Which perhaps means that the E-PL series isn't done yet. The line saw annual (if incremental) updates every year from 2016 to 2019, culminating in the Olympus PEN E-PL10. These were consistently among the best-selling cameras in Japan and Asia, but that gangbusters business wasn't really replicated in the West.

Waterproof cameras are designed to be submerged in water to certain depths for specific periods. The depth and duration that the camera can handle should be specified by the manufacturer. Image quality is great given the capacity of the sensor and the ability to control aperture. SeaLife also provides flash and lighting kits that attach to your SeaLife DC2000 to help illuminate your subjects. This would be especially recommended for deeper dives with the camera. This is something of a hybrid between a housing and an underwater camera – effectively, it’s a housing with the camera already built in. The SeaLife Micro 3.0 Pro Duo 5000 set comes with a camera body, two Sea Dragon 2500F lights and an ergonomically balanced Flex-Connect dual tray. This makes the camera easy to hold underwater and get into position. The Sea Dragon 2500F lights create a total of 5000 lumens combined which is a decent amount of additional light when you’re down deep. The Vaquita is waterproof to 1,150 feet (350 meters), the best dive performance of any camera on our list. It also includes a clever Depth-Controlled Color Correction (DCC) feature to automatically adjust the white balance of photos and videos based on your depth.The W300 can capture video at up to 4K at 30 fps, and will even let you shoot and save stills in the middle of recording a video. We liked the variety of video settings, including time-lapse and superlapse movie mode. The sensor covers a wide ISO range (100 to 12800) but defaults to a maximum automatic setting of ISO 1600. You can change this in the settings menu, though picture quality suffers at higher settings. The TG-7 snaps sharp, clear photos at ISO 100, with a slight dip in fine detail from ISO 200-800. The pictures are soft at ISO 1600-3200, and blurry at ISO 6400-12800. The lens loses light when you zoom in, so keep it at its widest angle for the best results in dim settings. 4.5mm (25mm equivalent), f/2.0, 1/30-second, ISO 800

Which should you choose? Tough cameras are probably better for photographers, offering a greater level of manual control over stills, and often being equipped with optical zoom lenses. They tend to be easier to handle generally, with more physical controls, and also will often have a built-in flash, which is hugely useful underwater where the light is poor. From a design perspective, the camera only features two external buttons that include the mode button and the shutter release. Fast, high-quality and robust, the OM System OM-5 heralds great things for the future of the brand, and injects some real life into the Micro Four Thirds system. We’re huge fans, and gave it the full five stars in our review.The Olympus TG-6 was our favorite waterproof compact camera - and this has now been reborn as the OM System TG-7. It is pretty much identical - but that is a good thing in our book, and ensures this newer version remains at the top of our recommendations for a rugged camera. Features we love include the built-in microscope setting that allows you to take amazing close-ups - and a Field Sensor System that records GPS coordinates and ambient temperature with your shots. Use a Rain Cover: Rain covers are a popular choice for keeping your camera dry. They are essentially waterproof bags designed to fit over your camera and lens. Some are made to fit specific camera models, while others are one-size-fits-all. Rain covers usually have a clear window so you can still see the camera controls and they generally allow access to the camera’s buttons and dials. Further to this, it shoots 4K video and full HD video paired with its built-in image stabilisation. Features such as these make this camera a stand-out performer amongst its competition – especially at the price that this camera is available for. Since 2021, Olympus cameras have been sold under the OM System name. The Olympus TG-6 was our favorite waterproof compact camera - and this has now been reborn as the OM System TG-7. It is pretty much identical - but that is a good thing in our book, and ensures this newer version remains at the top of our recommendations for a rugged camera. Features we love include the built-in microscope setting that allows you to take amazing close-ups - and a Field Sensor System that records GPS coordinates and ambient temperature with your shots.

Tough cameras, Oly and other brands, show mushy details that look really bad even without enlarging, specially in foliage and other fine structures. The inner camera has an impressive depth range of 60 Ft (18m) and weighs in at just 8.3oz (234gm). However, it has greater depth capabilities as it comes with a separate waterproof shell. With this housing, the depth range increases to 200 Ft (60m). One thing to mention is the confusion some users find when faced with multiple LRV and THM files next to their GoPro Mp4 video files – these are actually just temporary utility files that can be safely deleted, but they can make a mess of your folders if you let them build up. First off, waterproof cameras and housings are different things, and we’ve covered both in this guide. The difference is simple; waterproof cameras are self-contained shooters in their own right, while waterproof housings are protective cases that you put a regular camera inside. A waterproof camera tends to be an inexpensive option, while housings are designed generally for professionals, and can frequently command four-figure price tags (though not always, as we’ll see).

Best second-hand full-frame mirrorless cameras in 2023

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is the company's sixth-generation premium underwater camera. It features a 12 Megapixel sensor, 4X optical zoom lens, numerous sensors and, of course, serious protection against the elements. Key specifications The Olympus PEN E-P7 is a great choice for selfie addicts, thanks to its 3-inch tilting touchscreen. Photo credit: Joshua Waller For a start, it’s very light, weighing in at just 337g body-only (and there are plenty of MFT lenses that won’t add a lot to that total). It’s a sprightly shooter, able to manage up to 8.7fps with its mechanical shutter or up to 15fps if you switch to the electronic. It’s an ideal choice for those who don’t want to spend too much time editing their images in post-processing – the JPEG output is first-rate, and it also includes a number of stylish monochrome and colour picture profiles for giving your images a specific look. Tip: Try to shoot in 'P' mode if you can, as the 'i-Enhance' color profile in Auto mode is over-the-top, to say the least.