WEATHER BEATERThe Stylus 500 is one of the only cameras out there equipped to handle a downpour: I shot supercrisp photos along B.C.’s Howe Sound Crest trail in rain that would have fried most digis faster than you can say “one-year warranty.” The secret? Tiny rubber gaskets within the all-metal body that separate water from electronics.
Bonus: The high-res, 2.5-inch LCD is bright and clear from almost any angle.
Bummer: The 500 accepts only xD-Picture Cards, which can be almost twice the price of the popular CompactFlash format.