You’re buying a waterproof digital camera, I hear? And you want the best of the best? Well, you’re in luck because I have just the guide to narrow things down for you!

It’s set up in table form to make comparisons easy. The 6 Key Features included in the table have been chosen because they have the most impact on the quality of your images. Here is a quick explanation of these features:

1. An aperture dictates how large or small an opening the camera allows for light to come in. Think of this as the eye’s iris. Smaller numbers indicate a large opening, and vice versa.
2. A shutter limits the light coming in by “cutting it off” as an eyelid would with the light entering the eye. A high shutter speed lets less light in; a low one lets in more. A high speed is needed for action shots.
3. The ISO indicates how sensitive the image sensor is to the light present— the higher the number the more sensitive the sensor. This is perfect for shooting low-light scenes, but the trade-off for this is that it also captures more noise (the graininess in photos that is not to be mistaken for pixelation).
4. Optical Zoom (not to be mistaken for Digital Zoom) refers to the ability of your camera’s lens to physically extend and magnify your subject.
5. Effective Sensor Resolution indicates the number of pixels embedded in each image. The higher the number, the better. This number affects the quality of prints (higher equals better) and the amount of cropping you can do during post-processing.

The Canon PowerShot D10, Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP, and Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 face-off:

GUIDE. GREEN: the best among the 3 models; YELLOW: both share the top spot;

The Facts, Translated:

The Canon PowerShot D10 is the latest model of the three, but at £163 it is not the most expensive. It is bulkier in size, and heavier in weight, but its more advanced aperture and shutter features should result to more decent photos. While the effective sensor resolution (the largest among the 3 at 12.1 megapixels) should result to better prints.

The Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP, from the look alone, is obviously targeted for teens. The same can be said for the price, which, at £80, is half the price of the other 2 models. Its underwater depth is just 10 feet, 3 times shallower than the other 2 models, and the minimum operating temperature (32°F) is nothing compared to the other 2 models’ 14°F limit— and it’s not shockproof. At 4.6 oz, it’s the lightest among the 3, setting the bar for ultracompact waterproof digital cameras.

The Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 offers the farthest zoom span among the 3, though the difference is relative. It is the most expensive (among the 3) but the PowerShot is not far off, with just a £3 knockdown. Depth reach and temperature range is as far as the Powershot’s, and the effective sensor resolution (12.0mp) is definitely not far from Canon’s 12.1mp. But of course you didn’t need me to say that.

The Final Verdict

Looking at these facts, it’s safe to say that the Canon PowerShot D10 is the best bet among the 3 (and these are the best among all the waterproof cameras in the market). The PowerShot is like the better version of the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000, which came out 3 months after the Stylus was released. It may not be as cheap or as light as the Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP, but the quality is definitely better.

So if you’re all for quality, go for the Canon PowerShot D10. For a limited budget, go for the Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP.

Check more best digital cameras here.