Best Dive Camera - Reviews by the Diving Squad (2023 EDITION):
LAST UPDATED:
If you’re eager to record your diving adventures but unsure which is the best underwater camera for you…you’ve come to the right place!
There’s several important factors to consider when choosing a camera for scuba diving: your experience level (both as a diver and an underwater photographer), whether you prefer shooting videos or snapping photos and of course your budget.
To help you along, we’ve reviewed the best dive cameras of 2023.
We’ve analysed the models we already own, interviewed other divers about their cams…and also thoroughly researched all other underwater cameras worth mentioning!
At the cheapest end of the price spectrum you have action cameras: created for every sport from skiing to cycling, they can be taken underwater in cheap waterproof housing – they’re a great and affordable option but have few if any special features for divers.
A step up the ladder are mid-priced “dive cameras”; they’re often made especially for scuba divers and incorporate special features like underwater colour correction; whilst still being compact, light and easy to use.
Finally you have expensive underwater cameras; e.g. DSLR’s and mirrorless options.
There’s no denying that these cameras take the highest quality photos, however you should only consider one if you’re an experienced photographer (as they are more complex to use) and an experienced diver as due to such cameras being bigger and heavier, they’re more cumbersome to go diving with.
Read on to find out which is the best underwater camera for you!
QUICK ANSWER - Best Underwater Camera for:
Cheap + Mid-Price Dive Cams:
- Beginners Dive Camera: Sealife Micro 3.0
- Divers Underwater Video Cam: Paralenz Vaquita GEN 2
- Macro (Diving): Olympus Tough TG6
- Experienced Photographers: Canon Powershot G7X III
- Action: GoPro Hero 10
- Cheapest: Akaso EK7000
- Snorkeling: Panasonic Lumix TS7
Expensive (for seasoned pros):
- Point and Shoot: Panasonic LX100 II
- Compact: Sony RX100 VII
- Mirrorless: Sony Alpha A6600
- DSLR: Nikon D780
- Toughest: Olympus OMG EM-5 Mark III
- Expensive Video Cam: Panasonic Lumix GH5
- Professionals: Sony A7R IV
- Pros Runner Up: Canon 5D Mark IV
REVIEWS:
#1 Best Dive Camera for Beginners
- Mid-priced
- Simple user interface – easy to use.
- Awesome all-rounder: great photos (16mp) and good videos (up to 4K 30fps) .
- Nice underwater colour correction.
- Good video stabilizaiton.
- Fully-sealed waterproof camera (200ft / 60m).
- Durable
- Super compact
- Macro and wide wet-lens options
- Mounting try and lighting rig options.
“In my opinion, the Sealife Micro 3.0 is the best dive camera for beginner divers or beginner underwater photographers – it’s so easy to use thanks to the fact that it’s permanently sealed within its waterproof housing which makes it waterproof to 200ft / 60m!
It snaps really nice photos at 16mp and decent videos of up to 4k at 30fps; set within a wide frame and with ultra realistic colours thanks to the underwater colour correction which automatically adjusts white balance for you.
It’s also most cool that you can buy wet-lenses for the Micro 3.0 that are easily snapped on underwater. There’s an ultra-wide angle lens and a macro lens ( for getting up super close to tiny creatures like nudibranch!). Sealife – the manufacturer of the Sealife Micro 3.0 also offer tons of underwater lighting options and a trey.
This dive camera turns on in just 2 seconds and the bright LCD display is nice and easy to see at 2.4 inches across, allowing you to easily frame your shot.
User-interface is really easy to operate and battery life is very decent at up to 3 hours! You operate it via three large piano key buttons that are somehow insanely satisfying to push down on!
This is a small, compact camera making it great for travel – it’s also incredibly durable and can totally stand being dropped from 3ft here or bashed against the side of the boat there. (Ideal for someone as chaotic as I)“.
Alex: Grand Admiral of the Diving Squad
#2 Best Underwater Video Camera
- Mid-priced
- Shoots awesome videos (up to 4K at 60fps) and snaps decent photos (12mp).
- Advanced underwater colour correction
- Custom setup options
- Decent video stabilization
- Extremely durable aluminium alloy housing: waterproof to 1150ft / 200m
- Dive profile info: depth, temp, GPS, time
- GEN 2 features Ultra-Wide Lens (150 degree)
- Share videos, photos and dive data app to Paralenz App for Marine Conservation
- Flip mount macro lens, selfie stick and handgrip options
“My favourite camera for shooting underwater video is without a doubt the Paralenz Vaquita series – I love their most recent model: the GEN 2 (aka Vaquita Wide) which features a wide-angle lens!
In terms of video quality, this dive camera can’t be beat. It can record 4K at up to 60fps for high definition viewing – and also 1080p at up to 240fps for ultra slowmo!
Videos and photos taken come out with ultra-realistic colours thanks to the fact that the Vaquita Gen 2 features advanced underwater colour correction – the automatic white balance adjustment works in tandem with a depth sensor to constantly adjust it to optimal levels for the exact depth it’s at.
