The latest flagship camera in the popular Olympus range of Tough TG cameras, the Tough TG-6, has been officially announced, and it seems the leaks were right on the money.
Dustproof, waterproof to 15m, shockproof to 2.1m, crushproof to 100kg, and freezeproof to -10°C, the Tough TG-6 is everything we’ve come to expect from this series, one of the best lines of tough cameras on the market.
Like its predecessor the TG-5, the TG-6 carries a 12MP backlit 1/2.3in sensor, an f/2 lens with an equivalent focal range of 25-100mm and the TruePic VIII imaging engine also seen on the Olympus OM-D E-M1X, all of which allow it to produce impressively vivid and colour-rich images, even in challenging conditions. It’s capable of capturing RAW files as well as JPEGs, for those who prefer to extensively edit their images post-capture.
As well as all these common features, the TG-6 physically looks a lot like the TG-5 – almost identical. So you might be forgiven for wondering – what’s new?
Olympus Tough TG-6 vs TG-5: What’s been added?
Delve under the bonnet and you’ll see that there’s actually a raft of improvements and refinements that have been added to ensure this new camera surpasses its predecessor.
For a start, the optical 4x zoom can now be digitally doubled thanks to a built-in digital teleconverter. This allows you to get even closer to your subjects, with minimal degradation in quality. Olympus has also added AR (anti-reflective) coating to the sensor sealing glass, in order to minimise flare and ghosting.
The LCD monitor has been overhauled and upgraded, and now has a resolution of 1.04million dots, a healthy upgrade over the 460,000 on the TG-5. This should make it much easier to compose and review shots on the TG-6’s screen, especially underwater.
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Speaking of underwater, the TG-6 is equipped with all the specific underwater modes from the TG-5 – Underwater Wide, Underwater Snapshot, Underwater Macro and Underwater HDR – while also throwing a new one into the mix: Underwater Microscope. This allows you to shoot close-ups from distances as short as 1cm from the lens, expanding your underwater shooting opportunities. The Underwater White Balance mode from the TG-5 has also been overhauled; whereas before it was a single setting, now it has three options for different water depths.
The general Macro Shooting mode is now available in both P and A modes, in both cases allowing you to focus at minimum distances of 1cm, and Focus Stacking mode now allows you to select the precise number of images you want to combine (between 3 and 10).
Olympus Tough TG-6: Key specifications
Sensor: 12MP 1/2.3in backlist CMOS
Lens: 25-100mm (equivalent) f/2-4.9
ISO range: 100-12,800
LCD screen: 3-inch, 1.04 million dots
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Video: 4K up to 30fps, Full HD up to 120fps
Waterproof: 15m
Shockproof: 2.1m
Dustproof: Yes
Freezeproof: -10°C
Olympus has also introduces a number of new accessories to compliment the TG-6 and expand its tough-shooting potential. These are as follows:
PT-059 Underwater Case: Extends m the camera’s maximum waterproof depth to 45m
CSCH-127 Silicone Jacket: Provides an extra layer of protection from scratches and bumps
LB-T01 Lens Barrier: Protects the front of the lens from dirt and scratches
FCON-T02 Fisheye Converter: Allows quick switching between circular fisheye and diagonal fisheye.
UC-92 Lithium Ion Battery Charger: Fully charges the TG-6’s battery in 2.5 hours.
New stocks of the Olympus Tough TG-6 are available in July, and it comes with an RRP of £449. Olympus is also offering a limited-edition Adventure Pack with pre-orders, head here for more.
Read more:
The 10 best waterproof and underwater cameras in 2019
