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Olympus’ TG-5 rugged camera has 4K video in a compact body
With summer season just around the corner, now is the perfect time for new rugged cameras to start popping up. And what do you know, Olympus has introduced the Tough TG-5, a point-and-shoot with a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor (1/2.3-inch), 25-100mm f/2.0 wide-angle lens (35mm equivalent), 4x optical zoom, 12,800 max ISO and the latest TruePic VIII image processor. If you're looking to record your adventures, you can do so in 4K at 25 and 30fps, or 1080p at 25, 30, 50, 60 and 120fps (slow-motion videos, anyone?). Naturally, since this is a rugged camera after all, the TG-5 is waterproof (50ft), crushproof, dustproof and freezeproof. You'll also get built-in GPS, RAW+JPEG shooting, a 3-inch LCD and WiFi, which makes it easy for you to transfer your images to a smartphone. The Tough TG-5 is hitting stores in June for $450, while an underwater case for extra protection (147ft) will be sold separately for $300.
Fujifilm's FinePix XP120 is a sporty, rugged point-and-shoot
Unlike Nikon and Panasonic, Fujifilm isn't making any major announcements at this year's CES. That said, the company is introducing a camera here in Las Vegas: the FinePix XP120, the latest member of its rugged point-and-shoot series. Naturally, the main highlights here are that it's waterproof (up to 65 feet) and shockproof to 5.8 feet, as well as dustproof and freezeproof. In addition, the XP120 sports a decent 16.4-megapixel CMOS sensor, 3-inch LCD and 1080p recording at 60fps. These specs won't blow anyone's mind, but the $230 camera could appeal to at least a few outdoor buffs when it launches in February.
Kyocera's DuraForce Pro is a smartphone and action cam in one
If you film motorcycle ice racing or open pit mines, a regular smartphone may be a bit dainty. Kyocera's newest model, the DuraForce Pro, is up for the job, though. It's a ruggedized, 5-inch phone packing a special action camera that shoots Full HD with a wide-angle field-of-view. The device lives up to its assertive name with an IP6X dustproof case, underwater mode (two meters for up to 30 minutes) and military specs for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, solar radiation and ... well, you get the idea.
Leica's X-U is the most stylish ruggedized camera you'll find
Leica has revealed its first ever outdoor and underwater camera, the X-U (Typ 113). As we're accustomed to with the German manufacturer, this new shooter doesn't leave much to be desired in terms of industrial design -- it's compact and super sleek, especially when compared to other ruggedized cameras out there. But what's most important here are the X-U's dustproof (sealed body), shockproof and waterproof attributes, which allow it to be submerged up to 49 feet without any consequences.
Fujifilm reveals the FinePix XP90, a durable point-and-shoot
Fujifilm couldn't let Olympus, which introduced the TG-870 at CES 2016, have all the fun in the multi-purpose camera space. As such, Fuji has introduced the FinePix XP90, its new rugged point-and-shoot with waterproof (50ft), shockproof (about 6ft), freezeproof (14 degrees Fahrenheit) and dustproof capabilities. Compared to the XP80, Fujifilm's XP90 hasn't changed much, featuring the same 16.4-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom and 28mm wide-angle lens.
The Olympus Stylus TG-870 is a ruggedized compact camera
The Nikon D5 is, without a doubt, the biggest camera announcement from CES 2016—so far, at least. But if that beastly DSLR is a little too much for you, maybe you'll be interested in what Olympus has to offer. Today, the camera manufacturer introduced the Stylus TG-870, a small rugged shooter with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, an ultra-wide-angle lens (21–105mm), 5x optical zoom, GPS, WiFi and 1080p video at 60 fps.
Olympus expands its rugged camera line with the Stylus TG-860
There's no doubt that the E-M5 II is Olympus' big reveal of the night. Still, there are people out there who are just looking for something simple, like an all-terrain digital camera. Here's where the newly announced Stylus Tough TG-860 hopes to come in. While this compact shooter won't blow anyone away with the internal features it boasts, interested parties would likely care more about its ruggedized features than anything else.
