At one point, springing for a camera that could survive a smash or two meant sacrificing, you know, actually getting a decent camera. Not so anymore! Panasonic’s 12.1MP TS3 is thoroughly rugged and does geotagging and 1080p video.
If a rugged cam is only as good as the places you can mount it, then the X170 Action Camera, which can be strapped to heads, latched to handlebars and Velcroed just about anywhere else, must be pretty damn good.
The W90 is Pentax’s solid successor to the W80. It’s got a new strap, LEDs around the lens for close illumination and is slightly more resistant, rated to 6m of water and 1.2m drops.
Rugged cameras aren’t just for mountain climbers; Panasonic’s excellent-looking TS2 point-and-shoot would be a good choice for sedentary folks like myself who simply drop shit all the time. It also features HD video recording and, no lie, a “happy mode”.
