May 2nd, 2008 by 
Photo-John
Rugged Digital Cameras For Backpacking,
Cycling, Boating, And The Worksite
With the summer beach and travel season coming up and the recent announcement of Ricoh’s new G600 water-resistant and shockproof digital camera, I thought it would be good to do a roundup of current outdoor-friendly compact digital cameras. By “outdoor-friendly,” I mean cameras that have some level of moisture resistance and can take some physical abuse - cameras you can take to the beach, camping, etc. Right now, between Olympus, Pentax, and Ricoh, people who want a rugged, moisture-resistant digital camera have plenty of choices.
Olympus, Pentax and Ricoh have all been making waterproof cameras for a few years now. The waterproof Pentax Optio W-Series cameras are in their third generation. I reviewed their first waterproof camera, the 5-megapixel Pentax Optio WP, back in 2005. Olympus has two lines of cameras that qualify, the venerable Olympus Stylus cameras, which began as weatherproof 35mm point-and-shoots; and the Olympus Stylus SW line, which is shockproof, waterproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to use a few of the original 35mm Olympus Stylus cameras and I’ve reviewed a couple of the Olympus Stylus digitals as well as the first of the waterproof and crushproof cameras, the Olympus Stylus 720 SW. And right now, I actually have their latest – the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW – a 10-megapixel camera that can withstand a 6-foot drop and can be submerged to about 30 feet underwater. Ricoh’s new G600, which got me started on this article, is their second waterproof camera. Like the Olympus Stylus SW cameras, it’s not only waterproof but built to withstand drops and other impacts.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors or in environments where there’s a lot of moisture, you should take a look at the digital cameras listed below. Kayakers, boaters, fishermen, mountain bikers, skiers, and serious hikers will all appreciate having a digital camera they don’t have to worry about getting wet. Contractors or other professionals that need a small, rugged digital camera will appreciate the Olympus Stylus SW and Ricoh G600, which are built to military shockproof standards. I’ve used the Olympus Stylus and Stylus SW cameras as well as the Pentax’s waterproof Optio line for mountain biking, skiing, and other outdoor activities. So I can tell you from experience, being confident that your camera can take some abuse means getting more and better photos, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. And better photos are what it’s all about.
Photo-John Recommends
The current king of outdoor digital cameras is, without a doubt, the new 10-megapixel, shockproof and waterproof Olympus Stylus 1030 SW. It can be dropped from 6 feet, submerged to 30 feet, frozen, stepped on, fallen on, etc. If you need a camera that can take a beating, the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is the best there is. If you don’t need the burliness of the 1030 SW, the weatherproof Olympus Stylus 1200 can handle rain and splashing without worries. And the 12-megapixel sensor, 7x optical zoom lens, and Dual Image Stabilization ensure it will capture excellent quality photos.
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Read Reviews and Shop
For Outdoor & Underwater Digital Cameras
Olympus Shockproof & Waterproof Digital Cameras:
Olympus Stylus 1030 SW
Olympus Stylus 850 SW
Olympus Stylus 790 SW
Olympus Stylus 770 SW
Olympus Weatherproof Digital Cameras:
Olympus Stylus 1020
Olympus Stylus 1010
Olympus Stylus 840
Olympus Stylus 1200
Olympus Stylus 830
Olympus Stylus 820
Olympus Stylus 780
Olympus Stylus 760
Pentax Waterproof Digital Cameras:
Pentax Optio W30
Ricoh Shockproof and Waterproof Digital Cameras:
Ricoh G600
Ricoh Caplio 500G Wide
Ricoh Caplio 500SE
May 8th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
[...] Outdoor & Waterproof Digital Camera Guide >> [...]
May 13th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I just discovered that only the SW Olympus cameras can withstand the elements. They are no longer making the splashproof type which explains why their website no longer makes no mention of splashproof cameras. So the non-SW stylus cameras are NOT splashproof !