It’s also the only underwater camera where for every dive you take it on, it records your dive profile and global location which is attached to the videos you took on that dive and which can then be shared with marine research organizations via the Paralenz app for conservation efforts!
There’s a range of great accessories for the Vaquita, including a macro lens on a flip mount for rapidly switching between macro and normal mode, a selfie stick and a handgrip“.
#3 Best Scuba Camera for Macro
- Focus range: 3 inches – infinity.
- Macro Mode.
- 4 X Optical Zoom.
- 12 MP stills.
- 4K Video at 30fps
- Video Stabilization.
- White Balance Mode.
- RAW support.
- Compact & Durable
- Can go to 147 ft / 45 m with waterproof housing (sold separately).
The Olympus Tough TG 6 is the best underwater camera for macro photography thanks to its 4 X optical zoom, focus range of 3.9 inches to infinity as well as a unique macro / microscope mode unseen in any other underwater camera that lets you focus on subjects as close as 0.39 inches which you can then use the optical zoom to get as close as 0.13 inches!
This makes it the best option for photographing tiny macro critters such as shrimp, nudibranch, coral close ups – you simply can’t focus as close to macro subjects with any other camera sa youc an the Olympus Tough TG6. At the same time, by being able to shoot to infinity it can also be used for wide angle shots on the same dive.
It is a rugged and compact underwater camera that is freezeproof, shockproof, and fully waterproof to 50ft / 15m without it’s underwater housing, and waterproof to 147ft / 45 meters with it’s underwater housing.
With the ability to shoot excellent quality video at 4K / 30fps for high definition or 1080p / 120fps for slowmo as well as a 12mp sensor for snapping crisp, clear photos, the Olympus Tough TG 66 is a great all rounder as well.
It’s image stabilization corrects lens shake to produce smooth and seamless footage, whilst the RAW support increases image quality and also provides the ability to easily correct photos that would normally be hard to fix.
There’s no full manual mode; instead the TG6 relies on an easy auto mode and shortcut menu – this actually makes it extremely easy to use even for beginners although more experienced underwater photographers/videographers may find it a little limiting. White balance can be manually adjusted.
Affordable, high performing and packed with useful features for novice underwater photographers and macro lovers, the TG 6 is currently one of the most popular underwater cameras among scuba divers!
- 20.1 Mp 1” CMOS sensor for superb images.
- Built-in 24-100mm-equivalent lens.
- Highly adjustable settings.
- Good higher ISO.
- Macro photos.
- 2 X Optical Zoom (24 – 100 mm).
- 4K/30fps Video.
- Can go to 200 ft / 60m w. Fantasea Housing.
- Fantasea Housing is CHEAP.
With some of the best image quality out there, plenty of adjustable settings and easy-to-use controls, the Canon Powershot G7X III makes for the best underwater photography camera of all time. Unlike the other options we’ve so far reviewed, the Powershot is not specifically geared towards scuba diving but it does offer the best image quality.
The Canon Powershot G7X III has a 1” sensor that performs extremely well. Low light situations, once the bane of a compact cameras existence, are not a problem for the G7X III. Higher also ISOs look very good.
The lens of the Canon Powershot G7X III offers exceptional quality, with excellent macro work and it is also relatively fast for when you need some bokeh. Macro photos are of a stunning quality for a compact and auto focus is overall very good.
The Canon Powershot G7X III has an intuitive interface and is easy to use. Manuel control is possible with the G7X III as is RAW shooting. As is the case with most Canons, the white balance, in particular, is spot on with the G7X III and really shines underwater. With a huge, 3″ LCD screen, it’s easy to see the picture you’re framing and the settings being applied.
All things considered, this is an extremely capable underwater photography camera, one that can produce exceptional photographs, provided you use the settings correctly. For experienced underwater photographers, this will take your image quality to the next level.
#5 Top Selling Underwater Action Camera
- 5.3K / 60fps Video
- 23 MP stills.
- HyperSmooth 4.0 Video Stabilization
- New GP2 Processor for faster performance
- Manual White Balance Setup
- 200ft / 60m waterproof with separately purchased underwater housing
- Extremely compact
- Useful for filming above water as well
Action cameras are small digital cameras used for sports activities such as snowboarding, cycling and scuba diving! To be used underwater they must be placed in a special underwater housing that is purchased separately for a small extra cost.
These types of cameras are cheap and can be used for many different activities but they’re a little limited for diving – they don’t have any special underwater features as seen in cameras designed more exclusively for diving such as underwater colour correction as seen in the Sealife Micro 3.0 and the Paralenz Vaquita or a macro mode like the Olympus Tough TG6.
All the same, action cameras make great backup cameras to divers because they’re small, cheap and easy to rig on a table mount alongside a larger camera.
GoPro are a legendary brand in the action camera world – to this day they continue to produce the absolute best action cameras out there. Their newest model – the GoPro Hero 10 is currently the only underwater action camera that has the ability to shoot in 5.3K/60fps!
It can also snap phenomenal 20MP images with it’s 23.6 (huge!) MP sensor! With GoPro’s new HyperSmooth 4.0 tech video stabilisation footage has never been smoother from a GoPro.
