Professional Underwater Cameras – Overview
A professional underwater camera allows you to explore and photograph the most exciting places around the world.
Take your photography underwater, record fast-paced white-water rafting scenes, or shoot in the most inclement conditions possible.
The greatest professional waterproof cameras can handle everything, and the best part is that they are usually rather affordable.
There are, of course, trade-offs. Many professional action underwater cameras are pocket-friendly and come with small sensors.
Therefore, their image-capturing ability will reduce when compared to non-underwater professional cameras.
On the other hand, underwater cameras are generally shockproof, freezeproof, and crushproof, allowing them to withstand far more than most complex cameras.
Professional Underwater Camera – List of Best 5!
There is a lot of diversity among cameras that might be labeled as “underwater cameras.”
Choosing the proper one requires considering what you want to accomplish with it, such as capturing images, video, or both. Is it more important to have a zoom lens or a quick burst rate?
How far do you want to take the camera underwater? Then there’s the age-old matter of how much you’re willing to spend.
You have probably noticed a plethora of appealing choices on the market. This post will recommend the best professional underwater cameras to make your decision easier.
Each has its own set of selling qualities, which are listed below. All you have to do now is consider what features you require and set a budget.
If you’re interested in learning more about underwater cameras, this article discusses some of the most important elements to consider before purchasing one.
So, let’s dive in to purchase the best professional underwater camera.
| Camera | Camera Resolution | Video Resolution | Waterproof | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoPro Hero 9 | 20 megapixels | 5K, 4K, and 1080p | 10m/33 feet | 158 grams |
| Nikon W300 Waterproof Underwater | 16 megapixels | 4K and Full HD | 30m/100feet | 231 grams |
| Ricoh WG-70 | 16 megapixels | Full HD | 14m/46feet | 173 grams |
| XTU S3 Action Camera | 20 megapixels | 4K and Full HD | 40m/131feet | 712 grams |
| AKASO EK7000 Pro | 16 megapixels | 4K and Full HD | 40m/131feet | 648 grams |
5 of the Best Professional Underwater Camera
1. GoPro Hero 9
The GoPro HERO9 camera is a significant improvement over the previous GoPro HERO8 camera. The higher-resolution sensor maintains 5K video and 20MP still photographs.
In addition, it is the only camera from the segment that shoots 4K 60p video.
This results in incredibly smooth slow motion at half speed and extremely clear and lifelike action at full speed.
Only the modern SLR and mirrorless cameras can now shoot 4K 60p, so having this feature in such a little camera is a major plus.
The GoPro HERO9 features a larger size than the HERO8, providing for a larger screen on the back and 30% longer battery life.
The menu system has been updated to incorporate the option to save shooting settings as presets.
Setting up in advance macro, wide, or topside settings in preparation and then just switching between them underwater is a terrific way to save time.
This is a major improvement over the older models, where there was no ability to make changes like this once the camera was in the housing.
The Hypersmooth image stabilization remains the industry’s greatest in-camera image for preventing wobbles from compromising a shot.
The GoPro HERO9 is the camera that has the most sophisticated video specs. This makes it an excellent choice for a professional video shooter.
Even as a backup camera that can be mounted on top of a primary gear to take video.
Key Features
- 5K Video Recording
- 20MP Maximum Pixels
- 2-3 Hour Battery Life (For single Battery)
- 60m/196ft Under Water Camera (With Housing)
- Larger Rear Touch Screen
- HyperSmooth Stabilization
2. Nikon W300 Waterproof Underwater
This can be your perfect choice among the best waterproof digital cameras if you’re a deep-sea adventurer. Nikon W300 can go up to 30 meters, which outperforms most waterproof cameras.
It also includes a barometer and an electronic compass that offers important underwater data like height and depth.
Bluetooth is also included, which works nicely with Nikon’s SnapBridge technology for quick image transfers.
Video shooters will like the addition of 4K video to the W300’s toolbox, and the camera’s 2.4m shockproof rating means it is more resistant to bumps and bangs.
While the lack of raw capabilities is unfortunate, if you are OK with JPEGs, you will find it to be a fantastic all-rounder for daring underwater expeditions.
