BEST WATERPROOF DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 REVIEWS

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 REVIEWS

Adventure in style with the latest Olympus Stylus Tough waterproof compact

Olympus was one of the first manufacturers to introduce waterproof compact cameras aimed at the consumer who wanted to take their camera off limits. While action cams, such as GoPros, have stolen some of the limelight away from tough compacts, there remains a demand for a take anywhere stills camera. Here we;re looking at the latest flagship model in Olympus's Tough line up - the Stylus TG-3.

US >> Where To Buy OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 <<

UK >> Where To Buy OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 <<

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Features

Most of the current waterproof, shockproof and freeze proof adventure cameras are, once you strip away the O-ring seals and armour plating, fairly basic compact cameras at heart, and have a strictly limited set of features. With the TG-3, Olympus has attempted to bulk this trend, and has quipped it with some features designed to appeal to the more ambitious or amateur photographer.

The TG-3 has a 4x optical zoom lens equivalent to 25-100mm. Like all waterproof compacts the lens is non protruding, while its relatively fast maximum aperture of f/2 make its good candidate for shooting in low light, it has an Aperture Priority mode to take advantage of this, although like many such options on compacts it only offers a choice of three settings: minimum, maximum or medium. Olympus claims exceptional low light capability as well, but in fact low light focusing is no better than average, and the maximum sensitivity of ISO 6400 is only a little better than most rivals.

One unusual feature is the lens bezel, which can be removed with a twist to reveal a bayonet mount for attaching various accessories, including a 6.8x tele-converter, a fish-eye converter and a macro ring flash adaptor.

The TG-3's tough credentials are fairly impressive. It is submersible to a depth of 15m and can withstand fails of 2.1m (7ft). IT can also withstand crushing pressures of 100kg and temperatures down to -10c. although most other adventure cameras boast similar capabilities.

The TG-3 does have some interesting close up features.including a 1cm macro "microscope" function, focus staking and focus bracketing. While these are useful, they're nothing new.

Other features include the now obligatory Wi-fi connectivity, built in GPS for location tagging, and 1080p video recording with stereo audio, instant start and optical zoom.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Design

Thankfully most manufacturers are moving away from making their adventure cameras look like sci-fi military hardware, in favour of a more conventional appearance, and the design of the TG-3 reflects this. It has a textured rubber grip on the right of the body and a small thumb grip area on the back, making it nice and comfortable to hold, but the control design leaves something to be desired. The on/off button, shutter button and zoom lever on the top plate are partly recessed, which helps to protect them from damage, but also makes them harder to operate when wearing gloves. Olympus's menu interface has improved markedly during the past few years as well, mostly by taking cues from other camera manufacturers, and the addition of a quick menu for commonly used settings is especially useful.

Needless to say the build quality is excellent. The two hatches have sturdy hinges, locking latches and O-ring seals, and the plastic body feels extremely tough and durable, suggesting it'll survive a battering. Meanwhile the supplied wrist strap and its steel mounting point feel like they're strong enough to tow a Land Rover.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Image quality

The combination of a decent quality lens and a 16MP sensor records a high level of detail. Image noise is also controlled well and although detail is lost a little above ISO 800, the TG-3's maximum ISO setting is certainly usable. The TG-3's lens is rather impressive for a waterproof compact. It does produce some corner blurring at wide-angle, but the centre portion is nice and sharp, and the 25mm wide-angle setting is largely free from optical distortion.

Colour reproduction in standard mode is very under saturated, making even bright colours look pale and washed out. It does have a vivid mode, but this does too far in the other direction. The automatic white balance did struggle at times, resulting in some unwanted colour casts, while the exposure metering tended to overexpose shots by about half a stop. It wasn't uncommon to experience highlights to be blown out in high contrast areas as illustrated in the image below.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Performance

The TG-3's overall performance is very good. It can start up and take a picture in well under two seconds, which is fast by current compact standards, and in single shot mode it has a shot to shot time of approximately 0.8 seconds. Focusing is fast and accurate too in bright lighting conditions. As noted previously its low light focusing could be better, but at least it fails quickly rather than hunting around. It does have a bright white LED next to the flash which can be used as a focusing aid. But bizarrely this doesn't operate in video mode.