May 13th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Sam-
I recently learned that, too - and unfortunately, not from Olympus. They sort of glossed over that detail the last time I met with them. Thanks for posting that here and reminding me that I need to follow up with them and get the complete story. Obviously, from what I wrote, “Stylus,” meant weatherproof to me. It has since the original Olympus Stylus 35mm point-and-shoot camera. I think they have some veru strong branding there and it’s a big mistake to let it go. Plus, not everyone needs an actual waterproof camera. For many, many people, weatherproof is an excellent option. Most of the time, it’s more than enough for me.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I guess the next most obvious question is when did Olympus stop making the all-weather models and can you still get them ? I saw that a Stylus 780 definiteky is all-weather and possibly an 800. It states it on the body. But the worst part is that most dealers are still advertising the newer non-SW stylus cameras as being weather proof. Its possible they are not aware. Seems Olympus should have made certain they did not advertise them that way.
Sam
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
[...] like I’m going to have to update the Outdoor and Waterproof Digital Camera Guide I wrote a few weeks ago. Today, Pentax announced a new entry in the waterproof / outdoor digital [...]
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I bought an olympus “waterproof and shockproof” camera last summer to take on a rafting trip. Fist dunk in the water ruined it completely. The Olympus warranty does not cover damage “from liquid” or from “impact”. So much for the representation that these cameras are waterproof and shock proof. Maybe they are to an extent, but Oly doesn’t stand behind them with a guarantee.
Too bad. I’ve owned 3 Olympus compacts. I don’t think I’ll be buying another now that I’ve dealt with the customer servoce (or lack thereof) on this warranty issue.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Jimbo-
I’m sorry to hear about your camera. Please post a review for it in our user reviews section. That’s the best place to share your experience since you can attach a rating and it gets saved with other reviews for the same camera.
Read & Write Reviews >>
Thanks for commenting and thanks in advance for your reviews.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Good timing. The Samsung NV10 I was carrying around finally quit on me by not being able to fully extend the lens when powered on. The repair guy says the camera was dropped too much. I don’t remember dropping it, but the little black image capture device did experience a lot of shock and bouncing when I took on my bicycle rides (both road and mtn).
My next mini-camera is going to be shock and weather resistant. Otherwise, I’ll just ruin another camera.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I am paddling and racing with Pentax Optio “W” cameras starting from the original WP, then upgrading to W10, and W30. They are all still working despite of use and abuse during ultramarathon paddle races.
You a re welcome to check my blog “Paddling with a Camera” with waterproof camera comparison and shopping guide, photo tips for paddlers, pictures, movies and animations from paddling workouts, trips, and racing.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Hi, I’m desperatelly looking for a good waterproof camera! I’ve been checking out the Olympus 1030SW but I’ve read a lot of mixed comments, many of them saying that “it leaks”. What can you recommend me? I live in Puerto Rico and we own a boat plus two kids jaja!!!
Thanks!
August 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Margie-
It’s hard to know how to read the reports of leaking Olympus Stylus SW cameras. People who have bad experiences are more likely to post user reviews. And if Olympus is selling a lot of them, that will increase the reports of problems. The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW we’ve been testing has been snorkling in Hawaii, in a swimming pool and a hot tub, and it’s doing just fine. The Pentax Optio W waterproof cameras are an alternative and we have a review for the Pentax Optio W30. But there’s still nothing that compares to the Olympus when it comes to all-around ruggedness and versatility. Here are links to what we’ve posted on the Olympus and Pentax, so far. I’m working on finishing up or Olympus 1030 SW review right now.
