This year included some fantastic new cameras, lenses, and accessories. From the Nikon Z8 and the Sony a7CR to the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 and Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, nearly every camera maker brought something amazing to the table. However, some of them also announced products that slipped through the cracks by virtue of being dreadfully boring, if not outright bad.
The Olympus, now OM System, Tough TG-6 is no longer being actively produced and is no longer avaiable from OM System in Japan.
The new Insta360 X3 Invisible Dive Kit allows for filmmakers to shoot underwater 360-degree video totally seamlessly and allows for unobstructed views beneath the waves.
Adventure or travel photographers will sometimes find themselves in rather extreme environments. Alaska, Iceland, Antarctica, or even Yellowstone National Park in the winter can be very cold. So, does Haukland's Parka Pro Photography Jacket successfully combat low temps and wet weather?
Haukland's original 7-in-1 photography jacket is already water resistant and warm enough for most environments, but to support photographers who venture into even more extreme conditions, Haukland's Parka Pro goes even further beyond.
Waterproof cameras are the perfect companion for a sunny beachside vacation, an exciting undersea scuba dive, or even shredding snowy slopes. Waterproof cameras allow photographers to capture unique underwater perspectives and photograph beautiful sea life. They also allow for amazing action shots of watersports.
A photographer teamed up with a drone company to create an incredible FPV shot following a Team USA Olympic diver as she splashes into a pool.
Insta360 has announced the X3, a 360-degree camera that features a larger sensor and bigger touchscreen than its predecessor as well as the ability to capture 5.7K 360-degree video and 72-megapixel photos.
Australian company Yondaway has announced a Kickstarter campaign for the new Powchell Charger, a TSA approved portable 20,000mAH power cell that can protect and charge your gear while on the move.
Once a staple of photography for the general populace, disposable (or “single-use”) cameras have become something of a niche -- most people who never stopped shooting film or those younger audiences who are coming to it for the first time choose to use an affordable SLR or point and shoot camera. The image quality is quite superior and a single roll of film is less expensive (though typically not by much) than a disposable camera.
Earlier this year, OM Digital launched the OM-1, which earned the highest weatherproof rating of any camera on the market PetaPixel was given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at just how intense the company’s torture testing is to assure this unmatched rugged design.
Ricoh Imaging has announced the WG-80, a point-and-shoot style camera that features a rugged exterior and a built-in macro light that has been optimized for image capture in extreme conditions.
Manfrotto recently expanded its PRO Light Tough cases and while at their core these hard cases are pretty similar to other offerings, Manfrotto does offer some modular accessories that make them stand apart.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that we tried to revive wet smartphones by sticking them in a bag of rice and hoping for the best. Now, most modern smartphones are “water-resistant.” If water gets into them, they won’t be destroyed, like in years past. Still, we’re not supposed to dunk them in the water. But try telling that to kids.
Every year like clockwork, GoPro introduces a new action camera with varying degrees of improvement upon the last. This year we have the HERO10 Black, the company’s second push into 5.3K video recording following the HERO9, but is there enough here to warrant buying the latest and greatest?
Picture an egg. Now picture an egg with a camera on it. Now picture an egg with a camera on it that can fly. Now picture an egg with a camera on it that can fly in the rain. Now picture an egg with a camera on it that can fly in the rain and land on water. You are now picturing the PowerEgg X.
OWC has announced the rugged and compact bus-powered Envoy Pro SX Thunderbolt 3 SSD that is water, dust, and drop-proof, promises transfer speeds of up to 2,847 MB/s, silently cools, and is bus-powered.
Boulder, Colorado-based BAD Equipment have announced its first product on Kickstarter -- The BAD Wrap. The BAD Wrap is a flexible and waterproof cover (or wrap) for your gear that can be form-fitted into a variety of configurations to provide protection for anything you can place in it.
Ricoh has announced the WG-7 waterproof compact camera that it touts as capable of continuously recording for two hours underwater at a depth of up to 20 meters (65 feet). Ricoh also positions it as a webcam and it even comes equipped with a built-in ring light. Unfortunately, it appears exclusive to Japan.
Other World Computing (OWC) has announced the OWC Envoy Pro FX, a universally compatible Thunderbolt and USB-C portable SSD that the company says can reach up to 2800 MB/s and is dust, water, and shockproof.
When it comes to 'rugged' SD cards that can withstand drops and water and x-rays, Sony's Tough cards haven't really had any competition... until now. Samsung has just unveiled two new lineups of SD cards that bring some of the same adventure-proof benefits to a more affordable price point.
The folks at Chinese accessory brand Digitalfoto have created an interesting new piece of lighting gear. They're just released a pair of wirelessly-controlled RGB tube lights that are also IP68 rated: in other words, you can use them underwater.
An intriguing little camera stabilizer has blown up on Kickstarter over the past couple of weeks, raising over $270K with more than two weeks left in the campaign. It's called the 'GravGrip' and it's a pocket-sized, hydraulic-based stabilizer for action cameras and smartphones.
Ricoh today unveiled its latest "ultra-rugged" compact camera: the WG-70. The camera features a few usability improvements over its predecessor, the WG-60, but remains largely unchanged in terms of the design and core feature set.
JK Imaging—the company that has been releasing all sorts of Kodak-branded goods for several years now—debuted a new camera at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC. Meet the Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2: a rugged, waterproof point-and-shoot that costs just $150.
CalDigit has just released a rugged new portable SSD that's waterproof, shock proof, and blazing fast, with read speeds up to 1055MB/s and write up to 900MB/s. That's megaBYTES not megaBITS.
Sony's TOUGH SD cards are extremely popular among photographers. But just how tough are they? Photographer and writer Steve Huff decided to put the latest iteration of these TOUGH cards through the ultimate battery of tests: freezer, washer, dryer, pool, and... just for fun... blender.
Olympus has announced the new Tough TG-6, a successor to the TG-5 that improves upon Olympus' popular line of ultra-rugged compact cameras for outdoor adventures.
Looking for a digital camera to help a child fall in love with photography? Nikon has announced the new COOLPIX W150, an ultra-durable and waterproof camera that you may want to look into.
Clear Outex is a new waterproof camera housing seeking funding on Kickstarter. Affordable and universal, the housing will keep your camera safe and dry in tough conditions.