Fujifilm XP50 vs Ricoh WG-6: The Ultimate Waterproof Compact Camera Showdown

Waterproof rugged cameras fill a niche that many serious and casual photographers overlook - all-weather companions capable of taking shots in environments most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras dare not tread. I’ve spent years testing dozens of these weather-sealed compact cameras in real-world adventures: beach trips, hikes during rainstorms, snorkeling, and even urban exploration under unpredictable conditions. When Fuji’s beloved XP series meets Ricoh’s WG line, what happens? Today I’m diving deep into two tough contenders: the Fujifilm FinePix XP50 (2012) and the Ricoh WG-6 (2018).

I’ll walk you through everything you need to know - from sensor tech to handling, image quality, and how each performs in key photography disciplines like landscape, wildlife, and even macro. Along the way, I’ll share hands-on observations and practical advice to help you decide which rugged compact deserves a spot in your camera bag.

Feeling the Build: Size and Ergonomics Matter in Harsh Conditions

Right out of the gate, ergonomics shape how well these cameras perform outdoors. The XP50 and WG-6 are both compact, pocketable shooters built for adventure, but subtle differences impact comfort and handling.

The Fujifilm XP50 measures a trim 99 x 68 x 26 mm and weighs just 175 grams, making it exceptionally easy to carry for long hikes or quick excursions where minimalism counts. Its slim profile means it tucks into a jacket pocket effortlessly. However, the relatively flat design can make prolonged handheld use less comfortable, especially with wet hands - a common scenario underwater or in rainy conditions.

By contrast, the Ricoh WG-6 is chunkier at 118 x 66 x 33 mm and heftier at 246 grams, with a more pronounced grip that offers superior hold when wearing gloves or when fingers are cold. The additional thickness and weight translate to a more reassuring feel in hand, minimizing accidental slips when shooting underwater or climbing rocky terrain. I found myself preferring the WG-6’s grip when spending consecutive hours in challenging weather - less strain, more confidence.

Both boast industry-leading ruggedness: waterproof to depths exceeding 10 meters, dustproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and even (on the WG-6) crushproof for demanding environments. These are no-nonsense tools, with Fuji’s XP50 proven in tropical snorkeling trips and Ricoh’s WG-6 engineered for alpine snowfields.

Design and Control: How Intuitive Are They When the Elements Bite?

Ergonomics also extend to control layouts. Let’s peek at the clean design language each manufacturer brings to the table.

The XP50 offers a straightforward top panel with minimal buttons, which helps in quick operations but limits granular control. Its shutter button and zoom lever respond well under wet fingertips, yet the lack of dedicated dials for exposure or ISO adjustment means you’ll rely mostly on auto modes.

Ricoh’s WG-6 steps up with more thoughtfully placed buttons, giving quick access to settings like exposure compensation and custom white balance. While neither has aperture or shutter priority modes (typical of rugged compacts), WG-6’s inclusion of manual focus means you have more creative flexibility. The WG-6 also integrates a small joystick on the rear for navigating menus - a boon when wearing gloves or in cold weather.

One key tradeoff is the WG-6’s slightly steeper learning curve due to its more complex menu system. Meanwhile, the XP50 keeps things simple and beginner-friendly.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Pixels, Performance, and Processing

Under the hood, image quality hinges primarily on the sensor and image processing engine.

Both the XP50 and WG-6 use a 1/2.3-inch sensor, common in waterproof compacts. This small sensor limits dynamic range and low-light capability compared to larger mirrorless or DSLR sensors - but within their class, differences matter.

The XP50 features a 14-megapixel CMOS sensor with a conventional design paired with a typical anti-aliasing filter. Its maximum native ISO caps at 3200, but I found that image noise becomes noticeable beyond ISO 800 in real shooting conditions. Color reproduction is decent, capturing vibrant skin tones and natural greens without over-saturation, though subtle gradations in shadows can be lost.

Ricoh’s WG-6 ups the resolution to 20 megapixels using a backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, which improves light gathering on such a small size. Max ISO goes up to 6400, though usable detail typically drops around ISO 1600. Thanks to more advanced image processing, the WG-6 renders richer detail - noticeable in textured bark or fine foliage in landscape images. It also offers customizable white balance with bracketing, an advantage for scenes with tricky lighting.

For general-purpose shooting, the WG-6 provides crisper, more detailed files with better noise control. However, XP50’s files still look respectable for casual use and screen-sized prints.

The LCD and User Interface: What You See Is What You Get

No viewfinder on either model - this is typical for rugged compacts.

The XP50’s 2.7-inch LCD has 230K-dot resolution, making it acceptable but somewhat grainy and less detailed in bright daylight. Fingerprint smudges and reflections can be problematic, especially underwater or with wet hands.

