Nikon Coolpix AW110: Digital Photography Review

Performance (speed)

The Coolpix AW110 is very quick to start up, taking less than a second. That's good, since you can quickly catch a moment before it passes.

Autofocus speeds are above average for a compact camera, though they won't blow you away. In good light, the camera will lock focus in under half a second the majority of the time. In low light it took roughly a full second for focus lock. Shot-to-shot speeds were average, with delays of two seconds without the flash, and four with it.

The AW110 has a whopping seven continuous shooting modes, including two 'conventional' modes, another with a pre-shooting cache, and a another with ultra-high frame rates. Also available are Nikon's Best Shot Selection - which selects the best photo out of a burst of ten - and Multi-Shot 16, which creates a collage out of sixteen photos taken sequentially.

In the high speed, full resolution mode (Continuous H), the Coolpix was able to capture six shots at 7 fps. If you don't mind going a bit slower, the Continuous L mode took twenty-six shots in a row at 2 fps. Do note that the camera is inoperable for a full minute while it saves the photos taken in Continuous L mode to the memory card.

The Coolpix AW110 uses a 3.9 Wh lithium-ion battery, and its 250 shot per charge battery life (CIPA testing) number is among the worst in the waterproof category. Since that number is derived with the GPS turned off, expect a lot less if you're using that feature - especially the logging function. The battery is charged externally, and takes about 2.5 hours to charge from empty.

Image Quality

When you're taking photos above sea level, you'll be pleased with what the Coolpix AW110 can produce. It tends to pick the right exposure most of the time, with only occasional overexposure. Like nearly all compact cameras in its class, it will clip highlights at times, and since there's no RAW mode or any highlight recovery tools on the camera, there's not much you can do about it. Colors are vivid, which many people will find appealing. Chromatic aberrations aren't a huge issue, though you will spot them near the edges of the frame at times.

In terms of detail capture, the AW110 is a mixed bag. High contrast subjects look good, but low contrast objects - especially grass, trees, and hair - will be smudged due to heavy-handed noise reduction. Thats said, the vast majority of potential AW110 owners won't be viewing 16MP images at 100%. Rather, they'll be downsizing them for sharing with friends on Facebook, or perhaps printing them at 4x6 or 5x7 inches. One situation in which detail loss does become relevant is when you're cropping, which will make the smudging more apparent.

Bright Light, Low ISO

Aside from a slightly crooked horizon, this photo of Maui has proper exposure and beautiful color. ISO 125, 1/1250 sec, f/4.0	Look closer and you'll see some smudging of low contrast detail (shrubs, grass and, in this case, people), which is not uncommon in this class.

	The photo at left is a good illustration of the Coolpix AW110's strength and flaws. The above crop shows good sharpness around the edges, slight softness on the bricks, as well as some highlight clipping. ISO 125, 1/800 sec, f/3.9

Don't expect miracles when the ISO sensitivity is set to 800 or 1600. Details get very smudged, making this setting best for small prints and web viewing. The ISO 3200 setting is best left alone, as there's virtually no fine detail left.

Low Light, High ISO

You can see some pretty significant detail loss kicking in at ISO 800, with the writing on the blackboard being difficult-to-impossible to decipher. The various people in the scene don't look much better. This sensitivity is definitely best for small prints and online sharing. ISO 800, 1/30 sec, f/3.9

You can probably get away with using ISO 1600 for web viewing or small prints, but if you view things at 100%, you'll notice that fine details have really gone south. For example, the edge of the chest (bottom-center in the 100% crop) has completely lost the edge on its right side. ISO 1600, 1/20 sec, f/3.9

We think it's safe to say that, if the AW110 had a Raw mode, you could probably get some of that fine detail back. But since it (and all of its peers) does not, this is the best you'll get.

	This outdoor portrait was metered properly, has accurate skin tones, and some decent background blur to boot (this is at the long end of the AW110's zoom). ISO 125, 1/1000 sec, f/4.8
	The AW100 was able to obtain proper exposure at ISO 400. Skin tones aren't quite as accurate as they were outdoors, looking 'overcooked', with a reddish color cast. The camera removes redeye with both a pre-flash and post-shot digital removal, and it worked well. 1/30 sec; f/4.8; ISO 400

The Coolpix AW110 performed fairly well underwater, but as mentioned earlier, the OLED display is very hard to see in these situations. The camera was able to keep the ISO down to its base level (125), so was able to capture plenty of detail. The main issue here - found on the majority of waterproof cameras - is a bluish color cast. The semi-included ViewNX2 software (you have to download it) can't fix this issue, but more capable software (including Photoshop) does a good job.

