There’s nothing more magical than snorkeling amongst a coral reef that’s teeming with life especially if your lucky enough to have sea turtles, reef sharks or manta rays for company. However, I’ve regretted on so many occasions not taking an underwater camera that I’ve put together this easy guide on buying the best underwater camera for snorkeling to make buying yours that much more straightforward.
If you like to go snorkeling, chances are you book holidays with this activity in mind, and if that’s the case, this guide will help you find the best camera for snorkeling.
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If your short on time and want a quick answer to the best underwater camera for snorkeling, the TG5 Olympus underwater camera is my top choice.
For a compact camera it takes superb pictures underwater.
With Black Friday almost here Nikon have already reduced their Coolpix 300 underwater camera
I suggest you start by checking out my comparison chart, then read the section on what features to look for in top waterproof cameras before going on to read my underwater camera reviews. As well as high-end models you’ll find advice on the best cheap underwater camera and a disposable camera option also.
Underwater digital cameras comparison chart
Make | Image | Waterproof | Lens and Zoom |
Video | Check Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Olympus TG 5 | 50ft15m | 4x12mp | UltraHD
4K |
PRICE CHECK | |
NikonCoolpix
W300 |
50ft15m | 5 x16mp | Ultra HD4k | PRICE CHECK | |
FujifilmFinepix | 50ft15m | 5x16mp | HD1080p | PRICE CHECK | |
PanasonicLumix TS7 | 50ft15m | 4.6×20.4mp | HD4K | PRICE CHECK | |
GoProHero 11 | 50ft15m | No Zoom12mp | 4K60 | PRICE CHECK | |
PanasonicLumix TS25D | 50ft15m | 4x16mp | HD720p | PRICE CHECK |
Having all this information at a glance in one chart is fantastic, but you still might feel none the wiser as to which waterproof camera will suit your needs best. Don’t worry the following buying guide will help you decide. You can return to the comparison chart later, and I’m sure it will make more sense.
If you want to jump straight to the waterproof camera reviews click here.
While you can get DSLR cameras for underwater photography, they are much more expensive. A compact tough camera offers great flexibility in that it can be used for all sorts of activities both in and out of the water.
Things to consider when choosing the best camera for underwater photography
How deep will you need the waterproof digital camera to operate at?
For surface snorkeling this will not be much, but if you’re likely to go free diving or scuba diving its essential to consider the depth. Underwater camera housing can be purchased for some camera’s if you wish to use it as a diving camera.
How vital is recording video compared to shooting photos?
Colours are absorbed underwater at different depths. At as little as 5ft, there’s a noticeable loss of the colour red. When you take into consideration the horizontal distance from a subject, this could mean that the colour red disappears completely. If you wish to retain as much colour as is possible shooting in RAW format is the best option.
The raw form will allow you to bring more depth of colour and contrast to your images in post-processing.
If you’re more likely to shoot video footage while snorkeling the number of frames per second will be of interest to you. The best underwater video camera will offer 4k video recording, which gives four times the number of pixels than 1080p HD.
Will you want to attach a small waterproof camera to your full face snorkel mask
Some snorkel masks come with GoPro mounts so that you can attach your camera to the top of the masks. This is not great for taking photographs as you can’t access the camera’s features, but it can be good if you’re happy to record your snorkeling adventures and take images from the recorded frames.
Features to look at in a Snorkeling Camera
Understanding what features each model has will allow you to find the best buy underwater camera to suit your needs.
Megapixels
This term refers to the size of an image, and a megapixel means one million pixels. A high number of pixels is better for zooming in on photos and cropping later. The downside is that pictures with more pixels are larger in file size and therefore take longer to download or transfer.
Megapixels are more important if you are likely to print your images and to be honest 10 mp is enough for a high-quality A3 photo.
Sensors
The size of the camera’s sensor determines the amount of light that it can capture. The more light, the better, hence the larger the sensor, the better. For compact cameras, there are three main sensor ratings which are usually described in inches.
All the cameras reviewed in this article have a 1/2.3″ sensor, which is the best you’ll get on a compact camera.