Ricoh’s WG-6 employs a larger 3.0-inch screen with a whopping 1040K-dot resolution, resulting in a much sharper, more vibrant preview. When shooting bright beaches or snowy landscapes, the WG-6 remains usable without squinting or shading the screen with your hand.

Both lack touch capability, which is a noticeable omission on the WG-6 considering its 2018 release date. Button navigation covers the ground but is slower for some settings.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking Action or Relaxed Shooting?

Focusing speed and reliability often make or break outdoor photography, especially for wildlife or sports.

The XP50 relies on contrast-detection autofocus with an unknown number of focus points. It can track moving subjects but struggles in low light or rapid motion. I noticed hunting and slight delays when shooting kids or animals in dim forest conditions.

The WG-6 shines with 9 AF points, contrast detection with face detection, and - crucially - continuous AF with live view, plus manual focus. The inclusion of face detection is critical when capturing portraits on the move or underwater, where consistent sharpness on the eyes matters.

Continuous shooting on the XP50 maxes out at 3fps, which is slow by today’s standards but acceptable for casual snapshots. Ricoh’s official specs don’t list a continuous FPS, but practical experience shows modest improvement with faster buffer clearing and overall responsiveness during bursts.

For active photographers, the WG-6 offers better autofocus accuracy, speed, and tracking capabilities.

Lens Range and Macro Capabilities

Both cameras provide a fixed 28-140mm equivalent zoom, covering wide-angle through moderate telephoto - versatile enough for landscapes, portraits, and general travel shooting.

Fujifilm’s aperture ranges from f/3.9 to 4.9, a touch slower in low light than Ricoh’s f/3.5 to 5.5. It also features macro focus starting at 9 cm, which produces decent close-ups, but sometimes I found focus hunting on tiny subjects.

Ricoh pushes this further with 1 cm macro focusing, allowing breathtaking close-up captures of insects or water droplets. While image stabilization is digital on the WG-6 (versus sensor-shift optical on the XP50), it is surprisingly effective for handheld macro shots, lending crispness to fine textures.

Flash Power and Lighting Control

The XP50’s built-in flash reaches about 3.1 meters and offers modes including auto, red-eye reduction, and slow sync.

Ricoh offers a stronger built-in flash capable of reaching 5.5 meters with Auto ISO, a serious advantage for indoor or shaded shots. Flash bracketing and spot metering provide more creative exposure control, letting you finesse tricky lighting scenarios.

Neither camera supports external flash units, restricting advanced flash photography.

Video: Which Compact Delivers Better Moving Pictures?

For those who want to dabble in video, both models offer full HD recording, but there are notable differences.

The XP50 offers 1080p at 30fps using H.264 and Motion JPEG codecs, standard fare for a 2012 camera. Video quality is serviceable, suitable for casual use but lacks in terms of sharpness and low-light performance.

Ricoh WG-6 steps up with 4K video up to 2160p at 30fps, a considerable advantage when capturing high-resolution clips. Stabilization is digital, not mechanical, so while footage is steadier than expected, it’s imperfect - something to keep in mind if you’ll shoot handheld walkabouts.

Neither offers microphone inputs or headphone outputs, which means video creators seeking pro audio will need external gear. However, WG-6's 4K video is a huge plus for travel or nature vlogging, provided you stabilize carefully.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping Up on Long Adventures

Power longevity is often overlooked but crucial in remote or prolonged outings.

The XP50 uses the NP-45A battery, rated around 220 shots per charge - enough for a day of casual shooting but needing recharges for extended use. It supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot.

WG-6 improves battery life to around 340 shots per charge with a more modern lithium-ion pack and supports internal memory alongside SD cards for emergency storage buffer.

Neither supports USB charging, meaning you’ll need to carry a dedicated charger - something to keep in mind for travel.

Connectivity and Convenience Features

Both cameras miss Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC for seamless file transfer, a disappointing omission in today’s wireless era.

Ricoh attempts to bridge this gap with support for FlashAir SD cards, which provide Wi-Fi capabilities when paired - but this adds extra cost and setup complexity.

GPS features only appear on the WG-6, useful for geo-tagging adventures and travel photography - a boon for location-based workflows.

Putting It To The Test: Real-World Photography Use Cases

My testing spanned multiple disciplines. Here’s how both cameras stack up across essential photography types:

Fujifilm XP50 front Fujifilm XP50 screen back Ricoh WG 6 front Ricoh WG 6 screen back

Portrait Photography

The WG-6’s face detection and sharper sensor deliver more natural skin tone reproduction and pleasing bokeh at 140mm telephoto range. The XP50, while capable of decent portraits, can struggle with eye sharpness and softer detail - particularly under lower light where focusing is slower.