Aside from the bluish color cast, this this photo of a yellow tang looks pretty good. You can click here to see what the photo looks like after a trip through the 'Auto Color' feature in Photoshop CS6. ISO 125, 1/500 sec; f/4.5

Another thing we learned from real-world use of the Coolpix AW110 and its underwater compact peers is that it's best to shoot at wide-angle. The main reason is because the lens is faster at wide-angle than it is at telephoto, and you want as much light as possible for underwater photos. Also, shooting wider gives you a bigger safety margin for framing, which is trickier underwater than on land.

Video Quality

As we mentioned on the previous page, the Coolpix AW110 can record up to a half-hour of 1080/30p video with stereo sound. We have three examples below for your viewing pleasure.

Sample Video 1

This first video shows a seaplane taxing from its mooring. The wind filter is turned on, and appears to do a good job. The video is sharp, with vivid color, with the only annoyance being some choppiness near the end of the clip.

1920 x 1080, 30p, 16.7 Mbps, 33.6 MB, 16 secs Click here to download original video

Sample Video 2

The first of our two underwater photos was taken just beneath the surface, with the fish directly in front of the camera, instead of below. It's a short clip, but we think you'll still get a feel for the quality.

1920 x 1080, 30p, 16.4 Mbps, 8.3 MB, 4 secs Click here to download original video

Sample Video 3

The second underwater video sample was taken with the fish below the camera. Since there's quite a bit of sand being kicked up, the quality isn't quite as good as when the fish are right next to you.

1920 x 1080, 30p, 15.4 Mbps, 19.4 MB, 10 secs Click here to download original video

As with its underwater still photos, the Coolpix AW110's videos also suffer from a blue cast. Unless you're a real video whiz, that's going to be hard to correct.

GearShop

Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Waterproof Compact Camera (Black)●		Buy on GearShop
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Waterproof Compact Camera (Blue)●		Buy on GearShop
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Waterproof Compact Camera (Camouflage)●		Buy on GearShop
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Waterproof Compact Camera (Orange)●		Buy on GearShop

Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Orange)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Blue)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Black)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Camouflage)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Orange)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Blue)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Black)	Too low to display
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Wi-Fi and Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS (Camouflage)	Too low to display
Nikon Coolpix AW110 Shock & Waterproof GPS Wi-Fi Digital Camera (Blue) with 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Float Strap + HDMI Cable + Flex Tripod + Accessory Kit	$324.95
Nikon Coolpix AW110 Shock & Waterproof GPS Wi-Fi Digital Camera (Orange) with 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Float Strap + HDMI Cable + Flex Tripod + Accessory Kit	$324.95
Nikon Coolpix AW110 Shock & Waterproof GPS Wi-Fi Digital Camera (Camouflage) with 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Float Strap + HDMI Cable + Flex Tripod + Accessory Kit	$324.95
Nikon COOLPIX AW100 16 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS and Full HD 1080p Video (Orange)	$249.95
Nikon COOLPIX AW100 16 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS and Full HD 1080p Video (Black)	$307.69
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 16 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Built-In Wi-Fi (Orange) " Ready For Adventure " Kit Bundle Includes 16GB Memory Card, Lithium Replacement Battery, Mini Table-top Tripod, Deluxe Carrying Case , Lens Cleaning Kit, and Floating Wrist	$296.95

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Comments

Total comments: 81

Nice review. My question has to do with using a red filter to reduce the red and blue hues that appear once you are below about 15 feet. I believe that a filter will help even though this is supposed to compensate somehow for being under water. The underwater pictures I have found on the web are not remarkable. I experimented with and without a red filter for my GoPro camera and the increased definition with a filter is quite remarkable and I am thinking it may translate over to this camera too.
So, who would make the best red 40.5mm filter for deep underwater use?
Thanks.

0 upvotes

Can anyone explain me why the choppiness happens in the video? Is it low encoding performance of the processor? It seems to be a really common problem around compact/phone cameras.