Optical Zoom
The focal length is measured in millimetres, and a higher number means more zoom, while a lower number is better for wide-angle shots. The two numbers given are the minimum and maximum points that the camera can zoom at. The lowest number tells you the widest angle while the higher number is the greatest zoom you can get.
Understanding focal length can seem complicated, but the lower the number, the more of the scene in front of you, you can capture. As you zoom in the field of view becomes narrower.
Macro
Macro lenses allow for a closer focusing range than zoom lenses and are to used to capture intricate close up images. The best waterproof point and shoot cameras have macro modes which enable you to get spectacular close up shots.
Video Recording
4K is the most up to date format for video recording and for silky smooth videos 60 frames per second is the latest option. However, it’s still common for compact underwater cameras to offer 4k at 30 frames per second.
The next best thing to 4K is high definition or HD. You’ll notice that HD usually has a number next to it such as 1080p or 720p. This number refers to vertical lines of resolution. The higher the number, the better the image quality will be.
Wifi
Wifi is particularly useful if you want to share your images quickly on social media. Built-in Wifi is becoming more common, but it’s still not a feature on every waterproof compact camera.
You’ll need to pay a little more if this feature is important to you. You still need an internet connection for the wifi to work and while tethering from your phone works well its no good if the destination you’re staying in is not roam free.
In this situation, you’ll probably be reliant on a free wifi source, which is not always as fast as you would like. That said its usually pretty easy to upload a couple of photos and share them with your friends and family on Facebook or Instagram.
Top Underwater Cameras reviewed
Now that you understand a little more about the features on the best cameras for snorkelling, you should be in a better position to find a water-resistant camera that best suits your needs.
Below you’ll find a full underwater camera review for each of the models that I recommend, and what you can expect for the price.
TG 5 Olympus Waterproof Camera
In my opinion, this is the best buy waterproof camera that also serves as a fantastic underwater video camera.
The Olympus Tough waterproof camera is one of the best action cameras on the market. It’s packed with professional features and its a tough camera. It’s not only waterproof but shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof and dustproof which makes it an excellent choice if you’re looking for a robust multipurpose point and shoot camera.
Waterproof Camera ✅
It’s waterproof to a depth of 15 metres so its perfect for snorkeling and some scuba diving adventures. If you want to use it as scuba diving camera at depths below 15 metres you can purchase the TG 5 underwater camera housing.
Shockproof Camera ✅
It can withstand a drop of 2.1 metres so its great to use as a compact camera for other outdoor activities. If you have children who want to practice their photography skills, the TG 5 makes a great kids underwater camera and you don’t need to worry if they drop it.
Freezeproof Camera ✅
While your unlikely to need this feature for snorkeling its good to know that if your taking a winter vacation to a colder climate, the TG 5 Olympus waterproof camera can be used at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celcius.
Dustproof Camera ✅
While snorkeling is a water activity, you’re likely to be near sand when you go on your adventures. Even if you’re not near a beach, there are always particles of sand in the water.
Crushproof Camera ✅
This waterproof, shockproof camera is also crushproof to 100kg. To put that in perspective, 100kg is the average weight of a Giant Panda.
Olympus TG 5 Main Features at a Glance
Picture Quality
The TG5 is a waterproof mirrorless camera that has a super-fast F2.0 wide-angle lens which is perfect for shooting underwater coral reef.
The Olympus TG 5 produces pictures with stunning image quality in low light as there are a specialised image sensor and an advanced dual quad-core processor.
What makes this a great camera for snorkeling is the underwater shooting modes. These include snapshot, underwater wide and macro for fantastic close-up shots. There’s also an underwater HDR mode which combines multiple images to create photos with enhanced light and shadow. This mode is excellent if you want to capture colour and detail, such as when swimming with sea turtles.
This HD waterproof outdoor camera is also capable of taking fantastic fast-moving action shots. The TG’s pro capture mode allows you to take awkward photos which require split-second timing. The camera buffers a running series of high-resolution images and then captures an exact moment plus the previous five frames with just one press of the button. Whether you are trying to catch a fast-moving shark of a person bungee jumping, you’ll never miss a critical shot again with the TG5.