Key Features
- 4K HD Video Recording
- 05MP Max Pixel
- 280 Shots per Battery and 1 Hour for Video
- 30m/100ft Under Water Camera (With Housing)
- 0″ TFT Display
- Hybrid VR image stabilization
3. Ricoh WG-70
The Ricoh WG-70 is the company’s newest ultra-rugged compact camera.
This small camera is nearly identical to its predecessors for challenging situations and includes dedicated shooting modes for underwater and macro photography.
The WG-70 camera boasts 16 Megapixels resolution with maximum ISO sensitivity of 6400. In addition to still images, the camera can record video in 1080p (Full HD) resolution.
The onboard lens has a focal length of 28–140mm (35mm equivalent), an aperture range of F3.5–F5.5 depending on focal length, and 11 elements in 9 groups.
When employing the internal ‘Intelligent Zoom’ feature, the camera gives an additional 7.5x zoom in addition to the optical zoom (which is limited to 7 Megapixels).
The 2.7-inch outdoor-friendly LCD with an anti-reflective coating is used for composing and evaluating media. A ring of six LEDs around the camera lens allows for a new method of macro photography.
Ricoh has introduced a new ‘Digital Microscope’ mode that enlarges the photographed subject to take advantage of the distinctive LED array.
In addition to the underwater shooting feature, which counterbalances the color shift when taking underwater photos, macro mode is also included.
Key Features
- 1080/30 Fps Video Recording
- 16MP Max Pixel
- 4-5 Hour Battery Life
- 40m/45ft Under Water Camera
- 7″ Larger Rear Touch Screen
- Movie Shake Reduction Mode
4. XTU S3 Action Camera
With this action camera, you may shoot your videos in 4K/30FPS Ultra HD definition. The Action Cam has a rechargeable 1350mAh battery that lasts up to 120 minutes. It can charge and record while using an external power supply.
XTU S3 includes a front-facing screen that vloggers will love, making it easier than ever to record yourself and create great content for social media and YouTube.
It also has a dual-screen display on the back and front. You can simply compose selfie photographs – a good feature for vlogging — or preview your shot on the front screen.
Even while moving, the video will be more stable and smooth thanks to the built-in Electronic Image Stabilizer.
The picture stabilization feature smoothes out all the bumps in the road. Moreover, with its characteristics like shock resistance and waterproofing, the camera can also go where no smartphone would survive.
Without external housing, the XTU S3 Action Camera is waterproof up to 5 meters underwater. With the accompanying housing sealed, it’s waterproof up to 40 meters.
This robust camera is excellent for photographing your adventurous interests, from cycling to surfing to skydiving.
Key Features
- 4K/30 Fps Video Recording
- 20MP Max Pixel
- 1-2 Hour Battery Life
- 39m/131ft Under Water Camera
- Dual Rear and Front Touch Screen
- Shock-Resistance and Waterproof
5. AKASO EK7000 Pro
The Akaso EK7000 Pro action camera may be a good alternative to a GoPro if the price is a deterrent.
It costs less than half as much as GoPro’s entry-level Hero7 White model, but it does not include voice control.
It shoots 16Mpixel stills in 4k/25fps, 2.7k/30fps, or 1080P/60fps modes. That is higher video quality than the GoPro Hero7 White, but not quite as good as the Hero7 Silver. It also has picture stabilization in the 1080P/60fps mode.
You can set the camera to record images upside down if you plan to install it below a Garmin mount. Burst images (three stills per second), time-lapse photos, and loop recording are all available.
Most importantly, image stabilization is included in the Akaso EK7000 Pro action camera.
There are four distinct fields of view to choose from, so you can have a limited image of the scene ahead and another that takes in more peripheral action.
Although the photographs are bright and crisp, they appear to be oversaturated. The image color balance can, however, be changed in the camera’s settings menu.
Key Features
- 4K/25 Fps Video Recording
- 16MP Max Pixel
- 1-2 Hour Battery Life
- 39m/131ft Under Water Camera
- 2″ IPS Touch Screen
- Built-in Electronic Image Stabilization
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