Best Underwater Video Cameras 2024

Last Updated on September 25, 2024 by Adams

A decade ago, the idea of capturing stills and making videos underwater would have sounded so absurd. Today, owing to technological advancements, we can take a mini camera with us everywhere we go, a camera that is smarter than a smartphone. Be it under the sea, water rafting, mid of a torrential downpour, or any other commercial or recreational purposes, these cameras are there to serve you reliably underwater. So, in this regard, we have compiled some of the best underwater video cameras in the article. We suggest you have a look at them.

Collecting live footage underwater is one of the greatest and most effective ways to educate ourselves and explore marine life. Waterproof underwater cameras make it possible to capture the bewitching world of sea animals, plants, or just you exploring them!

Underwater cameras are well-protected action cameras with stunning features. They are shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof due to their rugged bodies designed specifically to withstand all extremes of weather.

They usually come in bright colored impact-resistant casings so that they are easy to locate if you accidentally drop them underwater.

It’s a fact that no camera is perfect, so you need detailed research to find the best one because some might have better image quality and lack custom white balance for underwater videos, others might be excellent at macro detailed shooting but lack efficiency of operation. This article is a compilation of the best underwater video cameras picked after intensive research that has most of what a “best” camera can have.

Let’s talk a little about underwater videos to understand what exactly to look for when determining the best underwater video camera for yourself. To shoot an aesthetically pleasing high-definition video underwater it is crucial to have an accurate custom white balance.

A custom white balance means the user guiding the camera about the area of the picture that is white and the camera then builds the rest of the colors off of that baseline input.

An accurate white balance makes the video more natural-looking and gives colors to the areas otherwise filtered out by water when shooting in depths of the sea. The best resolution doesn’t matter if the white balance is out and colors look bad.

In this article we’ll be putting forward features different models offer along with details of white balancing, auto-focus, performances in low-lights, and underwater housings so you know which camera does what.

A blend of several features aids a photographer in taking a prize-worthy shot. The compact underwater cameras we have picked are 4K compatible, which means they are capable of delivering four times the resolution their predecessors offered.

Along with highly efficient zooming, they come with a bunch of handy features like LED lights, shake and vibration reduction, in-built GPS, encompasses, multiple shooting modes, video editing, and manipulation options, and much more.

These wonders of science can work for as long as two hours underwater without affecting quality on a single charge! Low maintenance, low weight but high-performing underwater cameras come with protective housing made to fit even the harshest of weather:-

Best Underwater Video Cameras (Comparison)

Name	Dimensions	Weight
Nikon W300	4.4 x 1.2 x 2.6 inches	8.2 ounces	Check Price
Olympus Tough TG-6	2.6 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches	9 ounces	Check Price
RICOH WG-6	4.7 x 1.3 x 2.6 inches	8.6 ounces	Check Price
Ricoh RICOH WG-70	4.82 x 1.16 x 2.42 inches	15.5 ounces	Check Price
DJI Osmo Action	2.56 x 1.65 x 1.38 inches	4 ounces	Check Price

 

Nikon COOLPIX W300

When we say ‘best’ no one can beat Nikon COOLPIX W300 Digital camera, which is also called the adventure camera or “all-weather camera”, is perfect for action-hounds and thrill-seekers. This “as-tough-as-nails” camera is designed for extremes.

Be it water, dust, or snow, Nikon proves to be the best underwater video camera with its 20 scene modes, Onboard GPS, encompass, Altimeter, Depth Gauge, and a large space to back-up photos and videos automatically via Wi-Fi.

From skiing and camping, biking surfing, SCUBA diving, climbing to a happy Sunday afternoon in the park with kids, COOLPIX’s high resolution, autofocus, and continuous shooting speed will make sure you capture every happening moment.

These jaw-dropping results are due to 16-MP Backside Illuminated low-light CMOS sensor and f/2.8 fast NIKKOR zoom lenses with hybrid VR that freezes action in remarkable details even in dim lighting.

There is a Macro mode for hidden details. The hybrid Vibration Reduction (VR) feature is smart! Keeps your videos and photos steady even when the camera is shaky and when the action gets out of reach, you can easily get a perfect shot by zooming in with the telephoto power of a 5x optical zoom lens.

Can you record 4K ultra-HD (1080p) with stereo sound, condense an hour’s video into a 30-second one using time-lapse, or speed it up by super-lapse feature? Well yes, with W300 you can!

