Nikon’s Waterproof Camera Options: Choosing The Best Model for You

No matter if you’re embarking on a one-of-a-kind vacation or if you live every day adventurously, having a great camera by your side makes the difference between capturing those moments to share and letting them slip away forever. From water-bound excursions at the shore or pool to exhilarating mountain biking or hiking, your phone’s camera or a standard-issue digital camera just may not cut it. Investing in a waterproof camera ensures that every mesmerizing minute, both above and below the water, can be snapped to enjoy later without worry of destroying your equipment. In this review, we’ll focus on the top three Nikon waterproof camera options currently available and help you decide if one of them would be a good fit for you.

It’s no wonder that many turn to Nikon and trust them to capture life’s most precious and breathtaking moments. Founded in 1917 in Tokyo, the company has a long history of leading the market in producing imaging and optical equipment. They released their first camera under the Nikon brand in 1948. It’s truly impressive how far cameras have come when comparing earlier models to today’s technological wonders.

All the Nikon camera models that we cover in this review are waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof, and several are also dustproof, making capturing the perfect photograph possible in nearly any location or condition. The aim of this review is to determine if one of these Nikon cameras would be better suited to fit your needs over others. Of the three featured, you’ll find ones that withstand the elements and allow you to capture underwater moments without breaking the bank, as well as a pricier model well-suited for those moving beyond basic photography. Compare them below and determine if a Nikon waterproof camera will be your next travel buddy.

Nikon COOLPIX W100 Waterpro​​of Compact Digital Camera

Most simply, the COOLPIX W100 is perfect for you if you consider yourself an adventurer who wants to capture every exciting memory without blowing your budget. This model is easy to use, making it a great option for young or beginner photographers, or anyone who just wants to pick up a camera and begin shooting. The W100 is up to handling most casual adventures and vacations, whether that means you’re hitting the pool, the surf or the slopes. The camera is waterproof up to 33 feet and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ease of sharing is what has often kept us reaching for our phones to take a quick snap, rather than old-school digital cameras that required downloading to another computer or device. If you haven’t shopped for a camera in recent years, you’ll be happy to learn that many current models make sharing directly from the camera or from a downloadable app a cinch. The W100 utilizes SnapBridge, an app that you download to your compatible smart device so that all your photos automatically transfer for easy and immediate sharing.

The biggest pro for the W100 is that it provides a ruggedness that can withstand some harsher elements while capturing shots underwater at a great, affordable price point. On the flipside, the largest con cited by users of the camera is that with that lower price comes lower-quality images. Many who have used it say it doesn’t produce images that look much better than cell phone-quality photos. If it’s high-quality images that you’re seeking, or your excursions often lead you to more extreme conditions, then shelling out more money for a tougher, more durable camera with added features may be a good idea.

Price and Purchase

Nikon lists the price of the COOLPIX W100 at $​, while it was being sold on Amazon for $​ at the time of this review.

Nikon COOLPIX W300 Compact Digital Camera

If your idea of play involves getting a little dirty or diving deep, the COOLPIX W300 may become your best new adventuring friend. While the previously mentioned COOLPIX W100 is a perfectly acceptable choice for snorkeling, underwater pool adventures and any other water-related fun that doesn’t take you deeper than 33 feet below the water’s surface, the W300 steps up its game to allow for picture-taking even while SCUBA diving. In fact, the COOLPIX W300 remains waterproof at a depth of up to 100 feet. Like Nikon’s W100, the W300 model is also shockproof, but the height at which it can survive a drop is increased to 7.9 feet.

If you love shooting video as much as you do photos, then you may want to give the W300 serious consideration over its W100 counterpart. While the COOLPIX W100 captures video in full HD, the W300 also offers the option of recording in 4K Ultra HD. Added video-making features also give you the ability to create time-lapse and superlapse movies, which are perfect for sharing. The seemingly largest drawback to choosing the W300 camera is that owners note it struggles with taking clear photos in low-light settings.

Price and Purchase

The listed price on Nikon’s website is $​$, while the price on Amazon was $$ at the time that this review was compiled.