The GoPro Hero 10 is waterproof to an impressive 33ft / 10m without it’s underwater housing and can be taken to 196ft / 20 with it’s cheap, separately purchased underwater housing.
Other cool features are manual white balance adjustment, live burst capture, RAW support and 8 X slow mo. You can read about other makes of underwater action cameras here.
The Gopro 10 has higher video and photo stats than any other action camera but is also a fair bit more expensive than other action cameras. In the next section we review the cheapest underwater camera available this year.
#6 Cheapest Underwater Camera
- Cheapest Underwater Camera available
- Waterproof to 98ft / 30m with included underwater housing
- 4K/30fps Video
- 16mp photo resolution.
- Basic electronic stabilisation.
- Time lapse and loop recording modes..
- 170 degree wide angle lens
Despite being the cheapest underwater camera, the Akaso EK7000 packs a serious punch in terms of stats.
It shoots 4K/30fps video and has a 16mp image sensor for very crisp and detailed 16mp resolution photos. If you want to avoid having a greenish / blueish tint to your underwater photos and videos then you’ll need to manually adjust the white settings for the depth you plan to dive at, which requires some experience.
Sealed within it’s included underwater housing, the EK7000 is waterproof to 98ft / 30m; a depth that recreational scuba diving rarely reaches. The anti-shake feature, whilst not as developed as video stabilization tech of more expensive diving cameras, still does a noticeably good job at making videos appear less shaky.
To discover other cheap scuba diving cameras feel free to check out our article on the best cheap underwater cameras.
#7 For Snorkeling
Panasonic Lumix TS7
- 20.4 Megapixels.
- 4K HD video at 30 fps (frames per second).
- Waterproof to 102 ft / 30m.
- Low price point – affordable!
- High quality 28mm wide angle lens.
- 4.6 X Optical Zoom.
- 22 filter effect and panorama effect.
Straight off the bat, we want to explain that although the Lumix TS7 feels more like a snorkelling camera, it can be taken on dives!
Whereas all the other underwater cameras we’ve reviewed can go to at least 40m / 131ft when in their casing, the Lumix TS7 is only waterproof to 30m / 102ft. Although many recreational scuba dives stay above 30m, experienced recreational divers do sometimes go down to 40m, a depth at which the Lumix TS7 would break! However, it’s fine for lighter depths.
This is a compact and durable camera – it’s drop proof from a height of 6.6 feet and also freeze-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The 20.4 megapixel, wide angle lens is extremely high quality and captures crisp, detailed photos. There is also a 4.6 X optical zoom which is especially useful for snorkelers wanting to get more detail on something far below.
You can shoot in full HD 4K video, plus a special feature allows you can turn 4K video frames (30fps) into decent 8mp mp equivalent high res images. The Lumix TS7 is also designed for use on land – the built in altimeter and compass are great for hiking through the mountains with.
What makes the Lumix TS7 uniquely well suited to snorkeling is that unlike other cameras we’ve reviewed, it has an electronic viewfinder, which makes it easy to see the image you’re trying to capture, even if bright sunlight is washing out the screen.
That said, an electronic viewfinder is less ideal as you go down deeper, which is why the Panasonic Lumix TS7 really is best suited snorkeling instead of diving.
High End Cameras with Underwater Housing
So far, the diving cameras we’ve reviewed have all on the low to medium price point spectrum. Some, such as the SeaLife Micro 3.0 and the Olympus Tough TG 6 are high quality cameras with excellent features for divers such as underwater shooting modes and controls that are easy to access even with thick diving gloves.
However, if you’re willing to lay down some considerable dosh ($), you can buy an extremely high quality mirrorless or DSLR camera that will have unbeatable image quality thanks to a huge sensor size – although it won’t be orientated towards scuba diving.
Also, do realise, that underwater housing for high-end cameras must be purchased separately and usually has an expensive price tag attached.
You’ll need to be an experienced photographer in order to know how to operate these cameras often complicated settings, in order to get the best out of them underwater. But if you are able to do this, the results can be quite spectacular.
- Best Point and Shoot Underwater Camera: Panasonic LX100 II w. Nauticam Housing
- Best Compact Underwater camera: Sony RX100 VII w. Fantasea Housing
- Best Underwater Mirrorless Camera: Sony Alpha A6600 w. separately purchased Nauticam Housing
- Best Underwater DSLR Camera: Nikon D780 with separately purchased Ikelite Housing
- Toughest Underwater Camera: Olympus OMG EM-5 Mark III with separately purchased Ikelite Housing
- Best Underwater Video Camera (High End) : Panasonic Lumix GH5 with separately purchased Aquatica Housing
- Best Professional Underwater Camera: Sony A7R IV with separately purchased Nauticam Housing
- Best Pro Underwater Camera (runner up): Canon 5D Mark IV with separately purchased Nauticam Housing
Top Selling Point and Shoot
- 4K Ultra HD Video.
- 21.7 MP Large Four Thirds Sensor.
- Point and Shoot.