Compile favorites together, put background music, and effects for a perfect Instagram video. Underwater Auto-Exposure lock, VR, and ability to capture stills while recording lets no moment pass by uncaptured.

COOLPIX bright LED works underwater along with every other mind-blowing feature, so if you’re off to scuba diving, fishing, snorkeling, or in the pool, you need not worry about the camera anymore because W300 is waterproof till 100ft. It is also Freezeproof till -14degrees, shockproof from 7.9ft height, and dustproof! Just perfect for all rough-n-tough situations.

Pros	Cons
Ultra-HD result, time and super-lapse, music montages	The screen sometimes gets foggy
Easy connectivity via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
Action-friendly control and hybrid VR zooming for stable videos

Conclusion:

Nikon COOLPIX W300 is the best camera to have for all the nature lovers out there who want to make their diving experience memorable. It’s worth buying.

 

 

Olympus Tough TG-6

Olympus Tough TG-6 is a premium waterproof underwater camera. Built to endure any adventure, Olympus is waterproof (5-feet/15-meter), crushproof (100kgf), freeze proof which is 14F to -10C approx), furthermore, anti-fog, and shock-proof (7-feet, 2.1-meter).

It’s 3 white balance modes allow users to capture sharp, vivid colorful underwater images and videos from as close as 1cm.

It captures stunning details with a combination of blazing-fast wide-angle F2.0 lenses, a powerful processor, and a high-speed sensor. TG-6 lets you explore the world of macro photography and intricate details and with the microscope mode display magnification of 44x could be achieved flawlessly.

Olympus Tough TG-6 delivers cinema-quality videos with vivid details and high-resolution due to ultra-HD 4K. Its 4x optical zoom lens focuses covers a range of 25-100mm. Also features an f/2 maximum bright aperture to deal with low-light places.

Includes action track sensors GPS, barometer/manometer, compass, and thermometer. All this information along with pictures and videos can be synced and viewed in free OI.Track app. or transferred to a smartphone via Wi-Fi. Also keeps a memory saved with dates and time imprinted on the photo.

It comes with five underwater modes to work with underwater or near water that help produce more meticulous videos. They include Underwater Macro and Underwater HDR, Underwater Wide, Underwater Snapshot, and Underwater Microscope.

Moreover, there are three dedicated white balance modes too that help enhance and improve red and blue tones depending on depths and lighting on the shoot location.

Olympus Tough is tough enough to endure everyday mishaps and occasional crashes, shocks, and crushes. The camera’s lens is sealed with double-pane glass to prevent condensation and fogging. In addition to that, operation while wearing gloves is extremely easy due to a large zoom lever, convenient dial control, and accessory lock button.

Pros	Cons
Waterproof, crushproof, freezeproof and anti-fog	No instructions for the highest quality settings
Four macro shooting modes
HD 120 fps high-speed movie recording

Conclusion:

TG-6 is very famous and all time favorite of many users. If you’re a carefree travel freak, Olympus is the best underwater video camera for you!

 

 

RICOH WG-6

RICOH WG-6 is a waterproof camera with a sleek, less-busy aesthetic that makes it perfect to carry underwater.

RICOH’s exterior is built exactly for a perfect outdoor adventure because it comes prepared with a rugged chassis that can be relied upon in ill and extreme weather conditions.

The gear is shockproof to withstand up to 2.1-meter fall, waterproof till 20-meters, and works for 2-hours to capture everything down there, freezeproof to –10 degree-centigrade and crushproof for 100kg weights.

An optical protector silicon jacket covers the body and assures no damage from scratches and falls. Reliable and durable protective gear sets no limits for WG-6’s users while exploring underwater or above it.

A high-performance image processor paired with a high-resolution image sensor delivers high–quality images and videos with low shutter noises. It is possible by an incredible 20-megapixel camera that shoots highly realistic movies with 4K recording.

A shake-free feature makes sure the video/movie being made is not blurry or out-of-focus. To enhance your pictures and videos the 5x zoom feature helps to capture microscopic details even from a distance.

Additionally, 6 LED lights around the lens reveal minute details of objects in focus that a naked eye cannot even see.

RICOH WG-6 has a dedicated special underwater mode that makes it the best underwater video camera of all. With this mode activated, the camera optimizes settings automatically to capture details that a normal camera fails to capture. WG-6 has a flash too that enables shooting movies/videos or taking pictures in the dark deep sea easy.