Olympus Stylus TG-3: a ruggedized camera that doesn't suck
In the past, opting for a ruggedized camera has required some serious sacrifices. Whether that's meant comically large housings or mediocre performance, you couldn't get a fantastic point-and-shoot camera that you could also safely take on the slopes, the back of a motorcycle or on SCUBA dives. This year's Olympus Stylus Tough is the first such model I've seen that's worthy of your 350 bucks. A fast lens, speedy focusing and solid image quality make the TG-3 a great option even if you only plan to document your backyard rose garden or a child's first steps, but it'll also handle much more sophisticated shooting situations with ease.
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-3 ships with WiFi and f/2 lens for $350, dead fish sold separately
We question Olympus' decision to photograph its latest ruggedized cam next to a dead fish, then send that image out to reporters. But puzzling marketing practices aside, this is one impressive point-and-shoot. The Stylus TG-3 hails from the company's Tough line, which means it's waterproof (to 50 feet), freeze-proof (to 14°F), shockproof (from seven-foot drops) and crushproof (to 220 pounds). Unlike many other ruggedized cams, however, the TG-3 is equally impressive when it comes to traditional capabilities. There's a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, an f/2-4.9, 25-100mm optical zoom lens, a 3-inch 460k-dot LCD, 1080p video, GPS and WiFi. A new microscope mode lets you snap macro shots just 10mm from your subject and a ring light accessory (perhaps our favorite feature) mounts atop the camera's built-in LED to provide even light with small subjects positioned just in front of the lens. The TG-3's expected to ship this June for $350 in black and red.
Panasonic's latest Toughpad has the strength, thickness of 10 smartphones (hands-on)
Panasonic may have bowed out of the consumer smartphone game, but gadgets for businesses are a completely different story. That's why the Japanese company came to Mobile World Congress with a new pair of rugged Toughpad smartphones in tow. You can't mistake them, despite their identical looks, because one runs Android 4.2.2 and the other has Windows Embedded 8 Handheld -- and we just got a chance to see what they're made of.
Quechua's new smartphone aims to tag along on your next wild adventure
Even though it is a pretty populated world already, Quechua wasn't going to let that interrupt the (rugged) vision for a smartphone of its own. The company, which is known for selling mountain sports gear and equipment, has partnered with Archos to introduce the Quechua Phone, a 5-inch handset with Android 4.1. Aside from packing ruggedized traits such as IP54 certification, Quechua's Phone also features a Qualcomm 1.2GHz, quad-core chip, 1GB RAM, 4GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD), a 5-megapixel rear camera and one rather beefy 3,500mAh battery. Other details like the screen's total pixel count or when/where it'll be up for grabs are still mum -- but we do know the Quechua Phone will be priced at €230 (around $310) once it eventually becomes available.
Garmin Tactix ruggedized GPS watch lets you play Navy SEAL for $450
Garmin's gone after swimmers, runners, pilots and golfers with its specialty watch lineup, and now battlefield-trained agents are getting some attention from the global GPS giant as well. The company's latest wrist-mounted machine is dubbed Tactix, and as you may have guessed from the design, it was "inspired by the requirements of law enforcement and police special operations." There's an altimeter, barometer and a 3-axis compass. US devices come preloaded with tide data (for amphibious wearers) and all watches include Jumpmaster software (for airborne use). It's waterproof to 50 meters, has a night-vision-friendly green backlight and can track GPS coordinates for up to 50 hours on a single charge. It also functions as a boring ole wristwatch, with timer, stopwatch, world clock and alarm functionality. The Garmin Tactix, which ships in matte black, is expected in stores later this year for $450.
