For example, when shooting from as close as 1 cm to the subject, a 1 mm subject can be magnified to up to 44 mm on the monitor. The only major advance from previous Tough model is arguably the ability to shoot video at up to 4K resolution at 30fps, although there are also new underwater modes (three choices, rather than just one), macro photo options (allowing captures as close as 1cm), plus an improved LCD screen resolution at 1.04 million dots. The OM System/Olympus Tough TG-6 was launched in 2019 and it’s still available from OM Digital Solutions which acquired Olympus’s imaging division in 2021. It is widely regarded as one of the best underwater / adventure compacts on the market. The latest addition to the Olympus Tough line-up is the recently announced OM System TG-7, which at first glance works with very similar specs as the TG-6. The number of shots and the length of time the camera waits before shooting starts can be selected.

Focusing is nice and snappy and the LCD screen has fair visibility in bright light, with easy menu navigation. It's not a touchscreen, but then this isn't something we expect to see on underwater cameras. Image quality is reasonable for a camera with a 1/2.3-inch sensor, although overexposure and blown highlights can be seen in some images, and there's a loss of detail at the telephoto end of the lens. Colors are nice and rich, though, and the inclusion of raw shooting gives you the option to fine-tune your images later.Pro Capture mode saves photos before and after the shutter release is pressed, to help you capture the right moment You can change the magnification level to 1x, 2x or 4x by pressing the arrow pad Right button. Up to 44.4x (35 mm equivalent: 28x) is possible when using the zoom simultaneously. While the image quality from the TG-6 is fine, modern smartphones will surpass it in most situations, though once downsized to social media resolutions, it's less noticeable. But, remember, your phone isn't exactly rugged. While out-of-camera JPEGs have pleasant colors *, the lens just isn't very sharp and too much noise reduction is applied. Turning down the 'noise filter' option helps a bit, but if you're up to the challenge of processing the results, shooting Raw is the way to get the most out of the TG-6. While the TG-6's rugged specs are very impressive, when it comes to going underwater, several of its peers can go quite a bit deeper, with the Nikon Coolpix W300 (arguably the TG-6's closest competitor) able to function down to 30 meters (100 feet). If you're a snorkeler, that's no big deal, but for scuba it's a very desirable trait.

In addition to lighting your subject while the image is taken, the LG-1 also assists in composing your image, as the constant light source illuminates the subject. When using the LG-1 the camera's closest focusing distance is 1 cm, allowing the camera to lay flat on the subject and still focus. My solution was to keep using iPhones 8/8+ for most situations and a GoPro Hero5 for those moments when using the iPhone could be dangerous.Tough cameras, Oly and other brands, show mushy details that look really bad even without enlarging, specially in foliage and other fine structures. We’ve never seen an image from a toughened camera rival one from a DSLR or mirrorless model that could be bought for around the same price, and it's the same story here.