Design of Olympus TG 5
The ergonomic design has been carefully considered in this camera, and you can easily operate it while wearing gloves. The dial makes it easy to switch modes, and you can set custom modes so that you can instantly access your favourite settings.
There’s also a live composite mode which lets you shoot amazing cityscapes and star trails after sunset.
The microscope modes let you get as close as 1cm to your subject so that you can capture the intricate detail of fish, coral or any other aspect of the underwater world in stunning quality.
If you want to maximise the depth of field and create images which are both crisp and sharp the tG camera has focus bracketing modes and stacking modes.
Add ons available for the Olympus TG 5
With additional lenses available the TG is suitable to use as a professional underwater camera.
The Waterproof FCON- T01 Fisheye Converter Lens is fantastic if you want to take ultra-wide shots.
While the zoom on the TG is very good, if your snorkeling amongst reef sharks and turtles you may want to extend your zoom further. The Waterproof FCON- T01 Teleconverter Lens offers almost 7x more zoom so you’ll be able to get those close up shots even from a distance.
LG 1 Light Guide – Macro Lighting which channels the cameras LED illuminator to give you more light for macro photography.
If you want to improve light distrubion whilst underwater the Waterproof FD-1 Flash Diffuser will give you more light to a distance of 30 cm.
The PT-058 underwater housing increases the underwater capacity to 45 meters, which makes this an excellent choice if you’re looking scuba diving camera.
Ultra 4k Video
While taking pictures underwater is great to capture those all-important memories, there’s nothing better than showing your friends a fantastic underwater video. The TG5 shoots video in 4k so whatever adventure your recording the quality will be superb.
The TG 5 features full HD 120 fps high-speed video for slow-motion playback and the time-lapse lets you create short videos over long periods.
Action track sensors
Regardless of where your adventures take place, you can record your movement and environmental data with the built-in Action Track Sensors.
The TG 5 has a GPS for latitude and longitude, a compass for direction, a temperature sensor and a manometer for measuring altitude and water depth. You can now pinpoint your exact location, and you’ll always be able to record where you’ve been.
You can use the free Olympus Image Track app to view your photos and videos with your data on a smart device, and you can export them with data overlays to relive your adventures and share on social media.
Waterproof Wifi Camera
The TG’s built-in Wi-FI means that you can immediately transfer video and images to your smartphone using the Olympus Image Share App. From this App, you can also shoot remotely from your phone, control the camera’s settings and compose images (which makes using the camera on tripod super easy.)
Battery Life
The remaining battery life is shown on the LCD screen by 3 bars. Recharging the camera is super easy with a USB slot for easy charging, which means you can recharge from a laptop, car battery or any other suitable device. The Olympus waterproof digital camera also comes with an AC charger. When fully charged there’s enough power to take 340 shots which is not bad compared to the other market leaders.
Why Choose the Olympus TG5?
With so many amazing features its no wonder, this camera is such a popular choice when looking for the best underwater camera for snorkeling. For me, its ability to shoot in RAW, its 4k Video and the macro mode put it above the rest mentioned in this article.
The Olympus TG5 is the best waterproof travel camera. It fits in your pocket and has all the features you need whether you’re taking cityscape pictures or shooting underwater video footage.
W300 Nikon Waterproof Camera
The Nikon underwater camera is designed for those you are looking to take photos amid the action and not just from the sidelines. The camera has been designed to make taking action photos and videos easy and its a great camera for snorkeling.
It would have been my underwater camera best buy, but it doesn’t allow you to shoot in RAW format. If you’re not bothered about editing photos, then the W300 Nikon Coolpix underwater camera is an excellent choice.
It’s waterproof, freezeproof shockproof and dustproof. It’s a great underwater camera that is capable of taking 4k ultra HD 4k video and 16-megapixel photographs.
Waterproof
The Nikon Tough camera is waterproof to a depth of 30m which is twice the amount of the Olympus waterproof digital camera. It’s, therefore, a great choice if you’re looking for a device that will serve as a scuba camera.
Shockproof
You can drop this camera from 2.4 metres, and it will still work, so the Nikon tough camera is a good option if you’re looking for an underwater camera for kids who want to get in with the action and take photos.