- Macro shooting: 3 cm at wide angle and 30cm at telephoto.
- Electronic viewfinder.
- Easy controls.
- Can go to 330 ft / 100m w. Nauticam Housing (sold on Mozaik).
- Variety of UW Lighting rigs available on Mozaik.
With an enormous Micro Four Thirds 21.7 mp sensor that offers superb image quality and excellent low light performance, the Panasonic LX100 II is our favourite high end point and shoot underwater camera.
It’s surprising but awesome to see a micro four thirds sensor, which is usually reserved for larger mirrorless cameras, in a point and shoot. However, doing so means that the LX100 II has some of the best low light performance and dynamic range of all compact cameras.
The LX100 II can go to 100m / 330ft with it’s Nauticam housing, which is made of Aluminum that has been moulded especially to fit this camera. Because any shape and design can be CNC machined from alumium, the housing for the LX100 II is extremely well contoured, with the buttons being easy to control and highly accessible.
This premium camera has a fast and very sharp leica lens that further helps in dim situations, not to mention renders great photos. Wide angle and macro shots are particularly good, which are the two types that divers will probably be using most. At 24-75mm, the focal range is notably short compared to other compact cameras.
The controls of the Panasonic LX100 II are extremely intuitive and allow for more manual mode customization than most other compact dive cameras in its class. Exposure is fully adjustable and the white balance metering is very accurate.
The auto focus keeps up very well regardless of the fps and even functions admirably in low light. To top everything off, the Panasonic LX100 can shoot in 4K Ultra HD video!
PROS
- Huge MFT sensor.
- Compact camera.
- Fast auto focus and high overall performance.
- 4K Ultra HD video.
CONS
- Slow startup.
- Low Mp count = less detailed images than other high end cameras.
Best Compact Underwater Camera
- Only weighs 302 grams.
- Takes up minimal packing space.
- 20.1 MP 1.0 Type stacked CMOS sensor.
- 0.02 sec. High AF speed.
- Up to 20fps blackout free shooting, using up to 60 times/sec.
- Ai based real time tracking for stills and movies and touch tracking.
- 4K video with s log3 and interval shooting.
- Active image stabilisation.
- 24 – 200 MM zoom lens.
- Can go to 200 ft / 60m with cheap Fantasea Housing.
- Can go to 330ft. / 100m with Nauticam Housing.
When the first Sony RX100 was released it was a groundbreaker, thanks to its exceptional image quality, blazing fast frame rate, and pint-sized package. The Sony RX100 VII is the latest and greatest of the line and so offers the best of all these things.
Weighing just 302 grams, it is an exceptionally lightweight and compact camera, with an overall size of 4″ x 2.29″ x 1.68″, the Sony RX100 takes up very little packing space indeed.
It has a full 1” 20.1 Mp sensor that renders gorgeous photos. The built-in 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 performs very well but is a little short focally. Macro photography is not the Sony RX100 VII’s forte either and it only creates decent photos up close. You’ll need to buy additional wet lenses for proper macro photography.
On that note, the auto focus of the Sony RX100 VII is also very fast and snaps to in a blink of an eye. Effective image stabilization also limits hand shake. For those who like to capture sharks or other nimble sea critters, the Sony RX100 VII maybe be the best compact camera for you.
The Sony RX100 VII also shoots full HD 4K video without any fisheye distortion and with a phenomenal optical zoom with a range of 24-200m it is superb for macro photography!
PROS
- Cheap Underwater Housing available.
- Light and compact.
- Can capture fast moving objects.
- 24 – 200mm optical zoom lens makes it great for macro.
- 20.1mp sensor renders amazing photographs.
CONS
- Expensive, even by premium camera standards.
Top Mirrorless Camera for Diving
- World’s fastest AF at 0 02 sec w/ real-time AF & Object tracking.
- 24 2MP APS-C Exmor sensor w/ front end LSI & ISO up to 102 400.
- Wide angle 425-phase/ 424-contrast detection AF ponts over 84% sensor.
- Up to 11fps continuous shooting at 24 2MP RAW w AF/AE tracking.
- 5 axis in body stabilization 5 step shutter speed advantage.
- Can go to 100m / 330 ft with underwater housing.
Few other underwater mirrorless cameras can compete with the stellar combination of the Sony Alpha line’s size, performance, and accessibility.
The Sony Alpha a6600 continues this trend by blowing photographers away with its a whopping 24MP APS-C sized sensor; which provides ultra detailed images and ultra HD 4k video with no fisheye distortion, whilst supporting multiple aspect ratios including 4:3 (17 mp), 3:2 and 16:9, without any change in focal depth!
The well developed image stabilising technology of this camera also results in smooth, shake free video footage.
Despite it’s stellar specs, the Sony a6600 is extremely compact, being about the size of a cell phone; albeit thicker. Because of this, it lacks many physical controls that are normally present, which will appeal to some, but may be frustrating to others. You can still change all of the usual settings via one of the many in-camera menus.
Using WiFi integration, you can hook your Alpha A6600 to the Panasonic Image APP to easily edit share videos and photos on social media! This is the best underwater camera of a mirrorless design out there.