Landscape Photography

Both capture vivid landscapes with acceptable dynamic range for their sensor size. WG-6’s higher resolution files captured finer detail in leafy textures and rocks. XP50’s sensor tends to clip slightly in high contrast skies. Weather sealing on both is excellent for beach or mountain shoots.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here, autofocus speed and burst rates are paramount. WG-6’s 9 AF points with face detection and faster responsiveness make it the clear choice for capturing moving subjects, from birds to kids on the soccer field. XP50 lag and hunting AF can miss critical shots.

Street Photography

XP50 is slightly more pocket-friendly and less intimidating, helpful for quick candid shots where discretion matters. WG-6’s bulkier size and more complex controls slow reaction times in fast-paced urban shoots.

Macro Photography

Thanks to 1cm minimum focusing distance and effective digital stabilization, the WG-6 excels at capturing intricate close-ups of flowers, insects, and textures. XP50’s 9cm macro limit is adequate but less versatile.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras are limited by small sensors preventing long exposures or very high ISO performance. WG-6’s higher ISO ceiling helps slightly, but expect noise. Neither supports RAW, limiting post-processing.

Video Capabilities

WG-6’s 4K video makes it a far better all-around multimedia device than the XP50’s basic 1080p at 30fps. For travel vloggers or casual videographers, Ricoh is my pick.

Travel Photography

Between the two, the balance of size, ruggedness, and battery life favors the WG-6 for longer trips where performance matters. XP50’s lightweight design fits minimalist needs.

Professional Applications

Neither camera meets professional demands for RAW capture, interchangeable lenses, or high-end connectivity. They serve better as rugged backup or secondary cameras for harsh environments.

The Final Word: Which Waterproof Compact Should You Choose?

Both the Fujifilm XP50 and Ricoh WG-6 occupy important places in the waterproof rugged compact market, but their generational gap and feature differences make them suited to different users.

Why Pick the Fujifilm XP50?

• You want a simple, lightweight waterproof camera for casual beach or pool use.
• Size and portability are top priorities.
• You prefer straightforward operation without fiddling with menus.
• Your budget is limited; this older model is highly affordable in secondhand markets (~$180).
• Your shooting needs are modest: snapshots, landscapes, and occasional macro shots.

Why Go for the Ricoh WG-6?

• You need more detailed images: higher resolution and better low-light performance.
• Face detection autofocus and manual focus provide creative control.
• You want 4K video capability for travel or adventure vlogging.
• Macro shooting at 1 cm minimum distance is important.
• Reliability in tougher conditions with crushproof body and superior battery life matters.
• You value GPS and bracketing functions for flexible shooting.
• You can invest more upfront (~$270) for added features and durability.

Diving Deeper Into Photography Genres: Performance Scores

• Portrait: WG-6 leads, thanks to AF and sensor resolution improvements.
• Landscape: Both competent, slight edge to WG-6’s detail rendering.
• Wildlife: WG-6 favored for AF speed and burst.
• Sports: WG-6 better responsiveness.
• Street: XP50 scores higher for size and discreetness.
• Macro: WG-6 wins for closer focus and stabilization.
• Night/Astro: Neither excels; WG-6 slightly better ISO range.
• Video: WG-6 dominant with 4K support.
• Travel: WG-6 preferred for battery, versatility.
• Professional: Both low; rugged backup only.

Trustworthy Testing Approach and Recommendations

During testing, I subjected both cameras to identical field conditions - the sunny surf of Hawaiian beaches for waterproof testing, rain-soaked forest walks for autofocus and macro, and urban day-to-night transitions for usability.

Files were analyzed for noise, color accuracy, dynamic range, and detail under controlled lighting for objective comparisons. I also assessed battery longevity, physical handling in wet and cold environments, and flash effectiveness with calibrated meters.

These real-world trials showed that while the XP50 remains a capable and affordable entry into rugged photography, the WG-6 offers meaningful upgrades for serious enthusiasts who want higher quality and versatility without sacrificing toughness.

In Summary: Choose Your Waterproof Companion Wisely

Choosing between the Fujifilm XP50 and Ricoh WG-6 comes down to striking a balance between simplicity, price, and performance versus modern feature set, image quality, and creative control. Both will keep shooting when others wouldn’t dare, but the WG-6’s technological advantages and ergonomic improvements make it my recommended pick for most serious outdoor enthusiasts.

If you’re buying on budget or want the easiest path to waterproof photography, the Fuji XP50 still holds nostalgic charm and rugged competence. But for the 2020s adventurer who values image quality, 4K video, and precise control - Ricoh’s WG-6 is the battle-hardened partner you want by your side.

I hope this detailed dive into two capable waterproof compacts has illuminated the nuances and helped you figure out which camera matches your photography journey. For further questions or personalized advice, feel free to reach out - your next great adventure deserves the perfect camera in hand.

Happy shooting, rain or shine!