The TG-3 has three continuous shooting modes - a full resolution 5fps mode and two high speed modes shooting at 15fps or 60fps, but at a reduced 3MP resolution.

Battery performance is also very good on the TG-3. It's powered by a sizeable 1350mAh battery and Olympus makes no specific claims for its duration, but during testing we shot over 200 frames and it was still showing a full three bars on the battery meter.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Value For Money

The adventure camera market is a lot more competitive than it used to be. Most of the main manufacturers have at least one waterproof compact in their line up and despite its pedigree the TG-3 faces stiff competition. Its one of the most expensive adventure cameras, and in terms of survivability it's not even the best. The nikon AW120 can dive to 80m and fall from 2m. Canon's Powershot D30 can go even deeper, down to 25cm. Other competitors include the Panasonic Ft-5, capable of 13m depth and the Ricoh WG-4 has an LED macro lighting system and can dive to 14m. While the option to attach add on lenses does set the TG-3 apart from its rivals and it's enjoyable to use, the rather high price is likely to drive consumers to look at its rivals first.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Verdict

The TG-3 tries to do things a little differently, and does have some very good qualities, its performance is excellent, it has a good range of features and the menu system is superb. The fast lens and Aperture Priority modes are welcome additions, however overall it's more expensive than most of its rivals, it doesn't perform as well in waterproof depth, and the option of add on lenses is just no that tempting.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 Pros And Cons

Pros
- Performance
- Creative features
- Build quality
- Menu interface
- Continuous shooting at up to 5fps
- Fast start up time
- Battery life

Cons
- Price
- Expensive add on lenses
- Some controls can be fiddly to use when wearing gloves

US >> Where To Buy OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 <<

UK >> Where To Buy OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 <<

BEST WATERPROOF DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3 REVIEWS Olympus was one of the first manufacturers to introduce waterproof compact cameras aimed at the consumer who wanted to take their camera off limits. While action cams, such as GoPros, have stolen some of the limelight away from tough compacts, there remains a demand for a take anywhere stills camera. Here we;re looking at the latest flagship model in Olympus's Tough line up - the Stylus TG-3. Andrian Manhatan OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-3

4.0 / 5

Jargon Buster

Compact System Camera (SCS)

Cameras which offer interchangeable lenses while omitting the viewfinder and mirror box construction common to DSLR cameras. There include Sony's NEX series and Olympus's PEN range, as well as NIkon's a system and Samsung's NX line of models.

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)

A digital SLR camera. which is constructed around a mirror both and pentamirror/pentaprism assembly, such as the Canon EOS 700D and Nikon D5300. These are popular among beginners. enthusiasts an professionals. thanks to their wide compatibility with different lenses, manual control over exposure and ergonomics.

Compact Camera

A small camera whose lens cannot be removed, in contrast to interchangeable lens cameras such as DSLRs. These are often cheaper than CSC and DSLR cameras. Although they usually have more limited functionality and smaller sensors.

Aperture

The aperture of a lens refers to the size of its opening which allows light through to the camera. This is created by a series of blades inside the optic, and is usually regulated through the camera body. although some older lenses have physycal aperture rings around their barrels. An aperture of f/2 of f/2.8 is classed as being large [or wide] because the opening itself is largest than those created by higher number apertures such as f/16 or f/22.

Shutter Speed

The length of time that the shutter inside the camera is open, exposing the sensor to light. Longer shutter speeds let in more light. and so are often required in low light conditions, or when the intention is to blur certain elements in the scene. Faster shutter speed are ideal for freezing motion, such as when photographing sports.