PROS
- Affordable!
- Extremely compact and light.
- Superb image quality.
- Excellent 4K video.
- Image stabilisation.
- Supports multiple aspect ratios.
CONS
- Underwater Housing is expensive.
- No combo deals (must buy cam and underwater housing separately).
Top Underwater DSLR Camera
- Can be taken to 60m / 200ft deep with Ikelite Housing.
- Backside illuminated 24.5 mp full frame sensor.
- Robust EXPEED 6 image processing engine.
- Full Frame 4K HD Video.
- 20 unique, high quality creative picture controls for both still images and video.
- Built for durability – made using rugged magnesium alloy and carbon fibre.
- RAW support.
- Over 90 extra interchangeable lenses available.
- 51 point AF system detects and tracks subjects seamlessly.
Currently the Nikon D780 is the best underwater DSLR camera on the market, having a formidable 24.5 mp full frame image sensor and being able to capture UHD 4K video, whilst also featuring a rich selection of advanced controls.
It offers improved time-lapse movies to shutter speeds of 1/8000 to 900 s as well as diverse movie functions including 4K UHD/30p with HDR (HLG) support. Plus, there’s 20 unique high quality creative picture controls.
The D780 may be expensive – as is it’s separately purchased underwater casing, but combined, these two items are a truly special bit of kit for any advanced underwater photographer.
Used correctly, this camera will capture incredibly rich and detailed photos, even at the low lighting levels associated with deeper dives.
Plus, it’s 51 point AF system can detect and track subjects better than virtually any other underwater camera can.
However, the one thing the Nikon D780 is missing is in body image stabilisation when shooting video. It can be hard to avoid lens shake underwater! Without image stabilisation, the Nikon D780 can only really shine through for photography, not underwater videography.
PROS
- Captures superb photos.
- RAW support.
- 90 extra interchangeable lenses available.
- Highly durable.
CONS
- No image stabilisation for shooting video!
- Cam is expensive.
- UW Housing is expensive.
- Cam and housing must be purchased separately.
Toughest Underwater Camera
- 20 MP Micro Four-Thirds Sensor.
- 5-axis Stabilisation.
- Improve Image & Video Stabilisation (up to 5.5 EV shake compensation).
- 4K HD video at 2160p.
- Waterproof to 600ft / 200m with housing (sold separately).
- Freeze-proof, splash-proof and dust-proof.
- Compact and sturdy.
- Range of extra lenses available.
- Can go 200ft / 60m deep with Ikelite housing.
Despite it’s small size and lightness, the Olympus OMG EM-5 Mark III is insanely durable – it’s has an IPX1 protection rating, which means it’s fully weather resistant and the exterior is made from tough, composite plastic.
Of course, in order to take this camera underwater, you’ll still need to purchase the underwater housing separately but at least it’s still relatively affordable compared to other high end cameras. With it, the Mark III can go to 600 ft / 200m.
The OM-D E-M5 Mk.III excels at still images thanks to its superb auto focus, shooting speed, and 5-axis image stabilization. It can shoot stills up 30 fps with full stabilization and neither the auto focus or buffer lag behind. Olympus also makes some of the finest and most impressive lenses in the business so you should have plenty of optical options.
The E-M5 II does use a smaller Micro Four-Thirds sensor so it still can’t compete with larger APS-C or full frame camera in dim situations. That said, this sensor has 20 Mp and so it still renders very attractive images.
Most impressively, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III can record videos at 4K UHD 2160p! Also, the improved image stabilisation offers up to 5.5EV shake even when recording in video, meaning the Olympus is a great camera for shooting underwater video to!
PROS:
- Excellent video stabilisation.
- High quality video at 4K UHD.
- Highly detailed photos with 20MP sensor.
- Compact, light and weather resistant.
- Not too expensive.
CONS
- Menu is complex and can take a little getting used to.
- UW Housing is costly.
Best Underwater Video Camera (High End)
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- Can go to 90m / 300ft in UW Housing.
- 20 MP Micro Four Thirds image sensor.
- 4K video at up to 60fps.
- White Balance Metering.
- Spectacular video quality.
- Strong autofocus.
- Video Stabilisation.
- Video resolution at 4096 x 2160.
- Can go to 90m / 300ft in UW Housing.
With the Lumix GH5, you are able to capture stunning 4k videos and stills that are comparable in quality to much more expensive full frame bodies.
The Panasonic Lumix GH5 shoots some of the best videos in the game thanks to its full-sensor-width 4k shooting, which can shoot up to 60 fps with a staggering video resolution of 4096 X 2160. Videos shot by the GH5 are extremely sharp and don’t suffer from any pixel dumping at all. Fisheye distortion is entirely non-existent with the Lumix GH5.
Plus, it has a 20MP image sensor that snaps extremely detailed and clear images!
The GH5 performs very well underwater (when inside it’s housing!), thanks to excellent metering, autofocusing and image stabilization. It also features improved white balance metering, which particularly helps out when shooting at greater depths, where light is more limited.
