Great cameras for great dads

Whether he sits still for hours to photograph wildlife or straps a camcorder to his chest and leads a wild life himself, there's a camera here for every dad.

Lori Grunin

I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.

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Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice

Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.

Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials

More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.

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Lori Grunin

Joshua Goldman

May 2, 2014 9:24 a.m. PT

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Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

For dads who love their gadgets, the Android-powered GC2 pulls double duty as a compact 21x zoom camera and a media player. With Wi-Fi and NFC, it can be used for everything from e-mail to streaming music and video to games.

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Fujifilm FinePix S1

Aside from packing a 50x zoom lens, the S1 has a weather- and dust-resistant body, so dads can shoot regardless of conditions.

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Olympus Stylus 1

The enthusiast compact market has reached a bit of a saturation point, but the Stylus 1 hits a part of it that's still lacking. While most have 4x or 5x zoom lenses, the Stylus 1 has a 10.7x zoom lens.

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GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition

GoPro, the current action-cam leader, makes a number of different models that look very similar (and come with a couple of different helmet mounts), but don't necessarily shoot the same quality video or have all the same bells and whistles. The Hero3+ Black Edition is GoPro's current top-of-the-line model that features the best video quality. Click the link below to get to our full review.

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iON Air Pro 3

For the ultimate in action cam convenience, the low-profile, ultralight Air Pro 3 combines the ease of a point-and-shoot camcorder with a waterproof body -- down to 49 feet with no housing necessary -- and Wi-Fi, so sharing those adventures on the go is no problem.

If its $350 price is too high, check out the $250 Air Pro 2, which shares the same basic design, but is "only" waterproof to 30 feet and has fewer video recording options.