Group test Tough cameras
If you’re going on a proper adventure, you’ll need a rugged camera that can handle heights and doesn’t faint at the first sight of water. One of these three, perhaps?
Snappers that can survive the elements
Ricoh WG-50 What’s the story?
At £249, the Ricoh WG-50 is neither as affordable as the Fujifilm XP120 nor as premium as the Olympus Tough TG-5. With a similar lens and sensor setup to the Fuji, Ricoh is relying on the WG-50’S range of accessories and unusual features to justify the extra £100.
Is it any good?
The WG-50 is as tough as its Power Ranger looks suggest: waterproof to 14m, shockproof against 1.6m drops, crushproof to 100kg of force and able to survive -10°C temperatures. Its 16MP images are fine at a glance, but lack the punchy combo of detail, contrast and clean colour we were hoping for. And while it does have advantages over such rivals as the XP120 (a higher video frame rate, and a macro light), the results are not noticeably better.
Price Stuff says
£249 / stuff.tv/ricohwg50
A solid compact in more ways than one, but better rugged options are available
Fujifilm XP120 What’s the story?
It’s by no means the most expensive tough camera you can buy, but this Fuji is about as rugged as they come: it’s waterproof to 20m, freeze-proof to -10°C, dust-proof and sand-proof, and shockproof against drops of up to 1.75m. This is a camera that’s almost impossible to destroy.
Is it any good?
While the XP120 can’t match the big aperture, 4K video or slow-mo skills of the Olympus on the right, it offers capable performance for its low price. Its 16.4MP jpg files are sharp and impactful in good lighting, with visible detail only dropping once you zoom in tight on the images. But its true appeal lies in its nigh-on indestructible build quality, small size and affordable price. If you want a cheap, rugged compact, look no further than this one.
Price Stuff says
£150 / stuff.tv/fujifilmxp120
The perfect cheap but rugged stunt double for your smartphone camera
Olympus Tough TG-5 What’s the story?
The £400 price might seem a bit steep for a point-and-shoot, even one as hardy as this, but there’s no doubt the TG-5 comes with a lot more stuff than the other cameras here: built-in GPS and compass, 4K and slow-mo video recording, and RAW still photography You’re getting your money’s worth.
Is it any good?
This Tough lives up to its name. Waterproof to 15m, freeze-proof to -10°C, crush-proof to 100kg and able to shrug off drops of up to 2.1m, it’s a hard snapper to break. This is no ‘brawn over lens’ camera either, with an aperture of f/2.0 at its widest zoom, while its 12MP shots are detailed and punchy in both good and poor lighting conditions. Yes, it’s the priciest camera here, but the TG-5 has the premium performance and build to back it up.
Price Stuff says
£400 / stuff.tv/olympustg5
Pricey, but outdoorsy types will appreciate the TG-5’S versatile skill set