Nikon's new waterproof camera is ready for adventure

When it comes to waterproof cameras, drastic updates are few and far between. Nikon's AW line of cameras is no exception: from year to year, they generally don't change much at all.

On paper, that appears to be the case again in 2015. But this year’s Nikon Coolpix AW130 (MSRP $349.95) takes last year's AW120, and rectifies its biggest omission: a grip.

That might not sound like much, but the grip results in a camera that's easier to hold and use. While it won’t set any performance records, this is a point-and-shoot you can confidently take on any adventure—rain or shine. In addition, several key changes take this camera from mere refresh to a shooter that's worthy of a new model number.

The user experience will be familiar to anyone who’s used an AW before, thanks to its slippery aluminum exterior, and a set of easy to navigate menus.

Unquestionably, the selling point of this camera is durability. Not only can it go on dives 100 feet underwater, but can also withstand temperatures down to 14˚F, and drops of up to 7 feet. The added grip is a long overdue upgrade, because without it the camera has a tendency to slip out of your fingers when wet.

Taking a peek inside that tough exterior, you'll find a 16-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch sensor behind a 5x zoom 4.3-21.5mm (24-120mm full-frame equivalent) f/2.8-4.9 lens. The glass isn’t spectacular, but it’s more than adequate, and offers more flexibility with your shots.

One flaw with this camera is its dim screen — it’s difficult to see in direct sunlight, which is a shame since you're likely to use it outdoors. There's not really a good remedy, so you'll often be left to point, shoot, and hope.

When it comes to performance, the AW130 is able to hold its own in a crowded sea of waterproof shooters. There are a bunch of limitations the waterproof, unibody design imposes upon a camera—but the AW130 handles them gracefully.

With that in mind, its positives are substantial: color performance is great, and sharpness is decent. However, smartphone cameras are starting to catch up to point and shoots, and the bump in performance you'd get from buying the AW130 over your smartphone isn't much. You’re buying this camera because it can go where your smartphone can't.

The camera's environment will also play a role in how well your shots come out. For example, deep water will restrict how much light is available. Same goes for any low-light situation. For best results, I suggest keeping your auto-ISO setting to capped out at ISO 800 to prevent excessive noise.

So why buy this over another waterproof camera? The answer lies in the features, including its freshly upgraded software. For instance, the new scene modes are exhaustive and fun. You can add a handful of effects to your snaps, and even use one of 22 shooting modes to get the right settings in any situation. On top of that, you can also shoot timelapse videos if you have a tripod (and are willing to wait a while).

Like the other cameras in Nikon's AW line—this camera has onboard WiFi to pair with your smartphone. Using the app, you can also use your phone to remotely shoot pictures with the AW130.

This camera makes good use of its onboard GPS, with a points-of-interest feature that lets you look at a bird's-eye-view of areas you're about to explore. In addition to the ability to geotag your shots, you can also map out your vacations using Nikon's free ViewNX 2 software to show people where each snap was taken (you’ll want this at Gettysburg).

Smartphones have come a long way, and the appeal of point and shoots is starting to rely more and more on qualities that fragile little phones just can't provide. In the AW130’s case, that means its extreme durability gives it an edge over your phone.

It's got all the features a point and shoot needs to stay relevant in a world of do-everything smartphones, while offering extreme water, dust, and shockproofing. This is a reliable camera that will shoot even when covered in pond muck and mud. Thanks to its added grip and better software, it’s remedied a lot of the concerns we had with last year’s AW120.

The AW130 sits near the top of the toughcam heap, but there are always alternatives. Last year's Olympus TG-3 is a better waterproof camera—though it can't dive as far as the AW130. If you're looking for a little more power to take with you, Nikon's 1 AW1 is the only interchangeable-lens toughcam for consumers, but it's more fragile than the AW130. You could also go bargain-bin diving online and get last year's Nikon AW120 at a decent discount—it's virtually the same as the AW130, minus NFC and a grip.

To read more camera reviews, head on over to Reviewed.com.