Ricoh WG-90 Black 2024

The Ricoh WG-90 is a rugged waterproof compact that's built like a brick and shoots like a budget camera. Build quality is top-tier at the 91st percentile, but the sensor and autofocus are near the bottom. Worth it only if you need the toughness.

The 16MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor puts out decent images in good light, with ISO topping out at 6400. Our database puts the sensor in the 10th percentile for this category, so don't expect miracles in low light. The 5x optical zoom covers 28mm to 140mm equivalent, which is handy for travel. Autofocus is a weak spot at the 35th percentile, and burst shooting sits at the 33rd. Video is 1080p H.264, which lands at the 23rd percentile. The IBIS helps, ranking at the 77th percentile, so handheld shots are steadier than you'd expect from a camera this small. The six macro LEDs around the lens are a genuinely neat trick for close-up work, and the Digital Microscope mode is fun if you like shooting tiny things.

Stacked against the Panasonic G9 II, Fujifilm X-S20, or Sony a6600, the WG-90 looks like a toy in terms of image quality and features. Those cameras have bigger sensors, better autofocus, and 4K video. But none of them can go underwater without a housing, and none of them will shrug off a drop onto concrete. The Olympus E-M1 Mark III is the closest in spirit, with weather sealing, but it's still not rated for 14 meters underwater. The WG-90 isn't competing on specs, it's competing on survival.

At $377 USD, the WG-90 is priced like a niche tool, not a general-purpose camera. You're paying for the rugged build, which ranks at the 91st percentile, and the underwater modes. If you need a camera that can survive a beach trip, a snorkel, or a clumsy kid, that's worth something. But if you don't need the toughness, you can get better image quality for less money elsewhere.

The Ricoh WG-90 is a tough little camera that doesn't care if you drop it, dunk it, or take it out in a snowstorm. It's waterproof to 14 meters, shockproof from 1.6 meters, and freeze-proof down to -10°C. That's the whole pitch, and for the right person, it's a good one. The 16MP sensor and 5x zoom won't blow anyone away, but they get the job done when you're more worried about the camera surviving than pixel-peeping.

Skip this if you care about image quality, autofocus speed, or video resolution. The sensor is near the bottom of our database, and 1080p video with mediocre autofocus won't satisfy anyone shooting in low light or trying to capture fast action. If you're not planning to submerge it or drop it, a used mirrorless or even a good phone will serve you better.

Buy this if you need a camera that can take a beating and keep shooting. Snorkelers, kayakers, construction site documenters, parents of destructive children. It's not a great camera by normal standards, but it's a great tough camera. If you're not going to get it wet or drop it, buy something else.