Nikon's AW1 is the world's first waterproof interchangeable-lens digital camera (hands-on)
Have any interest in bringing an interchangeable-lens camera along on your next snorkeling adventure? You could pick up a pricey DSLR housing, sure, but you might want to consider Nikon's new 1-Series AW1, the first digital device of its kind to score an integrated waterproof enclosure. An O-ring combines with a regular bayonet lens fitting to create a reassuringly tough seal that will survive down to a depth of 49 feet, at the expense of requiring just a little bit more time and physical effort to swap lenses. You'll need to re-surface before attempting that, of course, and you'll also have to make sure you're using one of just two waterproof pieces of glass: either a 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6, which comes as part of the kit, or a wide 10mm f/2.8 lens that is sold separately. Regular 1-series lenses will still fit on the AW1, courtesy of a little accessory, but they won't offer any of the ruggedness of the dedicated pair -- which means you'll miss out on the water-proofing, dust-proofing, freeze-proofing (to 14-degrees Fahrenheit) and shock-proofing (from a maximum drop of 6.6 feet). Internally, the AW1 is similar to the CES-era J3. There's the same 14.2-megapixel CX-format sensor and 6400 top ISO, along with 1080p video capture, but the new model adds thrill-seeker essentials like an altimeter, depth gauge, GPS, compass and an accelerometer-powered option for switching modes with one hand. Finally, at risks of startling the little fishes, there's also pop-up flash that works underwater. All this will set you back $800 with the 11-27.5mm lens, when the AW1 ships next month, while the 10mm f/2.8 will be $200 more. Oh, and check out the hands-on video after the break to see how the AW1 fares in our own, hastily compiled durability test. Update: As some particularly knowledgeable readers have spotted, the AW1 is the first digital waterproof ILC, but not the first if you count the celluloid Nikonos series. Thanks guys -- the post has been tweaked. Sharif Sakr contributed to this report.
Garmin prepares for battle with sensor-packed VIRB action cam (hands-on)
There are more than enough action cams on the market, but that's not stopping Garmin from jumping head first into that saturated space. The GPS maker hopes to bring something fresh to the table with its $299 VIRB and $399 VIRB Elite, a pair of ruggedized camcorders that do more than simply snap footage from within a clear protective shell. Both models can shoot 1080p clips at 30fps and 16-megapixel still photos (while recording video) for up to three consecutive hours with one 2,000mAh cell, but they offer a variety of features that some competitors can't match, including a low-power 1.4-inch transflective LCD for navigating menus and previewing footage, optional (digital) IS and the ability to sync up with a variety of other Garmin devices through ANT+. That last feature is perhaps the most compelling here -- VIRB's ANT+ chip lets you add on accessories like a heart rate monitor while also pairing with the company's Fenix watch, logging GPS coordinates and other stats with each captured clip. The pricier Elite flavor brings positioning sensors on board, however, along with an altimeter and WiFi, which you can use to connect the cam to a dedicated Android or iOS app. That software component lets you see a live preview and control basic settings (video start/stop and still image capture) remotely -- eventually, you'll be able to send content from the device to your phone or tablet, though that functionality isn't included just yet. A tiny remote will also be available as an add-on, should you opt to leave your smartphone at home. It's easy enough to operate the water-resistant camera without a remote though, even with it mounted on your helmet or attached to a surf board. A large sliding record button lets you power up and start shooting video right away, even when the camera's turned off. There's no built-in storage, but you can slide in your own microSD card under the battery. The Garmin VIRB ships next month for $299, while its Elite counter part will ship around the same time for $399. Check out that base model, along with some of the many optional straps and mounts, in our hands-on photos just below.
Hands-on with the NEC Terrain: the company's first US phone in eight years
Let's face it: no rugged phone is going to get more attention today than the Galaxy S4 Active. Just the same, NEC is showing off the Terrain, its first handset for the US market since 2005. The phone, which is hitting AT&T for $99 with a two-year agreement, is mainly aimed at the enterprise (read: field technicians and other mobile workers). Since it's unlikely to reach mainstream consumers, we won't be running a full-on review, but we did take the opportunity to get hands-on. As you'd expect of a device that can be immersed in water up to 30 minutes, this thing's coated in rubber, with a sealed USB port and a secure (but removable) battery cover. It's a bit chunky for a phone, to be sure, but at 6.06 ounces it's still eminently portable. In fact, the rounded edges and soft finish make it more comfortable to hold than some of the more minimal