First, if you really enjoy taking photos with your camera, by all means, take it
along. You’ll have more fun. Trust me; I know from experience. For other folks,
though, making space for a camera, chargers, lenses, and other equipment is a
chore that may not make sense for every trip. We’re going to talk about trips in
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PARADISE
Bermuda, Hawaii, Fiji, Oswego... Well, maybe not Oswego. But if you’re going
to an exotic locale with pink-sand beaches and crystal-clear water, we suggest
bringing along a waterproof camera. Your phone may be waterproof, but taking
it snorkeling could be dangerous—you might lose it, along with all the data
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excursion into the brine.
Leave your phone on dry land. Our favorite waterproof compact camera is the
Olympus Tough TG-5, a versatile (albeit pricey, at $449) pocket camera with a
bright f/2 lens at the wide-angle end, a modest zoom range, and great macro. If
that’s too expensive, think about a GoPro. They are mostly thought of as video
cameras but can snap stills too. The entry-level Hero7 White can be had for
about $200.