Ricoh has the camera to reach for on your next adventure. The company has introduced three new rugged cameras that include the WG-4 GPS, WG-4 and WG-20 – all of which will work with a new action-oriented mounting system. These actually build on the Pentax WG line, which makes sense as Ricoh bought the Japanese camera maker in 2011. The Ricoh name will now be used for compact cameras such as these.
The camera lineup includes the WG-4 and WG-4 GPS, each of which feature a 16megapixel CMOS sensor and sensor shift shake reduction. Each can shoot Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, and both are waterproof to 45 feet, shock resistant to just over six feet, and are crushproof to 220 pounds. These are even ideal winter sports cameras as they can endure temperatures to 14 degrees F! The WG-4/WG-4 GPS features a three inch LCD display, and offer a ring of six LED marco lights as well as traditional flash. The WG-4 GPS includes a GPS unit (obviously enough) to record position data and a travel log data.
The WG-20 has many of the features of the above models, but is meant as the introductory version. It is waterproof to 33 feet, shock resistant to five feet, but still crushproof to 220 pounds and can endure up to 14 degrees F. It is smaller than the WG-4 and can shoot HD video at 720p at 30 fps. It features a 14megapixel CCD sensor and has a 2.7 inch LCD screen.
All three cameras are also compatible with Ricoh’s new mounting systems that includes a handlebar mount, suction cup mount and adhesive mount. Mount up and reach for one of these Ricoh cameras.
Fujifilm has introduced its latest line of Wi-Fi cameras and these include the FinePix XP200, a rugged model that is waterproof to a depth of 15meters (50 feet), shockproof to a drop of two meters, is dustproof and can operate in low temperatures to 14 degrees F.
We’ve seen many cameras that can endure the wilds, including some new DSLRs. But a little bit of humidity can still ruin a camera. So if you’re bringing that SLR to the jungles, or just outside on a humid day, have a BRNO Dri+Cap at the ready.
As Homer Simpson might say, “mmmm, donuts.” But then we’d tell him that the Dust Donut isn’t meant to be eaten, even by a fictional cartoon character. Rather this is a way to help create a weatherproof seal for any DSLR lens.
We certainly love the idea of a rugged camera for those times when we head off the beaten path. But we miss the functionality our SLR gives us. We’ve seen a few attempts to provide an SLR that can go rugged, but until now we haven’t really believed it.
There are many rugged cameras that can do the underwater thing, but only a few SLR cameras that can get anywhere near the wet stuff. However, Nauticam has released a new housing for the Panasonic DMC-GX-1 camera. The NA-GX1offers an ergonomic grip that is sculpted into the housing, and ports for the various lenses that can be used underwater including Lumix 14-42mm kit lens, the Lumix G Fisheye 8mm, Lumix 7-14mm, and the Panasonic Leica 45mm macro lens.