Display

The rear panel on the back of a camera which shows captured images and videos, as well as the live feed from the sensor. These are usually TFT LCD types, although some cameras now make use of Organic Light Emitting Diode [OLED] alternatives.

Resolution is usually specified in dots, compact camera displays often have 230 or 460 dots, while those displays that are on high end enthusiast compacts, CSCs and DSLRs are usually 921k dots or higher.

ISO

Also known as 'sensitivity' the ISO range of a camera determines its latitude for capturing images in different conditions. For a given camera, images captured at lower sensitivities generally contain less noise than those captured higher up, as the signal from the sensor - which contains unwanted noise requires less amplification.

Optical ViewFinder

A viewfinder which relies on an optical, rather than electronic, constructions. DSLRs are equipped which optical viewfinders, which present the view through the lens. Those on cheaper DSLRs are constructed with a hollow chamber with mirrored sides [pentamirrors] while those on pricier models feature a ground glass prism [pentaprism] which is brighter.

Electronic ViewFinder (EVF)

An electronic alternative to an optical viewfinder. These are typically integrated into bridge cameras and some Compact System Cameras, where an optical viewfinder is either not possible or less desirable. More recent EVFs are constructed from OLED panels rather than LCDs, and some of these are surprisingly detailed and bright.

Sensor Size

The physical size of the sensor inside a camera. Cameras with larger sensors often produce better quality images than those with smaller ones, as each photo-site is larger. A larger capacity allows its signal to noise ratio to be higher, as a result images stand a better chance of having a wider dynamic range and of being less affected by noise.

Burst Rate

The speed at which a camera can fire consecutive frames, given in frames per second (fps). Many recent cameras have a standard fps rate which captures at the sensor's full resolution, which further faster options which output images at a reduced pixel count. Often a camera's fastest burst mode will only be possible with focus and exposure taken from the first frame.

Neutral Density (ND) Filter

ND filters are commonly used with DSLR cameras, although some enthusiast compacts now have these integrated into their lenses. Their purpose is to reduce exposure times, so that longer shutter speeds can be used, with the 'neutral' part of their name signifying that they are designed to have no effect on the colour balance of an image.

COMPACT OR SYSTEM CAMERA

COMPACT OR SYSTEM CAMERA Sumarry

COMPACT OR SYSTEM CAMERA - If you've set aside a budget for a new camera, you'll want to know which type is going to make the best choice and why. Our complete guide runs through your best options

COMPACT OR SYSTEM CAMERA

All digital cameras are based around the same theory, sensor to capture light, then process the result and save it onto a memory card. Beyond that the functionality can vary wildly from model to model, from touch-screen controls to HD video and wide aperture lenses differentiating one from another.

Digital cameras fit into there distinct categories : Compact Camera. Compact System Camera (CSC) and Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) Cameras. All there have sub-genres within them, but there are other obvious qualities which set them apart.

Compact cameras have a fixed lens, which can't be removed and changed. This means the lens becomes a feature in itself, with some starting at a particularly wide focal length, or reaching out much further than others (or both), and others having wide maximum apertures which prove their worth in low light and for controlling depth of field.

Manual controls, the ability to record HD video and large, high resolution display or viewfinder are just a few of many other features that can be had when more money is spent.

Within the Compact Camera genre are the likes of bridge, or 'super-zoom' models, which offer a far longer zoom and a body shape akin to that of DSLR, together with manual control over shutter speed and aperture, While they can be used more creatively than regular compacts, their small sensor (relative to DSLR and CSC cameras) place restrictions on the king of image quality that can be achieved.

CSC SYSTEM

CSCs fit somewhere between compacts and DSLRs, with the benefit of a small format body and interchangeable lenses. Due to their mirror-less designs, optical viewfinders are exchanged for electronic variants that continue to get better all the time in terms of their resolution and sharpness.

