10 Best Rugged Cameras – Waterproof and Dustproof

The rugged camera brand is super important since some brands are far better than others. Going with the most popular camera brands is ideal as they have better technologies than lesser-known brands. That‘s because larger brands have more money to invest in research and development. Therefore, going with a popular brand will result in better overall picture quality, faster auto-focus, and face-tracking. However, larger companies will increase their prices, but we believe paying extra is worth it due to the benefits.

However, you can go with a smaller brand, but make sure you do the necessary knowledge beforehand. The best way is to watch unboxing videos since you‘ll see the camera in action. Plus, you‘ll get a sense of the camera quality which helps with the buying decision. Finally, you can read online reviews left by previous customers and make sure that the majority are positive.

The most important aspect of the camera is the picture/recording quality. There are a few specs to look into when purchasing a camera:

• MegaPixels: the general rule for sharp images is 300 pixels per inch, which is around 7.2 megapixels. The more megapixels the camera has the sharper and better overall picture you will see.
• Autofocus: having fast autofocus is a must because you want to capture the moment as soon as it happens without receiving blurry footage. Some cameras have dual autofocus pixels, which is a huge advantage as the autofocus is ultra-fast. Also, some cameras have the option to turn off the auto-focus, which is great as you can focus on some objects while leaving the background blurry. Therefore, resulting in amazing footage or photos that look professional.
• Resolution: the best resolution to have is 4K because the image will have a ton of detail. Recording in 4K is ideal because you can downscale the 4K footage to 1080p. Therefore, you‘ll have much more detail compared to normal 1080p footage. However, recording in 4K will quickly take up the SD card storage, so make sure you have purchased multiple SD cards beforehand.

The camera should be super durable as you‘re going to want to take the camcorder to rugged terrains. The camcorder case should use premium materials that can withstand accidental falls. Most of the rugged cameras we have chosen use waterproof cases, which means you can take them diving and record your adventures. The waterproof cameras can go up to depths of 10-feet for more than 30-minutes.

Furthermore, some of the rugged cameras come with multiple years of warranties just in case if the camcorder were to break. If the camera doesn‘t come with a warranty make sure to purchase one separately as you never know when it can break down. Also, some of the options have a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can return the product if you dislike it.

The camera should come with multiple accessories that will make it easier for you to customize the image. There are multiple accessories that the camcorder can come with. Here are a few of the main ones:

• SD card: if the camera comes with an SD card you‘ll save some money as you won‘t need to purchase one separately. The ideal GB size is 64GB for an SD card as this is usually more than enough for 1080p footage. However, if you‘re going to record a lot of footage then getting a 128GB card is better.
• Tripod: having a tripod is a huge advantage since you can get steady shots. The tripod can come in multiple sizes, but the best ones are the adjustable tripods as you can easily set them up on any surface.
• Cleaning kit: a cleaning kit is a must since the lens is most likely going to get dirty or wet. Using a tissue isn’t ideal as particles are leftover on the lens, which is why purchasing a cleaning kit is necessary.
• Extra batteries: when traveling, having extra batteries is going to help a lot since you won‘t need to wait for one to charge. Also, some companies create batteries for cameras with different capacities, which means you can purchase a premium battery that will last for multiple hours.