handsets we've seen recently. Other than that, you'll be pleased to find an unskinned version of Android, though it's 4.0 and not a newer build like 4.2. The capacitive screen responds well to taps and swipes, though the 640 x 480 resolution isn't going to knock anyone'e socks off -- and neither will the washed-out colors. Performance-wise, the dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 8960 processor means transitions happen quickly, and there isn't any tiling in the Chrome browser. We also got on well with the QWERTY keyboard, though the buttons are packed in quite tightly. And that's a good thing: it's slim pickings for anyone who wants a portrait QWERTY Android phone. Finishing up our tour, you'll find a microSD slot (to support the 8GB of built-in storage), dedicated speaker and push-to-talk buttons and dual 5MP / 0.3MP cameras, with an NFC radio under the hood. It'll be available tomorrow on AT&T's LTE network, through the carrier's business channel, specifically. Check out the hands-on photos below -- we even got a requisite shot of it in a fish tank.%Gallery-192003% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
AT&T NEC Terrain official: 3.1-inch screen, PTT, QWERTY keyboard and ICS for $100
We knew it was coming, but AT&T has now officially announced the NEC Terrain. Set to become available on the same day as BlackBerry's physical QWERTY-packing handset, the LTE-ready Terrain boasts a "high-resolution" 3.1-inch display, a decent 1.5GHz, dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU and 8GB of built-in storage which can reach up to 32GB via microSD -- all while running a not-so-fresh version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. Given that NEC designed it with the business folk in mind, this little ruggedized (MIL-810G) smartphone also offers on-device encryption for VPN access and compatibility with AT&T's Enhanced Push-to-Talk services, which the company says makes for the perfect blend of "the necessary features needed for work and personal use." As stated earlier, the NEC Terrain will be hitting shelves on June 21st, carrying a $99.99 price tag with the accustomed two-year deal on the Rethink Possible carrier.
LaCie XtremKey USB 3.0: the flash drive you want for the zombie apocalypse
USB flash drives are usually a yawner, something that is more of a giveaway item (at least to the press) at trade shows than something that deserves a blogger's attention. However, LaCie has introduced the XtremKey USB 3.0 flash drive in 32 GB (US$84.99) and 64 GB ($139.99) versions, and it's definitely worth your time to read about this ruggedized flash drive. Design and Functionality The XtremKey can handle just about anything you throw at it. In the video embedded at the bottom of this post, LaCie puts one to the test in a deep-fat fryer (along with some tasty sweet potato fries!), dipped in a bottle of liquid nitrogen, immersed in burning alcohol, placed under a steamroller on asphalt, and hacked with a machete. If it can put up with this and still keep your data safe with AES 256-bit encryption, it's definitely going to survive a ride in your pocket with your keys. You can take the XtremKey scuba diving down to 200 meters (656 feet), and it's designed to take a 10 meter (32.8 feet) drop without a problem. The XtremKey gets its stark good looks from French designer Constance Guisset, who placed the brains of the flash drive inside a steel truncated cone with a threaded and o-ring sealed opening on one end. At the top of the cone is a hole for a key ring, and the rest of the device is unadorned except for some markings on the slightly rounded bottom end. Note: if you don't like things to move on your desk, you're probably going to dislike what Guisset did here -- when you place the XtremKey in an upright position, it wobbles a bit and finally settles down. To quote LaCie, "While it's standing on its end, its equilibrium is fragile and awkward. It dances on the tables and always finds a non-straight position." %Gallery-190348% Of course, a flash drive is only as good as the speed and storage that it provides. Upon connecting it to my MacBook Pro, the XtremKey initially didn't show up, so I popped into Disk Utility and formatted it. At that point it mounted properly, and I was able to test the read/write speeds using AJA System Test. The average write speed over a number of tests was 83.3 MB/s, while the read speed was a blindingly fast 194.1 MB/s. That's the fastest USB 3.0 drive read speed we've benchmarked, although the write speeds are about half of those of a Seagate USB 3.0 drive we tested last year. LaCie provides some free software downloads with the purchase of an XtremKey. First, you get a free 32 or 64 GB of storage over at LaCie's Wuala cloud service, enough to back up your XtremKey online. Next, there's the LaCie Keys Software; a version written especially for the XtremKey. It contains Intego Backup Assistant, LaCie Private Public (encryption software), an XtremKey icon for the Finder, and the Wuala Link software for connecting your computer to the Wuala service. If you already use Time Machine for backups, decide to use Apple's encryption, and have a Dropbox account, just can forget about downloading this software. As for testing, I did