0 upvotes

The Nikon AW110 takes great outdoor pictures, however, when we tried to take underwater pics while snorkeling during our trip to the Bahamas in September 2013, we were able to take only 3 pictures before the camera stopped working. There was no water inside the case and I even replaced the battery with a spare one but the camera still did not work. I just sent the AW110 to Nikon in Toronto for repairs which did cost me money to return them the camera. What is frustrating is that we purchased this camera solely for our trip and unfortunately, we could not use it. I do not recommend this camera to anyone who would like to use it underwater or in the water.

0 upvotes

I just returned my Nikon AW110.
On easy-mode auto with flash and face detecting it gave me inconsistently extreme overexposure. Sometimes it's under exposure as well but often it's extremely overexposure inconsistently. It happened indoors and semi-outdoors. Tried to play with settings and still inconsistently overexposure.
Other thing is, the lens is very sensitive to glare. There will be a massive mist from glare when there is bright light in front of sensor plane.

I have couple of Nikon pro DSLR and Lenses and I like Nikon, so I thought Nikon would give a good pocket camera in this type, but I was wrong.
I decided this one is not for me.

And again, Amazon is the best in the return department that I would always want to buy from Amazon. (Sorry this last bit is irrelevant. Just showing my gratitude).

0 upvotes

Im thinking of getting this, But I cant decide between this or the tough

0 upvotes

Oh for you kayaking and like to beat it up. A rubber boot would be good to slide it in. it slips into the sleeve of my we suite nicely. Will make a wet suite pocket for it.

0 upvotes

I bought the AW 110 after nocking its feed back. Some how something made me buy one, when passing the shop. So I tried it out. Shooting macro, food, and street, So far not bad , not fantastic images. Ok for recording what you see. lost of features for creativity.Easy to use. Only the lens is in the wrong place, and could be brighter. needs a cover, and would be nice if orange filter came with the holder and an underwater case was with it that took it deeper. have to ad a float as you could lose it in the deep.
When the weather got better, I took it for an underwater test . Wow it works well, Although a bit worrying at 18 mtrs, As it seemed to show pressure as the glass plate touched the screen. the inner screen seemed to concave. Images OK not using flash, Could be better. Were taken in bad conditions, Considering I did not do any photoshop on them they are on my FB if you want to take a look.For a small point and shoot and water proof to 18 mts, I am impressed. Thanks Nikon.

Comment edited 11 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Update! Delivered the camera to Nikon today and received notice within an hour that they will replace the camera.. Very impressed with the quality of their support!

1 upvote

You have been really lucky. Usually the "water damage" will be the user's fault, coming from...
- improperly closed hatch,
- hair, lint, sand or other dirt in the watertighting closure area,
- dropping / bringing the camera to a depth over the rated limit,
- failing to replace the gasket(s) in the recommended intervals,
- using some sort of gasket grease against the manufacturer's maintenance procedure, etc.
In the meantime there is quite a list of possible reasons for water ingress which have to do with assembling negligence, faulty gaskets / packing, implementation of sloppily made watertighting elements, and most importantly, not pressure-testing the finalized units before shipment.
Once, a long time ago, all underwater devices were water-pressure tested to at least 150% of the maximum usage limit, but somehow I doubt the new cameras undergo that procedure.
Until u/w camera manufacturers finally learn about o-rings, expect this kind of frustrations to keep on hapenning... :(

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Hi Rick. Just bought a AW110 (as well for sea kayaking), really wanted the Pentax WG 3, but none available with GPS. Fell for the spec of the AW 110. Just a little concerned with the ergonomics, one hand to camera and one on paddle (when a bit bumpy)! do you feel it easy to operate with one hand (grip and chose command)? Like: it is easy to fit in pocket of the lifejacket. Brgds, Brian

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I purchased an AW110 on July the 19th – used it 3 times, I was impressed with the ergonomics of the camera – I’m using it with neoprene gloves – balancing in a sea kayak. However on the 3rd use I noticed moisture on the lower part of the screen which rapidly spread to fog the whole screen – then killed the display. Clearly water had somehow gotten into the camera despite the battery cover being securely locked. I returned it to the store – assuming they would replace it as it was clearly faulty. But no! As the camera was suffering from ‘water damage’ they would have to return it to Nikon and that I was told would take 6 - 8 weeks. If it was then deemed to be a fault they would replace it. I’ve called the local Nikon office who has offered a quicker two week process if I can get the camera to them – but beware even though they say these cameras are waterproof – some stores are not willing to stand behind that statement! I have this horrible feeling that I just bought a problem camera.

