A trip to the beach provides you with the perfect opportunity to make great memories and take some awesome pictures and action-packed videos. But as every beach baby knows, all that sun, sand, and saltwater presents a rather difficult environment for cameras. That’s why it’s important to invest in a good camera that’s suitable for the unforgiving beach environment.

Besides, if you travel a lot, particularly to tropical destinations, a beach-ready camera is definitely worth the investment.

Thankfully, there are many great digital cameras for travel photography that are on the market. But which one should you choose? Whether you’re a DSLR, point-and-shoot, or action camera user, we’ve narrowed down your options to the following:

1. Nikon D750

For those with intermediate to advanced photography skills, the Nikon D750 is a good choice and makes for a great beach camera due to its ability to produce stellar, cinematic images. Equipped with features like 3D Color Matrix Metering III, a 91,000-pixel RGB sensor, and a 51-point autofocus (AF) system, this camera ensures that all the bright colors of the sky and the shore will come out sharp and vibrant under all sorts of lighting conditions.

If you’d like to take action shots, there will be no need to reach for your GoPro because a Nikon D750 camera can take smooth time-lapse sequences up to 9,999 shots without compromising the quality of your photo. It was also built to handle high-definition filmmaking and videography with its ability to simultaneously record uncompressed and compressed full HD 1080 footage at 60/50/30/25/24p.

The D750 also has built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to upload your photos and video in an instant, which is handy for people who love to share on social media.

But despite all these great features, the caveat here is that this DSLR is not waterproof or dustproof. To keep it protected from water and other elements, you will need to invest in a protective case like the Ikelite waterproof housing for the Nikon D750. Moisture is a DSLR’s biggest enemy, so purchasing an accessory like this is essential in protecting your camera from damage.

Admittedly, this camera plus the added cost of buying a waterproof case may not suit everyone’s budget. But if it allows you to take the most stunning beach pictures, not to mention the most amazing underwater shots, then why not?

2. Olympus Tough TG-4

Now if you’re looking for a camera that can really rough it, then the Olympus Tough TG-4 is your best bet.

The Olympus Tough TG-4 has basic controls that even beginners can master. It takes pretty decent pictures with its 25-100 mm lens, and can take 1080p videos. Because of its image smoothing feature at high ISOs, there should be no problem taking photos on the move. It also offers RAW format support, which is a great feature for those who prefer to have more flexibility in post-processing and editing your photos.

It’s waterproof up to 15 meters, so you can easily bring it with you when you go swimming, snorkeling, or surfing. If you’re the extremely adventurous type who enjoys exploring beach caves or hiking up seaside cliffs, you won’t have to worry about taking this camera with you and possibly dropping it in the midst of all those strenuous activities, because it has an ergonomically designed body for the perfect grip. And if you do drop it, the camera is made of durable material and is shockproof up to 2.1 meters, so you won’t have to worry about breaking it.

The Olympus Tough TG-4 is also packed with extra features that can be quite useful for any traveler, such as a built-in GPS system, depth and pressure gauges, and an electronic compass.

3. GoPro HERO 5 Black + Karma

If you want a device that you can use to capture aerial views of the beach with, then one option you can look into is the GoPro HERO5 Black, which has 4K video and 12MP photo resolution. Bundle it with the GoPro Karma drone and you’ve got a setup that’ll allow you to take spectacular shots of your adventures along the coast.

The GoPro HERO5 Black is waterproof up to 33 feet (even without a housing) and is designed to withstand bumps and scratches. It also has a simple user interface, so even the most amateur of photographers can understand its controls.

As for image quality, this action camera gives you the flexibility to shoot in both RAW and WDR, allowing you to produce higher quality images.

Another advantage with this camera is that, despite its compact size, it has a built-in 2-inch touch display on which you can trim your footage, tweak your settings, and preview your shots—avoiding the need to connect to a laptop, computer, or smart phone to perform these tasks.

Aside from the Karma drone, it’s also compatible with other accessories like the 3-Way mount and the Remo, which is a voice-activated remote that enables you to control your GoPro hands-free.

There are many beautiful beaches in America and all over the world—but all that beauty will go to waste if you can’t capture it properly. So, before you schedule that next beach trip, make sure to invest in a good camera and, if you have the time, brush up on the basics of photography. That way you won’t end up missing any of those opportunities to document and immortalize those precious scenes and memorable moments from your fun-filled beach vacation!

Another great trip is to rent a camera when traveling. For instance, Pittsburgh camera rentals has both camera and lens rental to make your travels even easier. You can make your reservation online, so renting a camera is quick and easy.