Comprehensive Examination of Olympus TG-6: A Tough Camera for Adventure-Seekers
drip-feed your eyes with the upgraded pics spit by the Olympus TG-6, a wet along the line of the Olympus TG-5 waterproof camera. Three years on the line, the TG-5 was the dream compact and macro shooter for underwater snappers since its debut in May 2017. But, oh boy, the TG-6, out since May 2019, arrived with a few tweaks and changes that had everyone on the deck tugging their pants in anticipation.
This new underwater photog device ain't a total rehaul - it still smacks of the same Chuck Norris, indestructible build, Micro Four Thirds magic engineered for a low-light fiesta in the deep blue sea, and badass macro capabilities. But a couple of nifty tweaks shored up the quality. So, if you're already stuck with a TG-5, hang tight for the TG-7, or splash your cash on the TG-6 if you're hankering for an upgrade.
Which camera will you ride into the sunset? Let's take a swim through what's new with the TG-6 and delve into why both cameras are still a bang for your buck.
Specs at a glance
📸 12MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor optimized for low light (4000x3000 image resolution)📽 Waterproof (50ft without housing), shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof🔎 Fast f/2.0-4.9 lens with 4.5mm - 18mm focal length (equivalent to 25mm - 100mm)💾 Sensor-shift image stabilization (up to 2.5 stops)⏳ 4 sec to 1/2000 sec shutter speed, custom white balance (4 slots)📱 WiFi capabilities, including camera control via smartphone☂ New LCD resolution (1.04 million dots vs. 460K dots on the TG-5)🚀 4K@30p video recording and Pro Capture mode
Key upgrades from the TG-5
Although the TG-6 barely edges ahead in terms of upgrades, it still offers a few tasty morsels that may whet your appetite.
🌟 Improved LCD Resolution: The back LCD screen now sports a much sharper resolution than the TG-5 - 1.04 million dots against the TG-5's measly 460K dots. This won't change any of your underwater shots but makes reviewing images a lot easier.
🐠 More white balance presets for tasty underwater snaps: Olympus tossed in three new underwater white presets, making it even simpler for casual users to capture some vibrancy under the sea.
🤖 More ergonomic controls: The TG-6 packs a punch when it comes to ease of use, with supermacro autofocus and video functions now fully accessible in Aperture priority and Program modes.
🎥 4K macro video: Can you imagine capturing breathtaking 4K video of the tiny beauties snuggled deep in the coral reefs as you dive into their world? The TG-6's new 4K macro video function lets you do just that.
🔒 Antireflective coating to glass around the sensor: This little tweak is just what the doctor ordered for wide-angle shooters who love to catch some sunball action. It reduces flare and ghosting, which is especially handy when shooting into the sun.
Key features
Hot body and build
Pay no heed to the slight tweaks - the TG-6 and its older sibling share the same indestructible DNA. Rugged as ever, the TG-6 is still waterproof to 15 meters (50 feet) without housing, plus the usual crushproof, shockproof, and freezeproof specs remain intact, just as juicy as the TG-5.
Wide-angle and macro snaps
Wide-angle: A wet lens expands the field of view, meaning you'll have to get closer to your subject. The added advantage? Less water between you and the subject equals clearer subjects with better lighting from strobes or photo lamps.
Macro: Get up close and personal with the TG-6's amazing Microscope Mode, letting you shoot macro without a wet lens whatsoever. The TG-6 boasts a minimum working distance of 1cm (in super macro mode), and an 7x magnification without using digital zoom.
Stunning video quality
Feeling a little ambitious and want to venture into underwater video? The TG-6's 4K video is a steal for a compact camera, making it super-simple to capture breathtaking video with just a button press.
Conclusion
The TG-6 may not be the end-all upgrade from the TG-5, but it still offers a few tantalizing features like the antireflective coating, the 4K macro video, and enhanced ergonomic controls. If you're crazy about macro photography and video, this bump makes it a worthy choice for upgraders – but for casual users, the TG-5 is still a solid bet.
Either camera will leave you with a ship-shape underwater photo collection, except for your wallet, which might take a deep dive with these bad boys.
- With its enhanced resolution, the TG-6's LCD screen presents a sharper image for easy underwater shot review.
- Olympus equipped the TG-6 with three new underwater white balance presets for more vibrant underwater photography.
- Supermacro autofocus and video functions are now easily accessible in Aperture priority and Program modes, enhancing the TG-6's ergonomic controls.
- The TG-6's new 4K macro video function allows for the capturing of breathtaking 4K video of the smallest creatures found in coral reefs.
- An antireflective coating on the glass around the sensor reduces flare and ghosting, perfect for wide-angle shooters who love sunball action.
- Similar to the TG-5, the TG-6 remains indestructible with waterproof capabilities of up to 15 meters (50 feet) without housing and standard crushproof, shockproof, and freezeproof specifications.
- The TG-6's Microscope Mode lets you capture macro photographs without the need for a wet lens, offering a minimum working distance of 1cm and an 7x magnification without digital zoom.
- For wide-angle shooters, the TG-6's wet lens expands the field of view, providing clearer subjects with better lighting from strobes or photo lamps.
- The TG-6 captures stunning video quality with a 4K video option, making it simple for anyone to produce breathtaking underwater videos.
- Housing the Micro Four Thirds magic engineered for low-light performances in the deep blue sea, the TG-6 is an ideal camera for underwater photography enthusiasts looking for a rugged, compact, and powerful gear option.
- When choosing between the TG-6 and the TG-5, both offer excellent underwater photography and video capabilities, but the TG-6's enhancements make it more appealing for macro photography and video enthusiasts.