0 upvotes

The reason that I'm writing this is because my wife said to me a few days ago:

"Let's get a new camera! We've had this one since before our boy (he is 12) was born. Why don't we buy a camera that we can bring everywhere without having to worry?"

Since then I've been spending a lot of time looking at different reviews and sites and come to the conclusion that what we need is a one of either Nikon AW-110/Olympus TG-2/Pentax WG-3/Lumix TS-5.

But.

When I read all the user comments here at dpreview I get the impression that all of these cameras really SUCK! You can't see the screen, you can't use the buttons, the battery time is worthless, you can't (and this seems to be the most important flaw) take decent photos with them.

Is this really true?

Should we give up the idea of buying a camera that you can bring to the beach/slope/woods and not have to worry? And still take decent photos?

Comment edited 7 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Jeff

You said that Nikon has little or no experience in uw photography. I may be wrong but I seem to remember owning a Nikonos IV. That was made and developed by Nikon and in fact some of the best accessories.

0 upvotes

I meant in the digital arena. Your point is well taken, though.

0 upvotes

I'd love it if we could get to - as an example - the rugged X100.

0 upvotes

Thanks for the reviews - but to say that the full set will be available in a few weeks means the holidays will be nearly over !! Quick, quick get those reviews posted !!
RT

0 upvotes

Taken with my WG-3 last month:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/229906-sports-sailing-rhode-island.html#post2438258

0 upvotes

Is lack of an aperture mode as in TG-2 a problem?
the image in your sample has F9.5 which would suffer from diffraction
or maybe not because it is probably using an ND filter

0 upvotes

Small, toughened cameras such as this are not as good for diving as pure UW jobs or DSLRs in housings, but they're great for sports where you might be getting sweaty, caught in downpours or knocked about, where getting the image counts for more than pixel-peeping.

The trouble from the manufacturer's point of view is that, for this purpose, 2- or 4-year-old models are just as good as the latest offerings. On a 1200 km Audax, such tomfoolery as WiFi and glacially slow GPS is useless.

Get a used or new old-stock Panny TS3/FT3 or even an TS1/FT1 and you'll not be missing out by much in comparison.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

you are probably right
My Panasonic TS1 is still working and believe it or not, at base ISO it may be better than all current waterproof camera because it has a CCD sensor not CMOS

If people understood CCD got fantastic color at base ISO

0 upvotes

I liked the TS1 but found it very easy to hit the shutter button instead of the zoom, esp. w. gloves on. Great wee camera, though. Still got it but sensor yields purple haze all up one side.

0 upvotes

Buy a Pentax WG-3 in black, with or without GPS. It's a great value and doesn't look like a tub toy. You can use it as a general purpose point and shoot and not look foolish. The image quality is outstanding too for a camera of this type.

0 upvotes

Do you own it?
astonishing compare to what?
got TG-2 and curious about WG-3

why not TG-2?

0 upvotes

nikon AW100 lasted one week on a snorkel trip, fogging LCD crap auto focus soft images etc.It was replaced by Nikon and would probably have kept it if the images from the old Ixus 70 in the Dicapac housing did not look better!
12 months later after pounding surf , sand rain and sunscreen the Dicapac still does the job and has a strap that can get wet.
Learnt my lesson well on future purchases in this category of camera.

3 upvotes

I AM the "target audience".

I am a 44 yr old serious enthusiast photographer
I am a good snow skier ( skied West Coast Canada since I was 6 yrs old)
I now live in a warm climate and surf 2 times a week
I regularly dive (snorkel and scuba)

I have tried waterproof camera boxes- ok for diving but much too big for surfing/skiing.

It is a big effort paddle out into pounding surf and wait in the break line to get a good picture of fellow surfers. For this effort I want a good camera- the Canon S110 waterproofed- not a glorified smartphone.

I know where I took the picture. I can upload the picture later. However when clinging to a ski slope, treading water in overhead surf my goal is to get a good picture.

"Details smudged at base ISO" = Silver award?

DPR- End the candy coated reviewing. Review this camera for what is- a camera . It is not a GPS device, nor a web device.

Calling all Camera Co's- We don't want gadgetry- just make a really good affordable waterproof CAMERA!

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 14 minutes after posting

5 upvotes

Unfortunately, people do want gadgetry but sharp photos should also be a minimum requirement for any type of camera award.

