Ricoh WG-90 Waterproof Camera Setup for Beach and Wet Trips

By Camix | Published: 2026-11-02

Category: How-to Guides

Set up the Ricoh WG-90 for beach days, snorkeling and rainy hikes with practical waterproof camera tips, underwater settings, macro mode advice and battery care.

Quick answer

Before any wet trip, seal and rinse-check the Ricoh WG-90, set a beach-ready shooting mode, and carry a spare battery in a dry pouch. Then follow the ordered setup below so sand, salt and condensation do not ruin your shots or the camera.

Why the WG-90 suits wet trips but still needs discipline

The Ricoh WG-90 is a rugged compact aimed at outdoor use, and the catalog listing confirms it ships as brand new stock with a 1-year warranty. That warranty is useful, but it does not make the camera immune to poor habits: grit in the battery door seal or salt left on the lens are the usual causes of trouble, not the water itself.

The practical trade-off is that a rugged compact is simpler to carry than a housed camera, but it gives you fewer manual controls and less lens flexibility. Treat it as a dependable point-and-shoot for wet conditions, not a replacement for a full underwater rig.

Beach-specific risks the setup should address

Sand is more damaging than water on a beach trip because it works into seals, buttons and the battery compartment. Set the camera up so you never open a door on the sand, and plan to rinse the body in fresh water after every saltwater session.

Condensation is the other quiet problem: moving from air-conditioned rooms to hot, humid outdoors can fog the lens. Give the camera time to acclimatise inside a sealed bag before you shoot.

Step-by-step WG-90 setup for wet trips

Check and close every seal on dry land: Open the battery and card doors, inspect the rubber seals for sand or hair, then close them firmly until they click. Common mistake: closing a door with a grain of sand trapped in the seal. Do this check before you leave your room, not at the water's edge.
Set a beach-ready shooting mode: Choose the scene or auto mode that suits bright sand and water, and turn on any available underwater or beach preset rather than leaving a default indoor mode. Common mistake: relying on auto in strong glare and getting washed-out highlights. Review one test shot on the screen before committing to a session.
Switch to macro mode for close-up details: For shells, rock pools and small creatures, select the WG-90's close-focus macro mode and move the camera slowly toward the subject until focus locks. Common mistake: standing too far back and expecting macro to crop in. Keep the lens parallel to the subject to hold focus across the frame.
Fit the strap and secure the camera before entering water: Attach the wrist or neck strap and test the connection by tugging gently. Common mistake: carrying the camera loose in a pocket where it can slip out in surf. Use a floating strap if you will be in deep or moving water.
Rinse and dry after every saltwater or sandy session: Close all doors, rinse the body in fresh water, and dry it with a soft cloth before opening anything. Common mistake: opening the battery door while the camera is still wet or sandy. Never open the camera on the beach; wait until you are back in a clean, dry space.
Manage the battery for cold and wet conditions: Carry a spare battery in a sealed dry pouch and swap it only after the camera is dry. Common mistake: leaving a spare loose in a damp bag where contacts corrode. Label spare batteries so you can rotate them and avoid mixing charged and flat cells.

Product facts

Ricoh WG-90: Brand new stock with a 1-year warranty and free UK delivery. Buying new with a warranty gives you a clear route to support if a seal or button fails after repeated wet use.
Ricoh WG-90