Dustproof
The Nikon underwater digital cameras dustproof feature means that it’ll prevent any particles of sand from entering the camera, so it’s safe to use on the beach.
Freezeproof
Like the Olympus TG5, it’s freezeproof to temperatures up to -10 degrees Celcius so you can take it with you on your skiing holidays.
Picture Quality
Whenever you’re in a challenging situation, you can select from one of the 20 modes, including the underwater one
The cameras 16 megapixels low light sensor combined with the fast F2.8 zoom lens ensures that the detail in your photos is crisp and clear even when the light is fading.
There are an autofocus button and a continuous shooting mode which helps you capture those action shots, and if you want to get spectacular close up detail, there’s a macro mode.
Design of the Nikon W300
The Nikon W300 is an underwater point and shoot camera that’s super easy to operate. Its design means that you can change the modes easily and quickly even when you’re involved in an activity. It has an extra-large grip and a smart button that provides stability if you’re taking one-handed photos.
The anti-reflective coating on the 3 inch LCD screen ensures that you can still see even when shooting in bright light and a dedicated Tool button gives you quick access to the GPS, compass and other similar tools.
The Nikon even has a bright LED light which is great for illuminating your subject or for use as a torch. Nikon underwater digital cameras can also be attached to a tripod if you want to take photos in low light or use the self-timer function.
Ultra HD 4K Video
The video record button makes recording movies with stereo sound super easy. You can use the short movie show to create a 30-second compilation with special effects and background music, making it the ideal length to share online.
You can also condense an hours worth of action into a 10-second sequence using the time-lapse recording, or you can do the opposite and speed it up with a super lapse video.
What’s fantastic about the Coolpix is that you can still shoot stills while recording video.
Waterproof Wifi Camera
The Nikon has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you can automatically transfer pictures to your smartphone or tablet and share them instantly with your family and friends.
You can add caption text, and the snap bridge app will automatically back up your photos to Nikon Image space. The app also allows you to take pictures remotely.
Fujifilm Waterproof Camera-Best Cheap Waterproof Camera
If your looking for a cheap underwater camera for snorkeling which still has a good selection of features the Fujifilm underwater camera is a fantastic option.
The Fujifilm Finepix is a rugged camera, and its great features make it a fantastic multi-purpose outdoor camera.
Waterproof
It’s waterproof to a depth of 65ft or 20 metres which is more than the Olympus TG5 but not quite as good as the Nikon W300.
Freezeproof
It can operate at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celcius so it’s freezeproof to the same degree as the industry leaders.
Shockproof
This underwater cam is also shockproof from a maximum drop of 1.8 metres so it’s still a good choice if you have children who may wish to take photos.
Dustproof
Like the other underwater cameras reviewed in this article, it’s also dustproof so you can use it underwater or on the dunes in the desert.
The latest version of this camera includes Bluetooth capability and Geotagging.
Image Quality
While the spec is not as fantastic as some of the other cameras, the Fujifilm is still a good waterproof camera, and it has two modes you can use to help optimise your underwater photos. That’s one more underwater mode than the Nikon Coolpix W300.
There’s an underwater mode which ensures that the colours are reproduced exactly as they are seen to the human eye and the underwater macro mode allows you to get excellent images with crisp, precise, intricate detail.
The 16.4 megapixel CMOS sensor allows for an advanced image quality while taking photos underwater or in low light conditions. There’s also an image stabilisation system which corrects camera shake. Image Stabilisation is particularly useful when taking photographs underwater.
To enhance your photos further, the FinePix has a choice of 11 special filters which you can use to customise your images and add unique effects.
To enhance your movie recordings, there’s a choice of 7 advanced filters, and you can check them on the Lcd monitor to ensure you create the exact results that you’re after.
Other Features of the Fujifilm
The Fujifilm can easily be paired with your smartphone, and you can pair features such as the location and time zone. This function will automatically adjust the cameras time zone and record your location data, so you’ll always know where your photos were taken.
The Fuji Camera Remote app can be used to operate the camera from your smartphone or tablet. The app lets you use the shutter release remotely, adjust the zoom settings and switch the camera to the video recording mode.
