the world. Many waterproof cameras are also ruggedized, so they can survive drops.
Read on for our top recommendations. We’ve tested most of them, with a couple of exceptions. We decided to put a disposable 35mm film camera on the list for fun, and haven’t delved into the world of testing accessory housings.