Although it’s more expensive than most other premium underwater cameras, the Lumix GH5 offers truly exceptional quality – it’s a superb choice for anyone whose serious about underwater videography.
PROS
- Excellent Video quality.
- Great video and image stabilisation.
- High quality photos.
- White balancing means it performs well at depth!
CONS
- Camera is bulky and not very light.
- More expensive than other options.
Best Professional Underwater Camera
- World’s first 61 MP full frame optical resolution sensor.
- Video Capture Resolution of 2160p.
- Up to 10FPS continuous shooting at 61Mp.
- Rapid Hybrid Autofocus: 567 Phase detection AF points and 425 contrast AF points.
- Accurate colour reproduction: 15 stop dynamic range at low sensitives.
- Incredible detail: see fine details with area specific noise reduction.
- 4K video at 30fps: full pixel readout.
- Compatible with many foreign lenses.
- Can go to 100m / 330 ft with Nauticam Housing.
- Other, cheaper housing available on Mozaik.
- Also a range of lighting and mount accessories available on Mozaik.
If you can lay down some serious money and you’re after a professional camera that can be taken underwater (with a separately purchased underwater case), the Sony Alpha A7R IV is the number one choice to go for.
With it’s truly gargantuan 61 MP sensor (the first in the world!), this professional underwater camera offers image detail and quality that no other camera can come even close to matching.
The Sony Alpha A7R IV is packed with features including advanced image stabilization, exceptional autofocus and countless shooting options.
There’s really very little to criticize the Sony Alpha A7R III in regards to image/video quality. Dynamic range and high ISO performance are spectacular in the A7R III. Videos can be recorded at 4k and are predictably gorgeous. You can also mount extra interchangeable lenses on this camera, which expands the shooting opportunities with it immensely.
Even though the Sony Alpha A7R VI can at first seem like an intimidating camera, it is actually not that hard to use. The physical controls are all fairly easy to understand the in-cameras are effective. Once you figure the many modes and features that this camera has, like focusing peaking, your underwater photography will be taken to a new level.
PROS
- 61 MP (!) – highest resolution of any full frame camera in the world.
- Many shooting options.
- Advanced image stabilisation.
- Excellent autofocus.
- Surprisingly easy to use.
- Compatible with many foreign lenses.
- Variety of UW Housing Options and other Accessories available.
CONS
- Extremely expensive.
Best Professional Underwater Camera Runner Up
- 30.4 MP sensor.
- 4K Video at 30fps.
- Superb dual pixel CMOS AF for responsive and smooth AF.
- Can go to 100 / 330 ft with Nauticam Housing.
- Range of Underwater Housing Options.
- Up to 7.0 fps continuous shooting speed with high performance DIGIC 6+ Image Processor for improved speed and excellent image quality.
For professional underwater photographers, the Canon 5D Mark IV is one of the best underwater cameras going. With a plethora of features, a great full frame sensor, and, of course, the weight of Canon’s superlative lens lineup behind it, this premium camera delivers in every way.
It has an impressive 30.4 Mp full frame sensor that performs exceptionally well in dimly lit situations. Even in near darkness, the 5D captures excellent images. Autofocusing is fast and consistently accurate, which will pay off underwater where contrast and lighting are not usually optimal.
Most impressive about the Canon 5D Mark IV is its near perfect metering, which excels even underwater. Exposure levels will be spot and more importantly, white balance should be accurate 9 times out of 10.
The Canon 5D Mark IV shoots stunning 4k video, which, in addition to all of the aforementioned features, makes it one of the best underwater video cameras for professionals as well.
PROS
- Excellent images and video.
- Ultra reliable.
- Fast autofocusing.
- Superb white balancing.
- Good exposure levels.
CONS
- Extremely expensive.
Below is a list of features that one needs to think about before choosing the best dive camera for themselves. Consider all of these points and then revisit over our choices one more time. With some research and enough time to brainstorming, the best diver camera for you will become clear.
We’ve also written an entire separate article about nailing Underwater Photography.
Type of Camera:
Generally speaking, you can turn just about any camera into a dive camera so long as you have the proper housing for it. Good news is that the majority of digital cameras have their own special waterproof shells thanks to third-party manufacturers. This means that you have a lot of options when it comes to choosing the type of dive camera best for you.
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Action Cameras:
(GoPro, Garmin, TomTom Bandit…) – Action camera make great underwater cameras because they are designed to survive in various conditions and to take great videos.
They are very affordable as well, which makes them some of the best dive cameras for beginners. Action cameras are on their own waterproof but usually only to a minor degree – you’ll need to use an additional housing if you’re going diving. Action cams are often very poor at still photography.
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Compact Cameras/Point-and-Shoot:
(Canon GX7, Sony RX100, Olympus Tough TG 6…) – Compacts make some of the best dive cameras because they usually offer a good mix of size, image quality, and affordability. They’re also very easy to use thanks to their lamens design.
Compact cameras sacrifice a lot of functionality for ease of use. Many lack the advanced features that are necessary for higher-grade photography. Most also have smaller sensors, which struggle in low light. You’ll have to buy a good compact camera to regain these features.