Pentax Optio WP Pro Review >>
Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Preview >>
Another option is to buy whatever camera suits you best and then get a waterproof housing for it. That’s not as convenient. But the housings are more reliable and can usually go as deep as 100 feet. Personally, I still like the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW. I understand you being a bit nervous because of the reports of it leaking, though. I am, too. But like I said, so far ours has held up just fine.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Do not expect a warranty from olympus. Their repair staff took three months to look at the camera. After many call s they finally told me the camera lense was cracked and there was salt corrossion voiding the warranty. I got camera back I removed the \crack\ with lense cleaning cloth. The salt corrosion was a drop of spilled latte. I sent the camera back again with the above information. finally after a down time of 7 months I recieve the camera back in pieces with a certificate to get a new olympus camera .. Of couse the models offered were not the ones that got bad reviews and I had to pay a $200 handling fee. I am repair person myself for a large educational institution. We will never buy olympus products again.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I purchased an Olympus 1030 SW on May 13, 2008. First photo taken 6/28/08, and only 75 photos have been taken with it. Went snorkeling with it on Aug 28, 2008, taking two photos to test it underwater, and another out of the water after snorkeling. They looked good. I had not attempted to take another photo until 9/5/08, when I discovered that the camera turns on, beeps four times, and shuts off. The lens cover remains open and the LCD shows a blurred image before it shuts off. I can only assume the camera has leaked. Never been dropped, never otherwise exposed to any water at all. Battery is fully charged. Then I read the Olyumpus warrantee and was shocked! Shipping to repair center is at customer’s expense. The determination of who is at fault is solely up to Olympus. What is NOT covered is \defects or damage in the Products resulting from wear, tear, misuse, abuse, negligence, sand, liquids, impact,…\ So a shockproof, crushproof, waterproof camera’s warrantee excludes any leak, shock, or those things that the camera supposedly is built to withstand? In checking the blogs for the Olympus 770SW, it appears that the repairs done by Olympus seldom solve the problem, and once out of warrantee, too bad. I don’t like the sound of that. Luckily, I purchased it with a credit card, and am taking it back for full refund at Best Buy or I will contest the CC Charge.
September 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Dennis-
It sounds like your camera may need to be cleaned. I had the same experience with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW I tested (see review here). Turns out it just had some dried salt water on the lens and a little rinse fixed the problem. The manual actually says to rinse the camera after using it underwater. After I cleaned the lens cover it worked fine. The camera we had for testing has been in the water, including snorkeling, a bunch of times and it’s still working fine.
As far as warranties go, a friend who had a 1030 SW fail in salt water had the camera replaced, no questions asked. That’s not to say that people aren’t having trouble with warranty situations. But that’s the only direct knowledge I have of the Olympus warranty department and failed Olympus Stylus SW cameras.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I recently purchased an Olympus MJU 1030SW from eBay after owning a MJU 720SW for the past 2 or so years. I never had an issue with using the 720SW underwater until about the 1 1/2 year mark… then it started leaking a bit, which I figured was due to deteriorated seals. I figured the cost of having the camera serviced and the seals replaced was not worth it compared to buying the latest model… the 1030SW!!!
I purchased the Olympus MJU 1030SW particularly for a two week holiday I was going on. The camera lasted me for the first day of holidays, as I decided to take a few photo’s while swimming in the hostel 1 1/2 metre deep swimming pool. After I finished swimming and dried myself off, I switched my camera back on to take a few more photos and to preview one’s I had taken… only to find that the inside of the lens had major condensation, as I couldn’t wipe the moisture from the lens. I opened up the battery/card compartment only to find it water inside the battery compartment. Later that evening, I removed the battery and card and left it to dry overnight.
Needless to say, I packed the Olympus MJU 1030 away for the rest of the holiday. Luckily, I had taken my trusty Kodak DX6490 as a back-up camera, which came in really handy (not for underwater shots though).
Upon returning home, I immediately sent the Olympus MJU 1030SW back for warranty… only to receive an email saying it couldn’t be repaired under warranty as there was corrosion (after 2 weeks!!) and that I had misused it. I was also informed the camera had no problems with its seals.
BUYER BEWARE!!! Of the Olympus MJU 1030SW!!
September 20th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Loved the Olympus 1030SW but it does leak
I think salt water could be the culprit. I’ve used it in the pool a couple of weeks before my trip and every thing worked perfectly. Took it to the caribbean and after about three dives during our first week, it failed to turn on. I removed the battery and found moisture in the battery compartment. Sent it back to Olympus, waiting for a verdict 
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Hi,
Please I would like to know wich one is better. Either the Olympus Stylus 1030SW or the 1050SW?
