Olympus Stylus TG-3
Sensor: 16.1MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS | Lens: 4x optical zoom (25-100mm equivalent) | Screen: 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD | Continuous shooting: 5fps (25 frames) | Video: 1080p HD
Most rugged cameras sound pretty tough on paper, but few can match the TG-3's exceptional build quality and confidence-inspiring rugged feel. It'll survive drops from 2.1 metres, a -10° freeze, 100kg of crushing force and 15-metre deep underwater excursions. That's not quite the deepest waterproof rating in the class, but otherwise the TG-3 is built to survive pretty much anything you could throw at it, literally.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT5
Sensor: 16.1MP 1/2.33-inch MOS | Lens: 4.6x optical zoom (28-128mm equivalent) | Screen: 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD | Continuous shooting: 10fps (7 frames) | Video: 1080p HD
Panasonic's Lumix FT5 may be getting a bit long in the tooth now, but it can still cut it against the best of today's waterproof compacts.
Image capture is taken care of by a 16.1MP sensor that manages to avoid smudging fine detail to the extent of some rival cameras and maintains impressively clarity as high as ISO1600 sensitivity.
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
Sensor: 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor | Lens: 4x optical zoom (25-100mm equivalent) | Screen: 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD | Continuous shooting: 1.5fps (60 frames) | Video: 1080p HD video
The Ricoh WG-4 GPS is built to shrug off plenty of abuse. It exudes toughness and will survive a 14-metre-deep dunk in the drink, a two-metre drop and -10° temperatures, plus it's crushproof to 100kg.
Inside this armoured exterior the 16.0-megapixel sensor delivers image quality that's easily a match for any rival camera at ISO400 and below. Colour speckling at higher sensor sensitivities and above-average chromatic aberration just prevent the WG-4 from producing the highest overall image quality of the current crop of tough compact cameras.
Nikon Coolpix AW120
Sensor: 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS | Lens: 5x optical zoom (24-120mm equivalent) | Screen: 3-inch, 921k-dot OLED | Continuous shooting: 6.9fps (5 frames) | Video: 1080p HD
Features are the AW120's forte, as it comes fully-loaded with a terrific GPS system, interactive world map and Wi-Fi connectivity, plus an altimeter and underwater depth gauge. It'll keep up with the action too, thanks to a fast 6.9fps burst shooting mode, full HD video capture and a respectable 350-shot battery life.
There's plenty to like on the outside too, as the AW120 offers a high resolution, 921k-dot OLED monitor. An equally-impressive 18-metre waterproof rating gives the camera plenty of diving ability and it'll keep shooting in a -10° cold snap or after a two-metre drop. Useful, as the smooth front panel doesn't offer much grip.
Canon PowerShot D30
Sensor: 12.1MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS | Lens: 5x optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent) | Screen: 3-inch 461k-dot LCD | Continuous shooting: 1.9fps | Video: 1080p HD
The PowerShot D30 will let you dive deeper than any of its rivals as its 25-metre depth rating is leagues ahead of the competition. The rest of its toughness specs are more average though and unlike the Olympus TG-3, Panasonic FT5 and Ricoh WG-4, the D30 doesn't have a crushproof rating.
A fresh case design featuring oversized controls makes the camera exceptionally easy to operate, even when underwater or while wearing gloves. The 3.0" LCD monitor is also one of the brightest of the bunch.