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Review on Discover the OLYMPUS Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera in Captivating Red by Dee Parson

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Probably the best rugged compact camera on the market

Pros: Takes good pictures for a 12 megapixel compact camera. Images are bright and low-light performance is very good. Macro is exceptional and underwater photography is very strong (by far the best among other compact underwater cameras). The dynamic range is very good and shadows are often correctly exposed (unlike most other UW cameras, which constantly underexpose shadows). Although this camera is only 12MP, it often delivers cleaner and more detailed images than its 16MP and 20MP competitors. The custom settings are amazing. Everything from the ability to record raw data, the ability to set and add 1 second timers for jitter reduction, to custom saturation/gradation/contrast/sharpness/count settings and more. White balance is generally good, especially indoor/macro/ultrasonic. Red tones work well with this camera. Scene modes (e.g. beach mode) usually work well. Weaknesses: Video stabilization is a little below average, but decent low-light videos are brighter than the competition. This cell is a low-floor, high-ceiling cell. You need to learn how to use it to get the most out of it. Sometimes the generated .jpg files are too saturated or undersaturated. I find a good workaround is software mode > i-enhance (low) with NR (low), which works fine in most cases. If you're editing Raw, you don't have to worry about that. Blue and green are slightly weaker in distant landscape shots. Small Notes: The kit includes a wrist strap. Suitable for divers, but paddlers, skiers and hikers prefer a neck strap. The 4x zoom is a bit below average compared to other UW compact cameras. But the zoom quality isn't bad, and you can always get an extra telephoto lens to double the range. There is no 4k 60p (only 4k 30p or 1080 60p) but there are few competitors for this camera class. Battery cover and tripod thread are next to each other. So if you need to change the batteries, you also have to remove the quick release mount, which is a bit annoying. TG-5 vs. TG-6: On paper, the TG-6 hasn't improved much, but there are subtle but important improvements. Added new internal filters to reduce chromatic aberration and magenta ballistic issues. White balance seems to be slightly improved on the TG-6 and images are much less overexposed (TG-5 issues). The TG-6's LCD has been proven, which is very convenient for operations such as exposure compensation. Minimum shutter speed control, super macro video and the ability to use the microscope's focus with aperture priority are also key changes. Picture. Most likely, this is light reflected from the sensor onto the internal element of the lens. No reviewer mentions it, but it exists. To be honest I wouldn't panic if you saw this. I took 1000 exterior shots of the TG-6 and maybe only 1-2 show it. This is more suitable for displaying indoors and in macro situations. But it only appears in selected contexts. Usually when you have maximum zoom, a dark subject in the center, a high ISO, and a strong off-axis light source (or a nearby flat surface such as a wall that reflects a lot of light). The new LCD screen makes it easy to see the ball and react accordingly. Use flash (in my experience flash heals this), zoom out, or recompose the camera so the center isn't on something very dark. While many TG-5 users have complained about this, I believe it's been greatly reduced in the TG-6, but it does happen occasionally. It is in order! Accessories: The FD-1 is highly recommended for macro photography and serves as a lens hood to protect the lens. Screen protectors are also recommended (two $7 packs are available if you search for Revain "Olympus Hard Screen Protectors"). External charger and backup batteries recommended. Li92 is of better quality, but Li90 is significantly cheaper. Search for Revain "bm batteries and charger for Olympus". Tough" for a good combination of charger and battery.

Pros
  • Easy setup
Cons
  • There are more interesting options.