Playing hard to break: Olympus is taking advantage of the delicate nature of modern cameras to craft a niche market. It has produced a range of compact cameras sold as much on their claims to toughness as their ability to create a pleasing image. The latest additions to the ranks are the μTough-8000 and its smaller sibling the μTough-6000. The former is a 12-megapixel snapper, which is waterproof up to 10 meters, can take the shock of a fall of up to 2 meters, is crushproof to a maximum of 100 kg and can handle temperatures down to -10 C. It has a 3.6× optical zoom, going from 28 mm to 102 mm, a 2.7-inch LCD, image stabilization and face detection. Moreover, navigating between menus can be done just by tapping on the camera's body, which is meant to make the camera easier for somebody using gloves. It also has an LED to illuminate underwater photos.

The μTough-6000 is similar to the 8000, except that it has a 10-megapixel sensor, is only waterproof at depths of up to 3 meters and has 1.5-meter-fall shockproofing. The 6000 is out Jan. 29 and the 8000 goes on the market Feb. 5.

The physical demands placed on the cameras mean they are a tad clunky. Moreover, the cameras aren't cheap, at ¥49,800 for the 8000 and ¥42,800 for the 6000. But if you are the outdoor type, this camera may be for you.μTough-8000 / μTough-6000