The Hiking Camera Conundrum

Jeff Biscuits wrote:

I used to use a Pentax K10D but I’m no longer a fan of DSLRs. It seems there’s very little choice in terms of largish-sensor rugged cameras. I have an Olympus Tough which is properly waterproof, but of course the image quality is hardly a match for the X-T2. I’d love Fujifilm to take the XF10 and seal it to IP7 level, with a proper fixed glass element in front of the lens, like the Tough. I’d certainly hand over some cash for that.

Amen on the sealed XF10. I use one as my hiking camera due to its small size and low weight, but when it rains more than a drizzle, it goes into my waterproof (submersible) day pack. Ofcourse sealing it would add some bulk and weight, but it should be possible to stay below X100 size and weight. I love its image quality and minimalist three dial user interface.

Indeed there aren't really any feasible large sensor rugged compacts. The Leica Q2 is not waterproof but well sealed against rain and dust, but very expensive and quite large for a compact.

Leica X-U was waterproof, but also expensive (in absolute terms; given the red dot and the unique market position I was actually surprised it wasn't more expensive) and not that compact, and is now discontinued.

SeaLife DC2000 had a 1" sensor and 31mm equivalent, f/1.7 lens, but had stupidly slow raw write speeds and is now discontinued. Good lens and waterproof down to 18m though (60m with included housing).

And... that's it in terms of large sensor digital compacts that can be considered rugged.

I'd love for someone to have another crack at this concept, since all three attempts so far have been hampered by either a red dot tax, or by a lack of refinement. One of the Japanese camera companies could surely do better and charge a profitable amount for it, as I'm sure you and I wouldn't be the only ones facing this problem.

As for ILC's, I'd trust the sealed Olympus and Nikon Z models above all Fujifilm ILC's, including X-H1 and the GFX models.