0 upvotes

All the sample images look like they've been passed through the Photoshop "smartblur" filter.

Re-sized to fit on screen, though, they are not terrible. "Not terrible". There you are: that pretty much describes every modern compact digital camera, in varying degrees, from something like the Nikon 1/X20/XF-1/RX-100 on down.

2 upvotes

Hmmm... an outdoor and underwater camera with a screen that is hard to see outdoors and underwater... Sounds like a deal breaker to me...

4 upvotes

If the reviews were harsher (i.e. more honest rating), it might encourage the OEMs to develop models with better image quality. I don't get it. This is one of the only compact camera segments with strong growth potential, but .... What happened, Nikon, to the Nikonos legacy.

9 upvotes

Only TG-2 and WG-3 with F2 lens is worth buying

Anyone buying this camera not prepare to use it indoor? if so would you want ISO 200/400 or ISO 800/1600

So simple. This slow lens waterproof are obsolete and why they still exist is many buying public don't understand lens aperture

I have TG-2 and is definitely much better than my Galaxy smartphone. The only thing I don't know is if WG-3 is better than my TG-2. It seems there is less NR in WG-3 and more detail left but this is only evident at 100%

For normal viewing on screen image is very attractive. In good lighting I can mistaken them to be take by my NEX-5N

1 upvote

If they further improve it to F1.4 than can use up to ISO 400 in low light than it would be perfect

Now still have to use ISO 800 in many scenario and as you know not very good

ISO 400 is the highest tolerable ISO for small sensor

Comment edited 34 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

With camera phones getting so much better, there is little reason to get a point and shot. The latest camera phones from Sony Xperia are waterproofed. Not as good as this nikon, but it's work in progress I suspect. More and better will come.

Point and shot manage to stay afloat with this niche markets, but this markets are getting smaller and smaller. The only way to stay in business is getting much better with image quality. Lx7 is a benchmark IMO.

1 upvote

It'll be a cold day in hell before I take my phone into the ocean with me, waterproof or not. There will *always* be a good market for waterproof point-and-shoots.

7 upvotes

@Michael - I bet five years ago you were saying 'It'll be a cold day in hell before I use my phone as my main camera'

1 upvote

I really want to see a camera that can replace my P&S or even my DSLR for casual shooting. For outside, bright light they get the job done but once we go indoors, it is Russian Roulette.

0 upvotes

they don't see why to manufacture waterproof cameras since it is such a low-demand and low profit sector. I have never used one but by judging the sample pictures i don't think I will ever own one. I will just buy a waterproof housing for my canon powershot then....if it goes so be it..

1 upvote

"Good image quality for its class." I think that should read, "Good image quality compared to a camera phone. I don't understand why no one makes a decent durable P&S camera. Canon came close with the D10. They need to get a 12mp 1/1.7" BSI sensor in there and stop screwing around with the 16mp pinhead junk.

15 upvotes

I have the AW100 and the 16MP jpgs are smeared junk.

3 upvotes

The image quality is comparable to $100 camera.
But it's allright, it's waterproof, right?

6 upvotes

Actually, if you can find a Panasonic ts20, if may be better image quality for under $100.

0 upvotes

Camera does not actually float
+
OLED screen is not actually visible
There actually was a chubby girl with paddle on the original photo
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/photos/2612499/dscn9982?inalbum=nikon-coolpix-aw110-review-samples

;)

2 upvotes

Jeff,

I have read and respected your reviews for years, so I am have difficulty reconciling two things: (A) the silver award and (B) "The OLED display on the AW110 looks great when you're indoors. It's bright, vibrant, and has a wide viewing angle. But, as mentioned above, the one on the back of the AW110 is nearly impossible to use outdoors, and not much better underwater, which is disappointing on a camera designed to be used in those situations. "

Where else would you use a rugged camera except outdoors or underwater? If you can't see the display, in the absence of any other viewfinder, how do you compose a picture? It strikes me that inability to see to compose a picture is as close as you can get in any camera, let alone a rugged camera, to a fatal flaw in the camera's design.

I get that the Nikon and the TG2 have a lot of other virtues, but lack of a decent way of composing an image strikes me as a very serious problem.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

7 upvotes

I think "nearly impossible to use outdoors" is an exaggeration, most sold smartphones from Samsung, for example, use OLEDs, and people buy them and use outdoors. The same with many many cameras.
Well, polarizing sunglasses may be a problem sometimes.