I need one urgently for my trip to Aruba next week.
Last year I got a Pentax Optio W30 and water went inside the camera the second day of snorkeling. The warranty and customer service were great though, but I dont want to risk not having the camera working for this vacations.
Thanks for your prompt help on my question,
Have a great day.
Paula
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Paula-
The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is a more rugged camera and rated for more depth than the 1050 SW. Be very careful to read the manual, though. There are reports of leakage with all of these cameras and I suspect at least some are people not paying close attention to the gaskets on the battery and connector compartments.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Hi, bought a Olympus 1050SW a few weeks ago for trip to Vanuatu. Used it 6 times no deeper than 1m and was extra careful to soak it in fresh water and then dry it and checked all compartments. On the last day went to use it and found significant condensation inside the LCD screen and minor inside the lens and in battery compartment. Left all waterproof doors open for 12 hours to try to dry it out but LCD screen went “stripey” and controls only work intermittently. Have returned it to shop so will be interesting to see what happens.
Cheers
Andy
November 6th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Does anyone have experience in usung the 1030 SW in movie mode? I heard that it can only take short movies regardless of the card size. I also heard that the audio is lousy on the camera’s movie playback mode.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I need some advice in choosing a good waterproof camera for my husband for Christmas. He is a keen amatuer photographer, however he cannot combine this with his kayaking using his Canon 40D SLR! I like the spec on the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW however, I am concerned about some of the reviews, especially the reports of leaks. As most of his kayaking takes place off the west coast of Ireland, I need something that will be robust enough to deal with the Atlantic!
I also like the spec on the Pentax Optio W60 - it has this ‘digital image stabiliser (?)’ that I’ve seen mentioned as being absent from the Olympus. However, I really don’t know anything about cameras, so I really would appreciate advice from an expert.
Thank you.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Yvonne-
I am also concerned about the posts here reporting cameras that have leaked. However, I have been using a 1030 SW since the spring and I’ve had zero problems with it. I also talked to a local pro dealer and asked them about Olympus Stylus SW returns. They told me they’ve only seen one come in for repair and they thought it looked like it had been seriously abused. I can’t confirm or refute any of the posts here. All I can say is my camera has worked fine, as has my girlfriend’s Stylus 850 SW. I have one friend who had his 1030 SW leak while he was snorkeling and Olympus replaced his camera under warranty. Nothing is perfect and a few people are going to get bad cameras. But my impression is that we’re just hearing from the people who’ve had problems - often they’re the most motivated to post.
I like the Olympus Stylus SW cameras because of their shockproof build. And I have tested it. Not on purpose of course. But they’re burly cameras. The Pentax Optio W cameras are nice, but don’t have the same build as the Olympus Stylus SW’s. As for the “digital image stabiliser,” the Olympus has a similar feature. I actually don’t recommend it in any camera. It essentially increases the camera sensitivity so it can use a faster shutter speed. This almost always results in compromised image quality. What you want is “optical” or “mechnical” image stabilization. Unfortunately, there isn’t currently a waterproof camera that has real, mechanical image stabilization. But if you want the digital image stabilization, the Olympus has it, too.
If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at my Olympus Stylus 1030 SW pro review. We don’t have a pro review for the pentax Optio W60, but we do have one for the previous model, the Pentax Optio W30. I hope that helps. If you have more questions, try posting them on our digital cameras forum. You’ll probably get a quicker answer there and maybe get more opinions.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I love everything about the Olympus stylus except the custom battery . A waterproof camera should be able to use AA and AA rechargable batterys I have been too many timesa on extended camping honting or fishing trips with no way to charge the battery.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Robert-
Please post a review for your camera. We really need more reviews for the Olympus Stylus SW cameras.
These very compact cameras wouldn’t be possible with AA or AAA batteries. Your best bet is to buy a second battery and take it on your camping and fishing trips.
