Olympus TG-4 Field Test Part II: A tough compact camera that makes few compromises
posted Friday, February 19, 2016 at 2:43 PM EST
With the Olympus TG-4, "tough camera" doesn't mean a specialty camera with subpar image quality. The TG-4 is a tough camera with image quality and features that make it not just one of the best tough cameras on the market, but an all-around good compact camera.
Adventure photographers that require their gear to be up to the task of the elements, and maybe even a few bumps and bruises along the way, should take note of the TG-4's 50-foot waterproof rating and 7-foot shockproof rating. Don't worry if you accidentally step on it either as the TG-4 is crushproof up to 220 pounds of force. During my Field Test, the TG-4 proved to be a comfortable camera to use out in the field. Its rugged exterior didn't hamper its controls in any significant way.
Our "Best Rugged Camera" of 2015 now has RAW image capture, the first of its kind to have this ability, which allows this 16-megapixel compact camera to capture good images for its price point and camera class.
Overall performance was quite good. Autofocus was reliable and continuous shooting performance was decent when recording JPEG files. Optical performance of the built-in 25-100mm equivalent lens was generally good, and its fast f/2.0 maximum aperture at 25mm was excellent. While 100mm is not a lot of reach, its optional conversion lenses (including a telephoto conversion lens) increased its versatility.
Ultimately, it is not just its toughness or its good performance that makes the TG-4 stand out in the rugged camera class, it's the distinct combination of the two. Head over to my Olympus TG-4 Field Test Part II for much more on my experience using the TG-4. Also be sure to check out our TG-4 gallery images.