0 upvotes

There is no external monitor that offers good viewing in all light situations. Normally, if your light comes from the back over your shoulder, every monitor will be affected, outdoors or in (shallower) water. Sometimes a bit of DIY can solve this. Think of some sort of monitor shade, either of soft material, or along the lines of collapsible viewfinders of old double-lens cameras.
The underwater-housed cameras can be even worse, since there are four glass surfaces to look through (eye / air > glass > water > glass > air / monitor), and every material change takes away some of the available light and contrast.
That was the reason for early analog u/w cameras to carry "sports" frames topside, which approximately showed what the lens will see. Of course, it did not work for macro, but for general scenery shots it was good enough.
Underwater, some sort of hooded articulated monitor would be best. That is, if you're young enough to wait until manufacturers arrive at that idea. ;)

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

1 upvote

The AW110 and TG-2 were both knocked for their OLED displays, and I agree with your sentiment. But they make up for it in other ways. The total score is a blend of different traits of a camera. If the AW110 didn't have the fancy GPS, Wi-Fi, and low price, it's score would've been lower.

1 upvote

Not every OLED display is built the same peevee... Compare a 1st or 2nd gen Galaxy S to a 4th gen one, big differences (not just in resolution). Anyway, Samsung's SAMOLED displays actually get knocked for being a little less visible than competing SLCD displays in other phones... And there's even more esoteric stuff to take into account still. Take heat for instance, Samsung actually clamps down brightness once a phone gets beyond a certain temperature... Cameras probably don't do that so their max brightness is surely lower to begin with.

There's a word of intricacies when it comes to displays, just like sensors, lenses etc. Smartphone displays have been pushing the envelop and most camera displays are far behind, even if you ignore resolution which is the biggest gap (only recently did I start hearing of camera displays eliminating some of the air gaps that smartphone displays did away two or more years ago).

0 upvotes

I tried the Panasonic and the Nikon waterproof cameras and bought the Panasonic.
That being said it was certainly the lesser of two evils. Neither gave very decent image quality and the autofocus was pretty bad. Battery life is terrible.

I wish someone would make a waterproof camera that I would be the intended target audience for - i.e, someone who owns a DSLR and m43 camera and knows what fantastic and horrible image quality and af performance is.

I would not expect DSLR or m43/APS-C mirrorless quality from these ruggedized cameras, but at least give me LX-7 like image IQ, OIS, and AF performance in a waterproof/rugged package. These cameras are barely one step above smartphone image quality.

Yes I know it will not be inexpensive to produce such a thing, but that's OK as I'm willing to pay for the convenience of a small form factor over the hulking behemoth that is putting a DSLR or m43 mirrorless is in a waterproof housing . . .

Comment edited 45 seconds after posting

8 upvotes

Don't give them the ideas about how you're willing to pay whatever they like for the good UW camera... or you will! Actually, it is not so difficult to produce these as many people seem to think, also not too expensive. All the components are already available. What misses is the will to put it all together in the properly designed casing.
And a properly designed casing isn't so much different from all the UW housings that can already be bought for small money.
Properly made case annuls outside pressure without deforming (e.g. follows convex shape as much as possible), has o-ring sealed closures (including interchangeable lens mount), and uses reed switches instead of sealed-pin commands (thus, no holes through the casing).
On the other side of the problem, users should invest a bit of learning before they enter the water to take photos. It is a very different photographing ambient, and it pays to get acquainted with it, and not simply expecting "good results".

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 13 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

It's not the casing, but the electronic components that they use which bring these cameras down.
Slow AF, slow lenses, poor OIS, poor battery life, lack of RAW support, etc.
We're not talking about a dive quality casing where you can take it 10 meters underwater, but just as they've advertised it's usage - near the surface pressure capability and drop-resistance.

I think they've made them poor performing to make up for the increased cost of making it water proof and damage resistant to keep the price point low.

0 upvotes

In principle, it wouldn't be too hard to make a waterproof version of the Nikon 1 camera with fixed 10mm F2.8 lens.

You'd have reasonable image quality.

The tradeoffs, if they aren't already self-evident:

1. expensive ($600 minimum)
2. no optical zoom
3. "slow" lens, i.e. its not the F1.4 that some of you seem to be holding out for.

