Waterproof cameras

Very much in line with the research I did before buying the Lumix. No tough camera will have fantastic image quality because the internal focussing and zooming lens is hidden behind a glass protection lens.
However, as they say the Lumix image is the best of the top 3. The low-light capability "problem" makes me wonder about these testers. In real-life you take shots when the light is pretty good. If you take shots in poor light you are not expecting a masterpiece.
The Olympus is the only one with a faster lens at wide angle. If you take tele shots in the dark you are not going to get a decent picture. The Nikon camera actually has a slower wide angle than the Panasonic.
Although I use Nikon DSLRs I wouldn't buy another Nikon compact. I had two pack up on me.
 
Very interesting to see the current crop of tough cameras. As I do a lot of stuff the cameras usually don't like (mostly involving water, cold, and opportunities to get smashed up a bit) I made the step across into tough cameras a few years ago with one of the Olympus mju series - the forerunner to the current series of Olympus tough cameras. The only problem I have with it is that I need an adapter to use the xD card that it uses with my laptop... Small price to pay for an excellent piece of kit, and I see they've now joined everyone else with SD cards. My Olympus has taken a beating (breaking a patio slab on its first outing after I accidentally threw it half way across the garden) and coping brilliantly with skiing temperatures and being dropped in water (including sea water) and a few drinks along the way. Nice picture quality, excellent macro function for a compact too. I'd highly recommend that one, so can only imagine that the latest incarnation is equally as good, if not better.
 
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