Ricoh’s New WG-50 is a Quiet Update to the Rugged Waterproof Camera Line

Ricoh has just updated their WG line of cameras for the first time in a few years to include the new WG-50. At $280, the 16-megapixel rugged compact waterproof camera is a more affordable option for underwater photography down to 46 feet (14 meters).

With a familiar robust design, the WG-50 has almost identical specs to the WG-4, which was announced in 2014. However, it’s a direct replacement to the WG-30 — the WG-40 was only released in Japan. The waterproofing rating remains the same, as does the ability to shoot in cold weather down to 14°F (-10℃), although the shockproof distance has been lowered from 6.6 feet (2 metres) to 5.2 feet (1.6 metres).

The camera sports a 1/2.3″ 16-megapixel sensor for stills (with sensor-shift stabilization), and is capable of 1080p HD videos at 30 fps. The optical zoom has been improved to 5x (28 – 140mm equivalent), with macro focusing from as close as 0.4” (1 cm).

Overall, the camera is largely the same as the previous generation, with the major changes being the increase in optical zoom, the weight (193g / 6.8 oz with battery and SD card), and the drop in price to $280.

Oh, and it now comes in a striking orange option. The camera will be available for purchase on June 23. For more details, check out Ricoh’s product page.

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