Ricoh WG-M1 Takes a Licking and Keeps on Shooting

Hardcore adventurers and extreme sports enthusiasts just got one more reason to document their daring exploits without worry of damaging their expensive equipment, thanks to a new camera from Ricoh Imaging that makes other late-model adventure cams look fragile.

Unlike many recent cameras that use the term “rugged” loosely, the Ricoh WG-M1 isn’t just splash-proof. According to the manufacturer, it’s fully functional underwater up to a depth of 32.8 feet (or 10 meters, if you prefer) without any bulky or unwieldy housing. Built with an airtight body, a simple underwater lens protector is all that is required. Underwater battery usage is rated at a full hour of continuous operation.

Aside from its aquatic versatility, the WG-M1’s is shock proof, with guts resilient enough to withstand a drop from 6.5 feet (2 meters). The camera is also dustproof and resistant to temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius). Full functionality in extreme conditions is made easier through the presence of large control buttons that can be operated while the user is wearing gloves.

The WG-M1’s specs verge on high-end photography, combining a 14-MP CMOS sensor, a 160-degree wide angle lens, and video capture at 1920×1080 full HD at 30fps. High-speed video at 120fps is also enabled, albeit at a lower resolution of 848×480 and sans audio. Digital shake reduction allows the daring to capture their feats blur-free, and snapshot burst mode supports up to 10 shots per second. Built-in Wi-Fi makes the WG-M1 fully controllable via smartphones and tablets.

Ricoh will begin selling the WG-M1 in October at a starting price of around $300.