Some point-and-shoots are built to be waterproof and shockproof, thus making them rugged compacts. This means, depending on how deep you’re going, you may not have to buy and expensive dive housing.
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Mirrorless Cameras:
(Sony a6000, Panasonic GH5…) – Mirrorless cameras are a step-up from compacts and are one step closer to DSLRs. They offer excellent image quality, portability, and usability thanks to a plethora of features and technology.
Unfortunately, mirrorless cameras usually suffer from short battery life. They can also be big investments as you’ll definitely need an underwater housing and multiple lens ports. Granted, most mirrorless cameras are still not as big or pricey as DSLRs.
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DSLR Cameras:
(Canon 5D, Nikon D7200…) – DSLRs are often considered to be among the best dive cameras for professionals. They are very powerful, have great battery lives, and huge libraries of lenses to choose from.
DSLR cameras are also the biggest, heaviest, and most expensive cameras for underwater photography. Adequate dive housings cost at least $1,500 and can be a whole lot more. This plus the learning curve that DSLrs usually demand make them inappropriate for first time underwater photographers.
Size and Weight:
Size and weight play an important part in both the transport of all of your gear and, to a lesser extent, how it interacts with you in the water.
You’ll want to keep the total weight of your equipment under 50 lbs because a) it sucks to carry around more and b) you’ll get hit with an excess baggage fee at the airport for anything more.
You’ll have to consider the size and weight of all of your gear and not just the camera when packing/hauling your bags. The mass or additional accessories like strobes, extra lenses, and monitors all add up, very quickly. They may not feel as heavy in the water but they will feel heavy when you try to leave the house.
You’ll definitely need a special bag or carrying case to protect your equipment. Depending on how much you have and how much you travel, you might need a hard case like the Pelican 1500. At that rate, you should always have some sort of insurance as well; disaster can strike at any time.
Buoyancy and maneuverability are somewhat influenced by the size and weight of a camera system though not by much. Most camera housings are already designed to be neutral in water so whether you like them to be more or less buoyant is really up to you. How hands-free you like to be or how easily you like to move around is a little more relevant.
Do you mind swimming around with a kit that’s the size of a large steering wheel? Then a DSLR with a housing is possible for you. Do you want both of your hands-free and feel less encumbered? Then a rugged compact, which can fit in a pocket, is probably for you.
Ease of Use:
When choosing the best dive camera, it is very important to make sure that the controls are understandable and accessible. On that note, it is also crucial to have the right controls that will allow you to change settings manually and really nail a photo. The best dive camera for you will strike the right balance between usability and customizability.
Controlling a camera underwater is a similar experience to controlling one on land. You’ll still have to change settings like exposure, white balance, and shooting modes via a series of physical and in-menu controls. Being able to access and understand these is very important. Consider buying a camera with good manual controls and, if you struggle with these, learn how to use them.
Underwater camera housings are designed to work specifically with certain cameras and are usually pretty responsive. Not every button may be available though when a housing is installed and those present may not be perfectly tuned. Some underwater housing controls may be finicky or tedious to use.
Those who prefer to shoot in automatic modes will probably be frustrated underwater because cameras often struggle to get a proper reading when submerged. Strange lighting conditions tend to cause autofocusing systems to search and exposures to be thrown off. Unless a camera is specifically designed to be used underwater, most will have greater difficulty with metering while diving.
In particular, some cameras really struggle with white balancing when underwater and may not even be capable of registering the temperature of the scene. If your camera cannot get a proper WB reading, you may need to invest in a red filter to compensate for the extra blue castes. Thankfully, more and more cameras these days have broad enough temperature scales to get a proper WB reading while underwater.
Underwater Housing:
Finding the best underwater camera housing is equally as important as choosing the best camera for underwater photography. The housing provides crucial protection against water, trauma as well as pressure.
Not all underwater housings are created equal and divers should be very particular about the quality of a potential housing. All sorts of features should be taken into consideration like maximum depth, building materials, accessory ports, and internal components.
Each dive housing will be rated to go up to a maximum depth before compromisation becomes a risk. Depths range from 150 to 300+ feet. Take note of how deep you usually dive and which rating is best for you. If you should spring a leak, some housings come with a leakage alarm, which is pretty useful.
The internal components of an underwater camera housing can be physical or electronic. Electronic components may be faster and more responsive but can fail more easily. Physical components can sometimes be tedious to use but work for the most part at least. You must also consider if a housing can accommodate additional accessories, including lights, floats, and lens ports.
Build-wise, underwater housings are usually made of either high-grade plastic (polycarbonate) or aluminum. Polycarbonate is lighter and cheaper but is more prone to breaking as well as internal fogging. Aluminum is the strongest, most reliable material and can last for years but costs an arm and a leg. Aluminum housings generally offer smoother operation as well thanks to higher-quality design work.
We made the Ikelite our go-to dive camera housing because they’re relatively (big emphasis on relatively) affordable and effective. Being made primarily of polycarbonate though, Ikelites are not the most durable camera housings currently available.