0 upvotes

I have a nice dslr and one of these. Guess one takes better pictures? Guess one goes in my pocket when I am swimming/rafting/riding my mountain bike?
Each one is a good choice for its intended use.

3 upvotes

Quote from the conclusion :- "Details are smudged at base ISO (though likely not an issue for target audience)"

Why is there this ongoing assumption that people who like the outdoors aren't interested in better IQ? In my experience, people who want tough, WR cameras to take to wild places greatly value where they go and the images they bring back. Perhaps the target audience who buy these cameras do so because there's simply nothing better available. It doesn't mean it isn't wanted and wouldn't sell. And no, one shouldn't have to carry a D4 in housing. We need something in-between - a modern day Nikonos with a fixed wide to standard zoom.

Surely someone could make a better small WR camera with a 1"- APSC sensor, a WA zoom, and real O-ring seals? Yes it would weigh more and cost more, but many would be prepared to pay more for a comprehensively better outdoor camera.

8 upvotes

i think the point is that the target audience is likely to be looking at these images at considerably less than 100% (pixel level).

8 upvotes

"Why is there this ongoing assumption that people who like the outdoors aren't interested in better IQ? "

It is not an assumption. If you are interested in taking high IQ photos underwater this is not the camera you would buy. You would get a housing for your DSLR. Anyone who thinks a $300 camera is going to get great IQ photos underwater is living in a dreamworld.

3 upvotes

I agree with the OP. This needn't be an either/or(I learned this from Goldilocks). I'm quite sure a good many people would prefer something like the AW110 but with a 20% bigger sensor and a 20% bigger lens -- and pay 40% more for it without complaint. It's not as though there are any technical barriers to such a camera.

2 upvotes

What's funny, the properly constructed diver-usable UW camera should not cost much more than those offered to the market.
All it takes is some serious thinking about the design solutions related to depth pressure (shape, sealing), light insufficiency (bright lenses), and some comprehensible range of accessories (remote light-triggered flash / video-light units, large-capacity batteries, etc.).
The problem is, we can offer valid suggestions to the manufacturers till cows come home, all to no avail. They're listening to some faraway voice (probably from the ad department) which keeps repeating "never mind what they want, make them want what we give..."

1 upvote

No one's taking this on a National Geographic photo shoot (they still exist, right?) It's casual snapshot camera that can be taken to the beach or on a camping trip. 64 Gig memory card, a couple of spare batteries, and you're good for a week in the woods with the fam.

0 upvotes

How else should an image be judged but at 100 percent pixel view. This "it will look better when downsampled" defies logic/common sense. I've looked at many a camera's output and there is a difference. My Kodak Z8612 IS can stand scrutiny at per pixel level, but of course Kodak failed in the marketplace!

Comment edited 24 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

False- Anyone who thinks a $300 camera is going to get great IQ photos underwater is living in a dreamworld."

I understand the extra cost of waterproofing. But we should not need to spend $3000 on WP housing / DSLR (ugly beast they are). Most of us would love a camera with image quality equal to the Canon S110, Olympus XZ1 etc.

0 upvotes

@ seilerbird666 : It seems you're not letting facts interfere with your post....... I did not say I expected DSLR IQ from a $300 camera. What I actually said was "it [my preferred option] would weigh more and cost more, but many would be prepared to pay more for a comprehensively better outdoor camera." The Nikonos showed that you don't need a DSLR in a housing to get high IQ. The camera was itself water proof to 40 metres and far tougher than any of these rugged compacts. And it was small enough to stuff into a life jacket or a caving suit. Try that with a DSLR in a housing. There's no technical reason there couldn't be a similar camera in the digital era. And once again, I'd pay a good price for it.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

@Gesture
I judge images at the image level, not the pixel level. Isn't that how you look at and enjoy images? If an image looks good at the viewing/print size you normally prefer, then what's the problem?

1 upvote

when the day comes we get one in apsc, I will look at them. I use a F30 with a housing, and that is a cheap solution. Fuji always offered good small cameras and correct priced housings for it. On the other side, there are 200$ housings in excellent quality made in China for the most common dslr's too. Those gadgets you test here are simple "vaccation at the sea" utility tools. For sure, it is good to know by tests like this one what's about. Some of them have serious flaws and are total misconceptions.

1 upvote

DPR Why are you wasting time reviewing these ridiculous underwater cameras, they are toys for kids and nothing more, anyone who wants real underwater photos will get a housing for their real camera.