For a compact camera, this has got a decent sized 3-inch high definition LCD monitor. The monitor has an anti-reflective coating, which makes it super easy to clean and allows you to see the screen even in bright sunny conditions.
To maintain optimal visibility and prevent unnecessary battery use, the fuji will automatically adjust the brightness of the screen in response to the lighting conditions.
The LCD screen also has a feature called the electronic level, which makes taking horizontal subjects such as landscapes a breeze. There’s also an eye detection feature that enables you to take portraits more easily by automatically setting the focus to the eyes of your subject.
HD Video
The Fujifilm XP waterproof camera is also capable of recording full HD video, and you can use the movie recording button to easily switch to the movie recording mode with just a single touch.
The camera also allows you to capture high-speed movies and capture the action up to 320 frames per second. This means that you can watch thing’s step by step in slow motion and ensure that you don’t miss a thing.
The Fujifilm also has a good optical zoom lens so can get close shots of all the action. With the capacity to zoom 5x closer and an intelligent digital zoom lens combined, the result is a double zoom range, i.e. 10x. There’s also optimum image processing which will counteract the degradation of photos taken while using the digital zoom.
Waterproof Wifi Camera
Sharing your images is super easy with the Fuji Bluetooth connection. You can quickly share your images to your smartphone or tablet. Wireless transfer is also available for the Instax share printer.
With the camera and printer combined, you can have instant prints to enjoy immediately.
Panasonic Lumix TS 7 Waterproof Underwater Camera
The Lumix Ts7 offers exceptional image quality, whatever the weather and conditions.
Waterproof
The Panasonic TS 7 Lumix waterproof camera can operate to a depth of 102 ft or 31 metres, which is the best of all cameras in this article.
Shockproof
It can be dropped from a height of 2 metres, which is comparable to the other market leaders.
Freezeproof
Like most compact cameras the TS 7 Panasonic waterproof camera can be used at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celcius.
Crushproof
Just like the Olympus Tough Camera, the TS 7 is crushproof up to 100kg which as I mentioned before is equivalent to the weight of a Giant Panda.
Dust Proof
Just like its rivals, the Panasonic Lumix underwater camera is dustproof so you don’t need to worry about sand damaging the camera.
Watch the video below to discover the Panasonic TS7 Main Features
The 20.4-megapixel sensor and optically stabilised zoom lens ensure that the Lumix ts7 takes fantastic photos even in low light. The 28mm wide-angle lens takes high-quality images at up to 4.6 x zoom.
There’s a 3 inch LCD screen which delivers the highest resolution across 100% of the field of view and the live viewfinder makes it easy to capture subjects even underwater or in strong sunlight. The Optical image stabiliser eliminates the deterioration that you get from handshake when swimming underwater, holding the camera with one hand or from outdoor action.
4k check if its ultra HD Video
The Lumix is also capable of recording high-quality 4K video at 30p in mp4. Outdoor photographers can take advantage of the 4k technology by using the 4k photo to capture perfect pictures. You can choose any frame from a video sequence shot at 30 frames per second and save it to an eight-megapixel high-quality image.
The camera ensures that you’ll also remember the location of where the image was taken by embedding the GPS location into the photo. You can share your pictures instantly to social media by using the free Panasonic Image App. The Lumix also has a built-in compass and an altimeter.
GoPro Hero 11 – The Best Waterproof Video Camera
The GoPro is one of the best action cameras for snorkeling and its a popular choice as a snorkeling camera, especially if you prefer videoing rather than photographs. The Hero 11 is the best GoPro camera for snorkeling although its disappointing that you can’t take pictures in RAW format. However, it is the best underwater video camera.
Check out the GoPro’s Main Features
Hero 11 is the latest GoPro, and one of its newest features is the capability to stream video directly to facebook live, through your Facebook app on your smartphone. However, I should point out that this feature doesn’t work while underwater.
4k60 Video
The Hero 7 takes stunning 4k 60 videos that will have your friends and family feel like their living in the moment too. The super high frame rate means that you can slow your videos down by 8x and relive those magical moments in slow motion.
The touch screen makes navigation super simple, and the three main capture modes are straightforward to use.
Just like smartphones have voice controls, Hero 7 can be activated by hands-free communication with commands such as GoPro take a photo.