If you want something supremely hardy, that can go deeper and take more of a beating, then we suggest going with Nauticam brand dive housings. Made from strong aluminum housing materials, Nauticam housings are among the best underwater camera housings currently available. They are (no surprise) extremely expensive.
Image / Video Quality:
If you just want to snap a few photos while diving and don’t care about having the best camera for underwater photography, then stick with an easy and inexpensive dive camera. These cameras are very easy to use and provide images that are good enough. You may not have to worry about buying extra lenses or lighting accessories either.
If you wanted to take the best images possible, there are many things to consider. Several factors play a role in image quality and you’ll need to think about each. Most importantly you need to be aware of the sensor, lens selection, and lighting.
Camera sensors play a huge part in how images turn out. Larger sensors generally have greater dynamic range and function better in low light situations, the latter of which is near constant underwater. Lots of mirrorless cameras and DSLRs have full frame sensors but know that they will be heavier and more expensive.
Lenses also influence image quality and directly affect aspects like sharpness, contrast, DOF, and distortion. Choosing the right lens really depends on which camera company you invested in and what’s available from them. The Broke Backpacker has already written guides on the best Canon lenses and Nikon lenses but know that Olympus, Panasonic, and Sony all make excellent lenses as well.
Lighting is very important in underwater photography. Because water absorbs so much light, aquatic scenes are almost always dim and lacking color. To really capture the vibrancy of an underwater subject, you’ll need extra lighting equipment. Extra equipment adds extra weight and costs, of course.
Artificial lights or strobes come in varying outputs and sizes for varying scenes. For macro, you may just need one decent strobe. For wide angle shots, you’ll definitely need two. Underwater videography requires special video lights.
Performance:
You’re going to need a good dive camera that can keep up with you while diving. Depending on what kind of shooter and how demanding you are will determine which dive camera is best for your needs.
Many of the features that are most important to terrestrial photography, like autofocus, burst rate, and battery life, are just as crucial if not more so in underwater photography. Each camera does one of these better or worse and offers its own unique set of performance-related benefits.
The best dive cameras will have very good autofocusing systems. Visibility and contrast will be limited in water, especially when it’s cold and murky, so you’ll need all the help you can get.
Camera speed can be crucial when shooting very fast moving subjects. To capture those elusive sea critters, you’ll need a camera with high burst rates and buffering speeds, just like on dry land.
Battery life is also very important to consider when looking for the best dive camera. If your camera battery dies, you’ll have to take it out of the housing and insert a new one, which can be a tedious process especially if you’re mid-dive and have to resurface.
Your strobes will also need their own batteries, which usually come in the form of AA or AAAs. Depending on how long you’re submerged this may not be a problem but for a full days’ diving expect to change batteries at least once.
Aquatic videographers who need the best underwater camera for video may also find 4k shooting indispensable. As the current industry standard for professional video, 4k is an absolute must for many. Thankfully, many recent cameras come equipped with this tech; it’s just a matter of which ones use it best.
Lens Selection:
Lenses play an enormous role in image quality and greatly influence the nature of your photos. Depending on what kind of underwater photos you want to take and what kind of underwater housing you’re willing to invest in, you’ll have to take lenses largely into consideration.
If you’ve chosen a cheap underwater camera like a compact or point-and-shoot, then lenses play a lesser role. Since compacts come with a built-in lens already, their respective underwater housings should be designed to accommodate them (there are rare exceptions).
Compact cameras offer inferior image quality and sometimes unacceptable FOVs (fields of view) when compared to interchangeable systems. Wide angle photography and macro photography is really the way to go while diving and most compacts only do one or neither of these things well. You can invest in wet lenses, which essentially act as adapters, that add a little extra macro or wide angle capability but these are often underwhelming.
To really have full photographic control, you’ll need a camera that can change lenses. The best dive cameras have excellent wide angle or macro lens options.
Note that when using different lenses with a underwater housing, you’ll need the appropriate lens port. A lens port is, essentially, a separate housing for your lens that varies in size and shape. Since no lens is the same neither physically or optically, each lens port will be unique. Check to see if the port comes with a focus and zoom ring and if you even need these.
Wide angle lens will need a dome-shaped port to avoid vignetting and maintain proper FOV. Macro lenses generally use flat ports. Some larger lenses may need additional extensions as well.
Lens ports are made with glass or acrylic. Glass is more durable but is heavier and more expensive. Acrylic is cheap and light but is prone to scratching.
Budget:
Underwater photography is not a cheap hobby. Between the camera, lenses, and underwater housing, you could easily spend more than $1000, which is not an insignificant amount.
At the end of the day, finding the best dive camera really comes down to how much you’re willing to spend. If you’re a novice or casual hobbyist, you may find that an inexpensive underwater camera is the best thing for you. On that note, you may not even need a strong (and expensive) dive housing as you will not probably not be going anywhere near the limits of say 150 or 200 ft.
If you’re a professional with a more flexible budget, then the sky’s the limit when it comes finding the best underwater camera for photography.
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