Nikon 1 AW1

If capturing life through videos and high-quality photos is your thing, then the Nikon 1 AW1 is worth a look. While it maintains ease of use thanks to its Simple Graphic User Interface, this Nikon waterproof camera is a more advanced device over the two previous models covered in our review. Photographers beyond a beginner level will enjoy the ability to utilize changeable lenses. The camera is compatible with two different waterproof lenses, one of which is included with the device, as well as with the wide range of other 1 NIKKOR lenses, making the bounds of your creativity nearly endless.

Like the aforementioned models, the Nikon 1 AW1 provides the ability to shoot Full HD video, is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and is also waterproof (up to 49 feet), shockproof (from a drop of 6.6 feet) and freezeproof (to 14 degrees Fahrenheit). What makes this model stand apart from the rest is Nikon’s boast that the camera comes equipped with a continuous shooting frame rate of approximately 15 frames per second, which would make it one of the world’s fastest.

We found a couple of obvious drawbacks to the AW1 while conducting our camera research. The first is that unlike the two COOLPIX models we reviewed, the AW1 isn’t dustproof. This isn’t incredibly surprising, as we can see how it would be difficult to claim that dust and sand can’t infiltrate the camera when you can remove and change out lenses. With that being said, if you plan on frequently having the camera in and around sand, you may want to opt for a different model. When perusing owner reviews, we also came across several stating that users experienced issues with the lens fogging both on land and in water after using the device underwater, making the camera virtually unusable for a period of time. We advise that you take into consideration where and how you will be using your camera before plopping down $800 on one.

Price and Purchase

The Nikon 1 AW1 was listed for sale on both Nikon’s website and on Amazon for $​$$ at the time that this review was written.

If you’ve done any other research on waterproof cameras outside of our comparison, you’ve likely noticed that there are several popular models that consistently pop-up on multiple top-rated lists. The Olympus Tough TG-5 is definitely one of them. With its features and price point, the Tough TG-5 becomes a direct competitor to Nikon’s COOLPIX W300. Like most of Nikon’s waterproof camera offerings, the TG-5 is waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof. The TG-5 gains some extra protection and ruggedness, thanks to also being crushproof.

While both this Olympus model and Nikon’s W300 boast similar features and protections, Nikon’s camera gains the upper hand for having higher thresholds. The TG-5 is only waterproof to 50 feet, while the W300 allows you to travel up to 100 feet underwater. While both cameras are neck and neck when it comes to their shockproof ratings, the W300 comes out just ahead with its ability to survive a 7.9-foot fall. The TG-5 should continue functioning after falls from up to seven feet. Both cameras are freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The Olympus camera gains a bit of extra ruggedness and durability thanks to being crushproof up to 220 pounds.

Another popular comparable camera is the Fujifilm Fine Pix XP120. This model’s price point and listed features put it in direct competition with Nikon’s COOLPIX W100 camera. With a listed price of $135.35 on Amazon at the time of our review, the XP120 comes in a little over $20.00 less than the W100, making it the least expensive option included in this write-up. If you plan on taking underwater photos, Fujifilm’s camera is waterproof up to 65 feet, making it useable to nearly double the depth that Nikon’s similar camera can reach. Both cameras are shockproof from falls of nearly the same height and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

The biggest disappointment to current owners of the Fine Pix XP120 is that while land photos turn out crisp and clear, underwater images can sometimes be blurry and unfocused. Nikon’s W100 is not immune to this issue, as this seems to be a common theme with waterproof camera offerings at this low of a price point. When comparing these two lower-priced models, both are particularly great inexpensive options for young or beginner photographers. The slightly lower price of the Fujifilm camera certainly makes it an attractive pick, and with a higher depth for underwater photography, it’s most definitely worth your consideration as you choose a camera to capture your next vacation or adventure.

We recommend the COOLPIX W100 if you want to capture shots above, below and near water with a camera that can endure more abuse than a smartphone. Priced below $160.00, this model is a great choice for you so long as you don’t expect to capture professional-level photos. We give the W100 a four-star rating. If you need a camera that can come along on SCUBA adventures or are looking forward to taking high-quality video, then you may want to opt for the COOLPIX W300. It may come with a higher price tag, but the ability it gives you to dive deeper, take higher-quality photos and shoot 4K Ultra HD video makes it worth it if these features are important to you. We give the W300 a 4.5-star rating.

If you find yourself struggling to choose a new camera to see you through both everyday moments and that next great vacation, we feel confident in saying that there’s a Nikon waterproof camera to fulfill your needs.