A better DB-110 battery pack installed in WG-6 promises excellent performance with 340 frames and 250 minutes of playback on a single charge. It also features a high-performance GPS to record the location where a certain moment was saved.

Pros	Cons
20-MP 4K videos underwater	Poor lighting may affect results
Built-in GPS and electronic compass
Rugged built

Conclusion:

It might be great choice for all the outdoor nature lovers out there. Extreme all-weather gear RICOH WG-6 is a must-have for people who like to explore and freeze moments underwater for forever. Worth every penny!

 

 

Olympus Tough TG-6

Here is another gem, the RICOH WG-70 which is a part of the world’s first water-resistant zoom camera series and is recommended for anybody who wishes to go beneath the waves or climb icy mountains and film these adventures along the way.

With WG-70 you can have two hours of uninterrupted filming underwater up to a depth of 14-meters of breath-taking awesomeness.

It is shockproof to withstand a fall of 1.6-meters, 100kgs of crushproof protection, and efficient operation even in temperatures as low as –10 degree-centigrade. An optical silicon jacket assures extra protection against scratching and falling.

WG-70’s new updated features include a smile mode, this mode makes sure you get no blurry or grumpy photos by automatically clicking pictures when smiles are detected.

It’s the best because of a back-illuminated CMOS sensor and high-performance image processors to boast high optical efficiency with stunning 16-megapixel results.

It takes low-noise photos and also includes a 5x zoom and a microscopic model that allows users to take impressive macro photos with intricate details not visible to the naked eye. Features a six LED ring light that helps brightening up and better focus of subjects.

Furthermore, 25 shooting modes are available to choose from according to your circumstances, how cool is that? Auto mode will automatically identify the subject type and activate a suitable mode for it.

Coming to the best part of RICOH WG-70, underwater photos, and videos! The underwater mode uses white balance optimization for underwater videos to make the color appear more vibrant and natural by enhancing reds and blues that seem to get lost otherwise.

WG-70 can record full HD videos at 30fps, underwater movie modes come with SR (Shake Reduction) feature allowing shake-free perfectly made video results. You can capture extended, high-quality video clips (1920=1080) (16:9proportions) with WG-70 and high-speed camera functionality with slow-motion playback for captured clips. A micro-HDMI terminal can be used for simultaneous output to other audio-visual devices.

Pros	Cons
Time-lapse recording	No wireless connection
Face detection and full HD videos underwater	Small LCD screen
1/4000s fast shutter speed

Conclusion:

What an amazing equipment in a reasonable price tag. The RICOH WG-70 packed with high-end features is one of the best underwater video cameras out there and yes its worth buying.

 

 

DJI Osmo Action

It is presently one of the best action cameras with its advanced technology currently available in the market.

Its dual-screen feature gives you both sized stabilized and high-resolution views which are very useful nowadays for vloggers and online marketers plus for various other activities.

The temperature resistance function of Osmo Action enables it to work even when the temperature is low as -10 Celsius which makes it to be used in ice sports and snowy sports.

Its Waterproof feature allows it to operate effectively and efficiently up to 36 feet deep under the water. The Rock Steady Technology enables to stabilization of the picture while capturing it in motion.

The cameras which do not have this technology give a blurred picture if a movement is made while taking a picture.

Slow-motion- its 8x slow-motion mode captures the movement made in seconds with a high resolution and clarity. Connectivity function enhanced by its blue tooth and Wi-Fi connecting technology irresistible these days.

Further, 4 k HDR Videos programming allows you to capture videos with a high resolution of a maximum of 4k. Its Auto-rotate function helps to rotate up and down while pre-recording the video.

Pros	Cons
Rock Steady Technology	Small-sized CMOS sensor
Highly Durable and waterproof
Supports Wi-Fi and blue tooth connectivity

Conclusion:

DJI Osmo action camera is very useful to produce high-quality videos whether over or underwater as it is waterproof and can operate effectively up to 11 meters deep. The most elaborating feature it has is its dual-screen which can record from both angles.

 

 

Final Verdict:

Investing in a good camera is great! Unless you have to choose the best underwater video camera from the massive variety available in the market. We furnished this article just to bring you the ease of choice.

Underwater videos are a challenging task to perform, these cameras know their way around those challenges and bring more phenomenal features to compliment the whole experience. If you’re a travel-freak like us, get one of these today!

 

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