Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Truthful Review

Olympus Tough TG-6 Digital Camera

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a camera that is actually used at Truthful Review, and in fact the earlier TG-4 was used for some years so our experience with the Tough series apart from the review itself is first hand. The Olympus Tough TG-6 is designed to take a beating and as you might imagine for a camera with a 'tough' designation it is submersible, water proof, shock proof, works in the cold, it's drop proof and well... almost indestructible! It's designed to be a very robust camera no matter what you throw at it.

And of course there are many features that this camera has that make it a very versatile camera. Olympus has of course been in business for many years and they are likely to know how to make a camera. The TG-6 is small, compact and has a 12 megapixel sensor inside. But there is far more to this camera than just an average to low(ish) pixel count as you will see as we move for ward with this truthful review.

olympus-tg-6-camera-truthful-review

Nice bright red livery and a camera that is a workhorse for tough cameras

What's in the box?

The camera itself
A 'standard' battery
A battery charger and cable
A USB cable
Safety manuals
Instructions

Assembly

Anyone remotely familiar with cameras and batteries can assemble this unit and make it work. There is little else to comment here - it really is that simple.

Features

The Olympus TG-6 has many features, and if you're like a typical user then you will find that some features are used all the time and yet other features remain less so. Below is a list of the main features that Olympus mentions and some of those features are very useful for a small camera as the TG-6 really is:

12 mega pixel resolution
Backlit sensor 1/2.3"
4 x optical zoom (but more on that later)
Built in Wi-Fi
GPS enabled
Waterproof to 15 metres
Shock proof (can be dropped up to 2.1 metres)
Crush proof (up to 100kg)
Zoom lens of 4.5-18mm (equates to 25-200mm equivalent)
F2 wide angle lens
1cm distance from subject when you need to get really close
100-12,800 ISO
Included flash
Microscope mode for close-up shots with 4 different shooting modes
20fps burst mode shooting
4K video mode
Image stabilization

Of course the specifications can go on and on and in any review those can be discussed ad-infinitum. It's clear that for some users it will be an all round camera and great for the rough and tumble photographers, vloggers and others. Here are a few of the things that certainly have a place:

Robust Design: There will always be a place for a camera that can take it all, from being dropped in water - submersible, can take the knocks, can literally be stamped on (but we did NOT try it!), is not susceptible to any type of ingress and that sort of thing. It makes the Olympus TG-6 a brilliant camera for things like holidays, or loaning to children for example, and they can almost use it in any situation. Let's face it, the Tough by name and Tough by nature really does apply and there are not so many cameras particularly in this price range that has the sheer robustness integral to the camera. They did a great job and you can depend on the TG-6 to take whatever you throw at it. Importantly the camera is just 253 grams in weight!
Resolution: It's worth noting that the TG-4 had a 16MP sensor, so this TG-6 is effectively a downgrade from the old TG-4 (which we used in our offices for some time also). But the lower MP capacity does have other benefits that really allow this TG-6 to be a rather better tool than the old TG-4. The TG-6 operates better in low light - a benefit we can attest to ourselves. The screen at the rear is also double the resolution of the TG-5 and that's useful too.
Microscope Features: However you might look at the TG-6 (or earlier TG series) one of the best features for the Truthful Review offices involved the TG-4 (and TG-5) and it's microscope mode - thankfully included on the TG-6. If you need a camera that can get really close to a subject then this camera is probably one of the best we have seen. On occasion in review creation sometimes there is a need for PCB or chip photographs and the TG series is exceptional. While there is a limit to the amount of zoom available, for most regular users the TG-6 is hard to beat.
Underwater Shooting: Yes that's right the TG-6 can do a great job if you want to take it under water for some shooting (or video) underwater. There is even an underwater mode added to the TG-6 so that it can create good quality video or photos even in reduced lighting underwater thanks to that slightly reduced megapixel count - see it really does make a difference!
Anti-Fog Feature: Stops the usual fogging of the lens when going from cold to hot surroundings - a great and useful feature.
Multi-Frame Image Capture: Create a whole sequence of shots to ensure you get 'the one' that you really needed!

There are so many features that this could easily be a very extended review, but bear in mind that the camera is not really designed for 'experts' or 'professionals', but rather the ordinary user or general photography, although here at Truthful Review we can't speak highly enough about the Olympus Tough TG-6 and some of its excellent features - and without it to be honest, some reviews would lack close-up shots that this camera can produce. There are some professionals that could use the device of course, but the lower resolution might be a step away from their needs. The processor in the unit is a TruePic VIII.

Accessories: There are (believe it or not) a plethora of accessories that help to make the TG-6 an even more flexible camera than you might imagine. Here's some of them:

PT-059 Underwater case. This case extends the under water ability to up to 45 metres depth.
CSCH-127 Silicone jacket. Protects the camera housing from scratches when in use.
LG1 Light guide.
LB-T01 Lens barrier. Protects the lens against dirt and scratches.
FCON-T02 Fisheye converter. A CLA-T01 is needed to fit the converter, and allows a fast switch from circular to diagonal fisheye.
UC-92 Lithium ion battery charger. This charges the battery in about two and a half hours.

Warranty

Registering the unit with Olympus increases the warranty for a further 6 months over and above the standard warranty from Olympus for the TG-6.

Summing up

There is no doubt that the TG-6 is a great camera for outdoor use or where dirt, grime or liquids are concerned. Finding a camera like this is hard and Truthful Review thinks this is likely one of the best cameras for the £449.00 that the camera is on offer for - and it can be found a little cheaper if you look around!

Overall Score

While this camera is really a specialized camera and won't suit everyone, if you have a need for something as robust as the TG-6 is, then this is a great choice. The microscope option is frankly breathtaking for the money involved and can't easily be beaten from any regular off the shelf camera that Trusted Review knows of. The TG-6 therefore gets an 8 out of 10 but its well worth careful consideration if you need something like the Olympus TG-6. The TG-4 and TG-5 (maybe used) is also useful if you need the microscope feature that was included in those devices.

Conclusions

Buy it!

Review: Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera

Olympus Tough TG-6 Digital Camera