Any smartphone worth its salt includes a camera, and we’ll be the first to admit that many of them are snazzy. However, there are situations in which you want to avoid damage to your phone and take pictures with an honest-to-goodness camera. And if you’re feeling adventurous and want to take a few snaps on the ski slopes or during your next scuba diving session, using your phone to take pictures can become a dangerous proposition.
So, for those who enjoy the convenience (and safety) of a rugged digital camera, our pick is Kodak’s PixPro WPS2 Digital Camera. Small enough to fit in a jacket pocket and tough enough to be used in all conditions and environments, this is a camera made to take a licking while taking excellent pictures every time.
Kodak PixPro WPZ22 Camera, $142
You’ll immediately be struck by the PixPro’s rugged plastic shell, and its design lives up to that first impression. It’s waterproof up to depths of 49 feet, shockproof for drops up to six feet, and it’s dustproof, making it great for days on the beach or in the desert. As a camera, the PixPro’s not too shabby, either; it can capture 16-megapixel photos as well as 1080p HD video, and its digital image stabilization comes in handy when you’re taking action shots.
The camera fits well in the hand, and the shutter release button on top is big and easy to find, which comes in handy if you’re taking pictures underwater or while skiing down a hill. The camera saves videos and photos on microSD cards, so it’s easy to stock up on extra cards for unlimited capacity. (We’re partial to these PNY’s microSD cards.) And at under half a pound in weight and just over 4 inches long, this camera can be stowed in a backpack or pocket or even clipped to your belt, so it won’t slow you down when you’re on the move.
But the proof is in the pudding, as they say. The Kodak PixPro’s picture quality is high for a camera at its price point, with faithful color reproduction and crisp images. Its lithium battery can give you up to 200 photos or 70 minutes of video on a single charge, which is plenty of juice for a day’s worth of photo-taking adventures. And even though it’s a standalone camera, it can also connect with your phone via Wi-Fi for immediate access, downloading and sharing of your images.
The reviewers at Tom’s Guide give the Kodak PixPro WS2 a thumbs-up as the kind of rugged camera that can handle all adventures, and Amazon users also praise its solid performance, even when dunked in water. So, if you’re looking for an alternative to your phone camera that isn’t as expensive as other sports cameras yet still takes good photos, we recommend the PixPro as that one camera that won’t let you down!
