Rugged waterproof cameras with excellent image quality

Please define 'waterproof'. Do you mean swimming underwater, or do you mean OK in the rain?

I have recently been upgraded to a Canon G15 from a Canon G11 (at a very low cost) when Canon lost my G11 during repairs – very nice …

Cheers

Very true that – fully waterproofed for diving seems to come with quite a premium.

I'm very happy with my (~4 year old?) compact weather resistant lumix but mostly because it can sit in my rucksack hip pocket and come out and take decent photos at high speed with the intelligent auto mode etc.

They do OK printed at A3 but obviously there are non trivial limitations from a small lens like that. Really powerful zoom you won't get.

Olympus very likely have a similar sort of model and likely the odd other company by now.

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Well, I don't need one for diving, but should be waterproof enough to be ok if I take a swim while packrafting.

I'd like to keep it below $350.

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Rog, it's my understanding that it's the sensor that makes the most difference in image quality.

Is this true?

If so, and you have two different cameras with equal sized sensors, what are some other specs to look at in regards to image quality?

Well the stuff the light comes in through matters too :) Although with anything waterproof that tends to be quite constrained.

One thing to watch might be the time to switch on from cold. That seems fairly important for normal hiking use and when I last looked seemed to vary quite a bit. Maybe it's improved in general now.

Lens…indeed! :)

Being ignorant about the subject, what are some attributes that make a lens good?

I currently have a Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. I know that a waterproof won't have the optical zoom that mine currently has, but it looks like many of them have better sensors and the ability to be slightly abused. I dropped my camera in the snow this weekend, and while it is fine, accidents happen, things get dropped, people fall out of boats, etc.

Travis:

Looking for a digital survivor — no matter how long the soak or how deep the water? Click here and be amazed.

> it's my understanding that it's the sensor that makes the most difference in image quality.
Not so fast. If you stick a crappy lens in front of a superb sensor, you will get superbly registered crappy photo.
You need both sensor and lens.

The whole area of image and lens and camera quality could be the subject of a 27-part series of articles. Not going there! Instead, use existing expert web sites such as
http://www.dpreview.com
reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras
http://www.dcresource.com/
photographic-central.blogspot.com.au/
and doubtless many others.

Cheers

Travis
All of those WP/shock proof camera use a very small sensor, 1:2.3" , and "folded optics" (like in a periscope) limiting somewhat the size and type of lens used in them.
The sensors themselves can be 12 or 16.4 mp now but in the end is the way the image is processed on board that makes the difference.
That and the lens.
Most have a 4x zoom starting at F2.8, the Olympus TG 2 starts at F2 , that is one stop extra so twice as bright (one extra shutter speed).
Still it does not appear to be all that much better than the Pana in low light and the Pana has a longer long time exposure (60 sec vs the Oly 4 sec)
I would look carefully at both the TS5 and the TG2.

Noted on the quality lens. I'll look into those.

Franco, when you say "look carefully at both the TS5 and the TG2," does that mean they're both good and competitive with each other, or look carefully because they might not give you what you're looking for?

I was looking at the sensor size and originally thought they were larger/better than my current camera, but I was wrong. Its the same size.

To all: I can pull all of the specs to compare cameras, but not having a lot of experience with cameras, it's hard to translate those specs into real world differences. So, I'm not asking anyone to do my research for me, but can anyone give me any real world comparisons in terms of image quality between my current Canon SX210 and say, the Panasonic TS5? Will I really even notice a difference (besides zoom).

Sorry, I meant I would choose out of those two.
So far I have only seen the specs for the new Pana, so I would wait till some comparisons are done between those two or DPReview and the like run another class test.
In the last class test the Pana TS3 came out on top and the TG2 was not out.
The TS5 has a different sensor and processing so it may be better on paper but not as good in reality.

Thanks for the clarification, Franco.

This is probably bulkier and more expensive than many of the options you are considering, but the image quality will be far better. Sony RX100 wrapped in a waterproof housing.

Even with the housing it's more compact than many cameras. Remove the housing and its a compact pocketable camera – but no longer waterproof.

here is a mini review of the Pana TS5 with some still shots and a couple of video clips :
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/compact-digital-cameras/panasonic-lumix-dmc-ft5-review-50010564/

Thanks guys, I'm slowly looking into things.

I just had my camera out last night on an overnight and realized that there are dust particles INSIDE the lens. I'm torn between a camera with a larger sensor ~1.7" vs a worry-free backpacking camera.

I happily grab my little Panasonic FT3 (TS3 in US) waterproof point-and-shoot for most backpacking, packrafting and bikepacking trips. It swings from my hand or sits in a pocket, always ready to use in an instant while my GH2 has to be lugged around in a separate waterproof, padded bag. "The best camera is the one you have with you" and for outdoor trips that to me means the camera that's in my hand or pocket, not cosseted deep in my pack from the elements :)

How good the image quality has to be comes down to your aspirations. Me, I just want some images to help jolt my memories on occasion or share some impressions of my trips with my friends. If you're looking for commercial quality then there are obviously other, more expensive options.

Does the camera actually display your location on internal maps, or does it simply log your location?

In other words, can the camera be used as a gps like a smartphone?

Uh-oh, I hear feature creep entering the artist formerly known as T-Funk's wishlist.

LOL! :)

I know not ever to 100% rely on such features, but it'd be a nice thing to have.

I'm not sure if it would be :) Grid refs for emergency maybe. Some of the specs seem to mention a compass….

I'm basically very much with Joe, except using (I believe) an FT1 as that's what there was when I broke my previous one. That was an noticeable upgrade, as I'd imagine whatever I get when this one finally dies probably will be.

I've been sticking all my photos, good/bad/repeated due to laziness!, up on picassa so here's a couple of representative albums of point and shoot with this sort of camera on intelligent auto mode:
https://picasaweb.google.com/117787604334097197723/LakesOct2012
https://picasaweb.google.com/117787604334097197723/TindaleFellSept2012

That Lake District trip was the sort of changable weather (very heavy, quite frequent, very short showers) that makes some sort of water resistant camera rather useful.

So I picked up the Olympus TG-2. Mostly because I'm impatient. :)

I've been comparing images with my Canon SX210, and I must say, the Oly is putting out much better photos. Everything is clear, crisp, and colors are rich, but not over saturated. It doesn't have the zoom that the Canon does, but the macro is ridiculous, the low light capabilites are much better, and the high speed video (240 fps) is cool to play with. Want a clear, slow motion video? This will do it.

No, it's not DSLR quality, and it probably isn't on par with other point and shoots with larger sensors (example: Canon S110), but this is a very noticeable step up from my current camera, and I don't have to worry about the elements, especially on my packrafting trips.

The stronger GPS capabilities of the Panasonic TS5 still intrigue me (apparently you can see your location on a map on the camera). I've got 15 days to return the Oly… ;)