Thanks for the comment!
November 21st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Heya! I picked up a refurbished Stylus 790 SW a long time ago- and beat the crap out of it.
It survived abuse by the swim team at 10+ feet, and freezing temperatures and drops on mountaineering trips.
I bought a second battery, and between two batteries I never had to worry about recharging it while away.
I’d definitely recommend it for value and construction, although it’s a little outdated.
Unfortunately it wasn’t crevasse proof…
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Hi Yvonne,
Just a suggestion, Ikelite makes polycarbonate underwater housings for pretty much all Canon DSLRs, they’re rated to 200Ft and allow access to all camera controls. The Ikelite housing also allows the use of most of Canon’s shorter lenses.
The downside of course is it costs a bit more than your hubby would have paid for his 40D
Alternatively Sony offers underwater housings rated to 40 meters (about 120ft) for all of their Cybershots. As an example the Sony shops here in South Africa offer the T77 Cybershot bundled with it’s underwater housing for R5999 - US$480~US$500 I’m guesstimating.
Don’t buy the T700, it’s a T77 with 4GB built in, it is cheaper (over here anyway) and safer (since flash type memory has a limited lifespan) to buy a T77 + 2x 4GB Sony memory sticks (8GB total)
February 11th, 2009 at 11:31 am
So, I recieved the Optio wpi for Christmas 2005 and I can honestly say I put that thing through hell!!!
I live in Colorado, so I definately had that camera hiking, biking, snowboarding, and even tubing the river (taking video the whole way!!).
Having it for so long, it has been on MANY road trips… Washington DC, Dallas, California, and even Cabo San Lucas (rolling around with the waves in the salty ocean).
That camera has even been to more clubs, raves, and concerts than I could ever think to name without looking through my MANY disc of misc. pictures and videos… And trust me, there are a TON!!!
Me and my boyfriend (who gave me the camera) are even getting ready to purchase the newer W60 for my dad, who will get a lot of use out of it, putting it through just about as much torment as I have (I’m sure).
I am sad to inform you that I won’t be able to tell you the end of the life of that trusty friend though… At my most recent concert/show, it disappeared! I’m pretty sure that it was pick-pocketed off of me… I have always been VERY careful to not leave it accesable to take by having it either zipped in the pouch or tethered by the strap.
I obviously plan on replacing it, but had some thoughts of trying my luck with a Stylus 30 or 50. I’ll still check some things out before deciding, but after reading their reviews, I may just HAVE to trust my instinct and faith in the Optios!
February 19th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Does anyone have any comments about the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000?
February 21st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I am also wondering about the tough- 8000?
I previously owned a SW 1030 for just over 3 months.
II bought the 1030 SW specifically for underwater use for a holiday in Mexico. It was under the water about 10 seconds twice, and then an error code - the doors aren’t closed etc ..came on and stayed. I carefully wiped it off and dryed it off -opened it up and there was water inside. I let it air dry and kept trying it for the next 9 days.
Sorry Photo-john I was very careful. One thing I did not do was soak it infresh water because the error code continued even after the doors were closed - but I felt that I could be harming the camera more. The gaskets obviously were not sealing…
I have a theory- I wonder how many really work underwater? How many of the customers really put it under water and test that feature!
I would not have put it underwater if I had not been on this trip. My best friend also bought the same camera and hers worked 5 times- then the blue screen showed up-it died. Again hers was less than a year old. This just happened 2 weeks ago. Mine died 4 weeks ago. After my horror story she tested hers in the tub. It worked at home in the tub, but not for long…..
You comment on that we had more to write about because of the negative experieince- your right, but I wonder how many don’t write about it? Actually the only reason I am wriing about it is because of your comment and I am still interested in the tough 8000
On the up side I also own a SP 510 olympus which I love- and never leave home without it.
Olympus in the end promised me a new camera and I asked them if the camera really worked underwater……….I wasn’t looking for an exchange nor a new camera. The retailer that I bought it from let me return the camera.