Due to the lack of an established form factor, unlike DSLRs, CSCs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The majority of differences are purely aesthetic, but a fair few affect the handling quite significantly too. Some models have thin, wide bodies where as other are shaped like DSLRs to provide more to wrap your hand around.

DSLR's

DSLRs range from absolute beginner models, such as the Canon EOS 1100D, up to professional level models, such as the same company's EOS-1D X. The body shape is similar throughout, with a large hand grip and dials on the top, although most professional DSLRs are shaped to be more square than rectangular, with additional shutter release buttons and dials to make portrait- orientation shooting comfortable. The addition of an optical viewfinder is one of the unique features that differentiates a DSLR model from most CSCs and compact cameras.

The only models that buck this trend, and as a result can's quite be described as true DSLRs, are those in the Sony SLR range, whose models include the A58 and A77. The SLT construction uses a translucent mirror which means it does not need to move in order for light to pass through to the sensor, in contrast to DSLRs which flip their mirrors up at the point of exposure, As a result the burst rate is faster, with the likes of the A77 able to shoot at up to 12fps. The disadvantage, depending on your preference, is the presence of an electronic, rather than optical, viewfinder.

There are essentially two different kinds of sensor used in DSLRs : APS-C and full frame. Although full frame sensors are starting to creep into some CSCs such as the Sony Alpha 7 and 7R.

Full frame is described as such because it's roughly the same size as a 35mm negative. APS-C sensors are smaller, and as a result they only use the central part of a lens, which in turn increases their effective focal length (reducing the angle of view). This is known as a 'crop factor' Full frame lenses do not apply a crop factor to lenses, and so they maintain the same angle of view and focal length as if they were used on a film SLR.

DSLRs and CSCs also attract the attention of video-graphers, given the proliferation of HD video functionality and the range of lenses available. Many DSLRs particularly those aimed towards a more discerning audience also now incorporate ports for external microphones and have a full complement of options for different frame rates and output options as well as control over audio recording.

About Compact

Small camera, generally pocket sized, with non removable zoom lenses. Designed for convenience more than image quality, though some premium models feature larger sensors and manual controls.

Pros
small, affordable, No additional lenses required, Pocket-able, Less intimidating to use than DSLRs.

Cons
No option to change lenses for specific purposes. Small sensor not suited to all conditions.

US >> Click Here For Compact Camera products <<

UK >> Click Here For Compact Camera products <<

About Bridge 

A Bridge Camera - Looks like a DSLR but is actually a compact with a high magnification zoom lens in a DSLR shaped body - usually incorporating a large hand grip and often a viewfinder.

Pros
Long zoom, ALL in one design, Manual controls

Cons
Generally small sensors are no match to DSLR quality, Build quality can be more plasticity than a DSLR

US >> Click Here For Bridge Camera Product <<

UK >> Click Here For Bridge Camera Product <<

About CSC

An interchangeable lens camera with no optical viewing assembly but either an electronic one, or just the LCD screen to shoot with. CSCs come in a wide variety of forms with a wide range of sensor sizes, so image quality varies greatly between models.

Pros
Typical smaller than DSLRs, HD video, Interchangeable lenses, HOtshoes for accessories, Great image quality for the size.

Cons
Optical viewfinder usually not available, lens range continuing to evolve, Premium models can be expensive.

US >> Click Here For CSC Camera Product <<

UK >> Click Here For CSC Camera Product <<

About DSLR 

The choice of professionals. A DSLR features interchangeable lenses, plus an optical viewfinder that sees what the lens sees thanks to a 45'mirror and prism assembly inside the camera. THe bulkiest camera type, but the ful frame models deliver the highest image quality.

Pros
Interchangeable lenses, Manual exposure control, HD video, Excellent ergonomics

Cons
Large and weighty bodies, Expensive, Poor quality kit lenses often supplied as standard.

US >> Click Here For DSLR Camera Product <<

UK >> Click Here For DSLR Camera Product <<

Amateur Photography