No matter what type of action you’re using the GoPro for the hyper smooth video stabilisation predicts your movements and corrects camera shake to give amazingly smooth footage.
It’s also possible to create stabilized time-lapse videos while moving around a scene. You can then increase the speed up to 30x and turn them in short videos for instant sharing on social media.
Picture Quality
The Go Pro is not just about video the Hero 7 takes great photos too. You can shoot in RAW format, and the camera intelligently applies HDR and noise reduction to optimise your photographs.
If you want to be in the shot, there’s a photo time which makes it easy to take a GoPro selfie with everyone in the frame. The Hero 7 takes great 10 megapixel photos, and even in challenging conditions, the results are good.
GoPro Hero 7 vs Olympus TG 5 Compared
The GoPro Hero 7 and the Olympus TG 5 have a lot of comparable features, but there are some differences which I’ve listed below to help you if you’re struggling to decide.
Features | GoPro Hero 7 | Olympus TG 5 |
---|---|---|
AF Focus Points | Fixed focus lens | AF mode with three optionsand manual focus mode |
ISO sensitivity | 100-1600 | 100-12800 |
Built-in Flash | ❌ | ✅ |
Monitor | 2″ LCD | 3″ LCD |
Frames per second | 30 | 20 |
Touch Screen | ✅ | ❌ |
Microphone | ✅ | ❌ |
Weight | 116g | 250g |
The bottom line is that they are both excellent cameras if you prefer video the GoPro has the edge, but for photographs, the Olympus TG 5 is the better choice.
Panasonic Lumix TS30a Waterproof Camera
Best Budget Underwater Camera
While this Panasonic underwater camera can’t compete with some of the others reviewed in this post I’ve mentioned as its an inexpensive waterproof camera with some nice features.
It takes photos and can record video, albeit it not in the same league as a high-quality waterproof camera, but it does serve its purpose.
Picture Quality
There’s an underwater mode which compensates for the loss of red tones underwater. This reproduction of the colour red helps your underwater images look more natural.
The Lumix has an Optical image stabiliser which automatically corrects blurring caused by handshake and ensures that your images are both sharp and clear.
You can shoot and overlay consecutive images with the Creative panorama function. This function also allows you to add filter effects with the creative controls.
The creative control and retouch lets you transform your images with numerous effects such as impressive art, retro and sepia to name but a few.
With the Creative Panorama function, you can shoot and overlay consecutive horizontal/vertical images, then add filter effects with Creative Controls
HD Video
Video recording is easy on this waterproof camera for snorkeling as it’s done at the touch of a button.You can switch between HD video and photo shooting instantly.
One of the cameras best features is the 220mb of additional storage.Should you be snorkeling and find that your sd is full, the camera will automatically provide you with an extra 220 MB of storage, which is enough for up to 34 images.
Other Features of the Panasonic TS30
You can also use the Lumix for time-lapse shooting and while this is probably not one of the features you’ll use underwater you can use it to record a series of successive images which you can combine in-camera to produce a time-lapse video.
The camera can only be used to a depth of 26ft, and it can’t be used for more than 60 minutes underwater.
The Lumix has a torch which you can use to illuminate the underwater environment to give help give extra brightness to your videos and images.It also works when the camera is not in action so it can serve as a handy torch as well.
All in all, if you can’t stretch your budget to the high-end models, the Lumix TS30 A is a good underwater camera.
Disposable Underwater Camera
If you’re still unsure whether an underwater camera is for you, there’s always the option of taking a disposable camera on your snorkeling adventures.
The Fujifilm disposable cheap waterproof camera can be taken to a depth of 10 meters and although there’s no flash you can get some pretty decent photos.
Suggested reading
If you’re reading this article you may also be interested in reading more about the best mask for snorkeling. You can also read my suggestions for the best fins for snorkeling at this link and my recommendations for other snorkel gear here.
If you’re looking for inspiration on where to take your new underwater camera for snorkeling check out this article on where to go for the best snorkeling in Thailand or the best Great Barrier Reef tour which of course is the home of the biggest coral reef in the world.
For further product reviews on travel, gear click here.
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