So you may think I am a fool but I would like to give Olympus a chance and wonder if they made adjustments and improvements to their original product the SW 1030 so that the new tough 8000 not only works underwater the first time but everytime!
March 9th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I am also looking to buy a new waterproof camera for snorkeling, etc. Seen a lot of negative reviews on the Stylus 1030 SW, but am hoping to hear some reviews soon of the Stylus Tough 8000. I want a camera that will NOT have a chance of leaking. Will the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 be that camera??? Please post comments regarding underwater usage, thanks!
March 16th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Wow, this mini camera so lovely, it can help when we go to vacation, especially on the outdoor, shockproof feature is cool..
April 8th, 2009 at 3:20 am
I’ve had three 1030 cameras now, and they all leaked in water less than a meter deep. I followed the manual instructions on waterproofing every time. Olympus replaced the first two, and now say they are replacing the last one with a new 8000. Just looking at the 8000 though, the battery compartment door seems to be identical to the 1030, so my guess is that it will leak too. One advantage the 8000 does have though, is that you can recharge the battery via the USB port, so it’s possible that you don’t need to open the battery door at all, and can keep the seal intact. You still have to worry about leaking from the USB port cover though, but its smaller and the seal looks a bit more robust.
Frankly, I am now too afraid to put this type of camera in the water. I’ve had too many disappointments and now accept that they are not really waterproof. I would advise anyone who wants to use this camera underwater to get the optional housing. At least if the housing leaks, you can see it before it wrecks the camera. If you’re going down that path however, you may as well just get a regular camera such as a Canon, and get the housing for that. Any bog standard Canon will take much better photos than the Olympus.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:08 am
i am very perplexed to hear about the 1030’s leaking. I had a 770sw for a couple of years & used it a lot.. i took underwater shots & videos in hawaii (snorkeling only, but down to 10′ or so underwater). I took a lot of pics on motorcycle trail rides in all kinds of weather. I thought the quality of the pictures weren’t as good as my canon sd700, but they were still ok, & the ruggedness & waterproof more than made up for it.
I’d still have the olympus, but it was stolen in Hawaii this Jan.. :(. I got a panasonic lumix to replace it, but really miss the waterproof feature. So i’ve been wanting to get the new 1030. But now canon has come out with a waterproof, as well as panasonic. They have no history so far, so i’ve decided on the pentax optio w60, because of reviews, the hd video (15fps, too slow for action), & the waterproof feature, but mostly the price.. new on ebay for $210.
I put silicone grease on the seals, & make sure everything is tightly closed.. but i’m sure the other users of the faulty 1030’s did too. Too bad to hear of some bad ones.. If i got a new one, i’d test it out right away, that way if it doesn’t seal right, you can return it immediately.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I’ve owned the Stylus 850 SW for about a year and it was working all the way up to the point that I lost it. That being said I’ve taken mine Mountain biking, swimming about 3 day a week, and to a water park at least one day a week all last summer with no issues. I have a string tied to it and looped around my neck and away I go. I’ve been down water slides both plastic and concrete and I’m busy holding on to my kids or my life to worry about my camera so it has taken some pretty good whacks with no issues besides the scratched up LCD screen. Hell I’ve even used it as a dive toy for my kids a time or two at the pool 9ft. The underwater pictures are awesome and you can’t get a better expression on someone as you can while underwater. As with everything you buy there are going to be those that have their issues. If you read all reviews and concentrated on what went wrong with a product before you bought it you would save a hell of a lot of money, because you wouldn’t ever buy anything. For me the camera is awesome and I’ve had no issues the underwater pictures are great. One thing I can’t comment on is that it has never been in salt water.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Olympus camera 770 SW owner here and disappointed. Camera worked fine at first but stopped working after a day of use at the beach. The camera failed to turn on and there was condensation visible in the screen. Sent the camera in for repair, paid the repair fee, the second time it went into water after repair, it stopped again. Olympus customer service not very helpful either. Look elsewhere. I know I will.