4 upvotes

Because if they review cameras that would rock their world (Sigma DP Merrills, for instance), they would alienate a large segment of their audience. And upset Amazon.

It's also amazing how waves take better photographs than you can!

Comment edited 55 seconds after posting

1 upvote

@Scott Greiff - having shot with the DP1 Merrill, I must conclude that my world is more solidly founded than you seem to think.

@Mikhail Tal - waterproof cameras are quite popular and we receive lots of requests from readers to find out about the latest ones. I suspect many 'real' (as opposed to fictitious?) photographers like to dip their toe into underwater photography without the cost of an underwater housing. Or perhaps want a small, rugged camera they don't need to worry about. Or maybe even just for, you know, fun.

Comment edited 5 minutes after posting

23 upvotes

Mikhail, the cameras like this are actually interesting for hundred times more people than expensive FFs, let alone practically unusable one trick ponies like Sigma DP cameras.

8 upvotes

I couldn't disagree more. When I'm on vacation, my D800 stays in the hotel safe more often than not, and an underwater compact gets the nod for beach and surf.

They're anything but toys.

8 upvotes

Underwater photography is not the only (or even most important) use case for these rugged compacts. How about being able to use your camera out in the rain or snow, in environments with a lot of dust or sand in the air, or in situations where it's difficult to handle your camera like a newborn baby?

4 upvotes

@Mikhail... there is nothing ridiculous about underwater photography, it is oriented toward the 70+% of our Earth surface, so perhaps you should try it before you bash the cameras equipped to go there. True, many amphibious cameras sold today are misconcepts which must be bettered in more than just a few ways, but the progress of underwater cameras isn't following the state of technology, rather some weird mercantilistic half-notions, so the common-sense design (and) betterment will eventually happen.
In the meantime, try taking and /or showing some of your own pictures (dry-land or underwater) to back up your words with some credibility. Otherwise, people might think you're just another forum photographer.

1 upvote

Thank you for the heads up, DPR. Since the AW110 can't float in the water like your photograph suggests, I will take a pass.

0 upvotes

Nobody likes a lawsuit :)

5 upvotes

There is such a thing as a floating wrist strap.

2 upvotes

"In fact, the Coolpix can go further underwater than any rugged camera on the market: 18 meters (59 feet)"

But dark lens and weak LED light will allow you to get only black picture at this depth. And even at 15m. And no long exposures - it's not like you can bring a tripod down there.

1 upvote

"it's not like you can bring a tripod down there." I bet I can. But it will be useless if not put on the ground.

1 upvote

Well, in conclusion I don't see why the camera got 73% vs TG-2 getting 72%. In a camera where low-light performance in a HUGE deficit a lens being 2 stops faster is HUGE. That trumps marginally useful battery draining WiFi (which can be replaced by an EyeFi card for those who need it for some reason) hands down, not even close.

3 upvotes

I agree. The TG-2 and WG-3 are the new standard. The AW110 might be competent within its "comfort envelope", but the envelope is pitifully small.
A cloud, or dense foliage, or a deep canyon - and the AW110 is out of its element, while the TG-2 and WG-3 keep going well into twilight.

But the review rating is more like a sum of weighted features. Don't expect it to make decisions for you.

Besides, different people have different priorities.

For example, if you're only ever planning to take pictures in broad daylight, and only while standing in the shade, then this camera could work just as well as its faster-lens, decent-LCD competitors...

1 upvote

@DPR - copy and paste again: "Even if you ignore the panning issues that we found, the TG-2's video quality is just average."

0 upvotes

Thanks for both of your corrections, they've been fixed. I've reworded the video section a bit, as well.

Comment edited 20 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

"This first video shows a seaplane taxing from its mooring. The wind filter is turned on, and appears to do a good job. The video is sharp, with vivid color, and no undesirable effects."

Actually, there is plenty IS "jumping" instead of smooth panning.

0 upvotes

Pay attention to the negatives - they are ALL valid. I have the 100 which I bought solely for GPS marking, and it frequently won't get a satellite lock. The smeared jpg files these AW cameras generate mean I do all my non-DSLR shooting with my iPad. Much better results.

0 upvotes

@DPR. copy and paste? "The TG-2's built-in flash has a maximum flash range of 5.2m at wide-angle and 4.2m at telephoto (at Auto ISO, which maxes out at ISO 1600). "

0 upvotes

Total comments: 81

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