verify that the XtremKey had no problems sitting in the bottom of my sink for two hours. A trip to the bottom of a swimming pool should be no problem either. I don't own a machete, so whacking it with one was out of the question. If I have one complaint about the XtremKey USB 3.0, it's that the bottom (removable) part should have some knurling on it so that your fingers can actually get a grip to tighten or loosen the key. As it is, it's sometimes almost impossible to get the XtremKey open, especially if your fingers are moist. My wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and it was impossible for her to get enough of a grip on the XtremKey's bottom to get it open. Note to LaCie: sometimes it's more important to make a product functional than it is to give it a unique design. Conclusion Now that USB 3.0 is the mainstream for new Macs, portable high-capacity storage devices like the LaCie XtremKey USB 3.0 are perfect for transferring files or creating encrypted backups. The XtremKey provides fast, portable, and durable storage that can take a hell of a beating and still keep your files safe, at a cost. Pros One of the fastest read times we've seen on any USB 3.0 drive Waterproof, heat proof, cold proof, and able to take shocks and pressure that would destroy other flash drives Very unique design for a flash drive Cons Bottom needs some knurling or ridges to make it easier to unscrew Quite expensive; many other USB 3.0 flash drives are available at less than a quarter of the price of the XtremKey Who is it for? Anyone who needs the portable storage of a flash drive in a virtually indestructible casing
Pentax's WG-3 ruggedized camera scores a white paint job
If you'd like a ruggedized camera to match that white Nexus 4 of yours, Pentax has you covered. The outfit has just unveiled an alabaster WG-3 that boasts the same specs and price tag as its vibrantly colored siblings. Dropping $300 on the shooter nets risk-prone photographers a 4x, f/2-4.9 lens backed by a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3-inch LCD screen, video capture at 1080/30p and 720/60p, and even GPS for an additional $50. A toughened exterior makes the hardware cold-proof, crush-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof and water-proof. Yearning to get your hands on the ivory cam? Pentax says it'll see a "limited distribution" at brick-and-mortar establishments and head to online shops this July.
Kyocera Torque review: a rugged phone delivering superior sound
More Info Kyocera Torque coming to Sprint's Direct Connect lineup in March, we go hands-on (video) Kyocera Torque hitting Sprint March 8th, carrying $100 price tag Kyocera teases tissue conduction audio technology for mobile phones at CTIA Sacrificing a smartphone's thin and sleek form factor with a case is tantamount to sacrilege in some circles. Others feel little comfort venturing outdoors without having their phone wrapped safely in one sleeve or another. Sprint's Kyocera Torque, though, is for people who demand more than just a sheath of silicone to keep their device safe. Instead of relying on a case for its protection, it's durable in its own right, with an IP67 rating and Military Standard 810G certification to help it withstand everything from water to salt fog. In addition, the handset carries the distinction of being the very first phone released in the US with Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver tissue-conduction tech, which does away with the traditional earpiece. We put the Now Network's first LTE push-to-talk phone through our review gauntlet not only to gauge how tough it is, but also to find out how well it performs. Head past the break to see how it fared.%Gallery-183163%
Fujifilm announces FinePix XP200 ruggedized camera, S8400W superzoom
Ready to hear about some mid-range Fujifilm point-and-shoots? Let's do this. The FinePix XP200 looks like the more exciting model of the bunch, so we'll start there. Available with red, purple, yellow, green, blue and orange glossy finishes, this ruggedized camera packs a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor with image stabilization, a 28-140mm lens, 3-inch, 920k-dot LCD, a 10-frames-per-second continuous shooting mode, 1080/60i video and built-in WiFi for pushing pics to a companion app. It's a ruggedized cam, so that means it's waterproof to 50 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10°C) and shockproof to 6.6-foot drops. The other flavor is a superzoom model, or a "bridge camera," as manufacturers are calling them these days. The lens is the focus here, and this one's got a 24-1,056mm, 44x optic with a maximum aperture range of f/2.9 to f/6.5. There's also optical image stabilization and a Super Macro mode that lets you shoot subjects that are just 0.39 inch from the lens. There's a 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, sensitivity through ISO 12,800, 1080/60i video capture, a 10 fps continuous shooting mode and WiFi. You can preview images on the 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD or the 201k-dot electronic viewfinder. This model, the FinePix S8400W, comes in black and ships in May for $350. The XP200 will also ship in May, priced at $300. Read up on both in the PR after the break.
