Rugged cameras roundup

Looking at the recent cameras announcement from manufacturers, we noticed that most now have a rugged camera in their stable which can at least take pictures underwater. Such shooters are usually targeted at those who lead an active lifestyle and that involves diving, hiking or exploring cold countries. Olympus has been dominating this segment with its lineup of robust Mju-Tough point-and-shoots until Panasonic announced the hardy Lumix DMC-FT1 earlier this year. Not too long after, Fujifilm floated out a fun-looking waterproof camera and recently, Canon unveiled the submarine-like PowerShot D10.

To extend the longevity of your rugged camera, read the user manual for tips on how to clean and maintain it.

If you don't wish to buy a new camera for your next diving trip, you can consider getting an underwater casing. But note that this alternative is neither shockproof nor freezeproof, and it also increases the bulk of your point-and-shoot significantly. However, these cases can dive to deeper depths, which is why professional divers prefer using an underwater casing.

With other companies joining in the tough camera fray, there are more choices now. Take a look at our comparison table to see which one's suitable for you.

Model name	Resolution	Zoom range	Waterproof	Shockproof	Freezeproof	Other cool features
Olyumpus Mju Tough-8000	12 megapixels	3.6x (28mm to 102mm)	10m	2m	-10 degrees Celsius	Tap control, crushproof from pressure up to 100kg
Olyumpus Mju Tough-6000	10 megapixels	3.6x (28mm to 102mm)	3m	1.5m	-10 degrees Celsius	Tap control
Canon PowerShot D10	12 megapixels	3x (35mm to 105mm)	10m	1.22m	-10 degrees Celsius	Interchangeable front cover
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1	12 megapixels	4.6x (28mm to 128mm)	3m	1.5m	Nil	Dustproof
Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP	10 megapixels	3x (35mm to 105mm)	3m	Nil	Nil	Trendy-looking casing