Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation positions the 16-megapixel Olympus Tough TG-4 as a top-tier, highly durable camera featuring exceptional ruggedness (waterproof to 15m, shockproof to 2.1m) and a bright f/2.0 lens. Key advantages include the addition of RAW format support, which significantly improves image quality by allowing users to bypass aggressive JPEG noise reduction, alongside impressive, fast, and responsive performance with a solid 380-shot battery life. Conversely, the review notes significant limitations, specifically the lack of manual exposure controls, underwhelming video quality, and the inability to use continuous shooting while in RAW mode. The camera is also criticized for using a proprietary USB connector rather than a standard micro-USB port, hindering convenience for travelers. Despite these drawbacks, it is recommended for its intended use as a durable, compact, and capable, action-ready shooter.

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 is a rugged 16-megapixel compact camera featuring an f/2.0 lens, designed for extreme conditions with waterproofing to 15m, shockproofing to 2.1m, and freezeproofing to -10°C. Key upgrades include RAW format shooting, focus stacking, and Live Composite mode, complimented by fast performance and a 380-shot battery life. However, the 4x zoom lens produces soft images at the telephoto end, and video quality is considered mediocre. Further limitations include a non-standard charging cable and a subpar panorama mode, though the camera remains a strong choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

Olympus Tough TG-4 Review Summary The Olympus Tough TG-4 is a highly versatile 16MP compact camera designed for demanding outdoor and underwater environments, functioning flawlessly without a housing down to 50 feet (15 meters). Standout performance features include its rugged build, which makes it crushproof up to 220 lbf, shockproof up to 7 feet, freezeproof to 14°F, and fully dustproof. A major upgrade from its predecessor is the inclusion of RAW image recording, giving photographers extensive control during post-processing. Additionally, the camera features an impressive Microscope Mode that allows extreme close-up macro focusing right against the lens cap, an Underwater HDR mode, and a fast f/2.0 lens ideal for low-light environments. It also provides seamless connectivity through built-in Wi-Fi and GPS for easy sharing via the Olympus Share app. Despite its high versatility, the TG-4 has notable limitations for advanced users. Its main drawback is the lack of a fully manual exposure mode, restricting creative flexibility to Aperture Priority or automatic Program modes. Furthermore, using its high-speed burst shooting mode restricts image saving to JPEG files instead of RAW. While...

The Olympus TG-4 is a highly durable, rugged compact camera engineered to withstand extreme conditions, boasting waterproof capabilities up to 50 feet, shockproofing from heights of 7 feet, crushproofing up to 220 pounds, and freezeproofing down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Its standout upgrade is the inclusion of RAW image capture, making it the first rugged compact camera of its kind to offer this feature. While it lacks a fully manual shooting mode, photographers can utilize Aperture Priority mode to leverage its fast f/2.0 wide-angle zoom lens for pleasing bokeh effects. The camera features innovative specialized shooting settings, including an impressive Microscope mode that focuses as close as 1 cm away, an automated Live Composite mode for effortless light painting and star trails, and an Underwater mode equipped with an underwater HDR composite feature. It also shoots video in various formats up to 1080p with helpful image stabilization and connects effortlessly to mobile devices via a quick QR code scan on the Olympus ImageShare app. However, the camera does come with several distinct limitations and drawbacks. On the performance side, image...

The Olympus Tough TG-4 is a rugged, pocket-sized camera designed to survive demanding underwater and outdoor adventures. Natively waterproof down to 50 feet (or 150 feet when paired with the Olympus PT-056 housing), this camera stands out primarily because it introduces RAW format shooting, offering uncompressed files with a massive step forward in image quality over its predecessor. Reviewer Jim Decker emphasizes its unrivaled Microscope mode, which achieves the largest reproduction ratio of any compact camera by letting users shoot incredibly sharp, ultra-close-up macro images without requiring an expensive accessory lens. Furthermore, the addition of a custom white balance feature provides highly accurate colors for 1080p video in the shallows, while its live focus tracking operates rapidly like a dedicated camcorder. Despite its unbeatable value and ruggedness, the review highlights distinct limitations. A notable drawback is the complete lack of a manual exposure mode, which restricts overall creative control and forces users to rely heavily on automatic modes or aperture priority. In terms of lighting, the default minimum shutter speed when using a flash is a slow 1/30 second, demanding...

The Olympus TG-4 is a highly capable, durable, and intuitive 16-megapixel compact camera that stands out for underwater photography and snorkeling. It is waterproof up to 50 feet without a housing and becomes fully operational at recreational diving depths when paired with compatible polycarbonate or aluminum housings. The reviewer praises its impressively fast autofocus in low light, an extensive battery life of roughly 380 shots per charge, and a unique, industry-leading "Microscope" mode that achieves a minimum focus distance of just 1cm. Additionally, it supports RAW file formatting, features a highly accurate "one-touch" custom white balance that stores two separate depth configurations, and seamlessly integrates with optical TTL strobes and various third-party wet mount conversion lenses (such as FIX and INON) to expand its 25mm inherent lens into ultra-wide or fisheye perspectives. However, the camera has notable limitations for advanced shooters, primarily the complete absence of full Manual or Shutter Priority shooting modes, leaving users with no direct control over shutter speed. While Program and Aperture Priority modes work exceptionally well with exposure compensation underwater, capturing fast-moving marine subjects requires...

The Olympus TG-4 Tough is an exceptional, rugged point-and-shoot camera designed for extreme environments. It stands out as a highly durable choice for families and adventurers who enjoy activities like scuba diving, climbing, and snowboarding. The review praises its physical strength. The camera can go up to 50 feet underwater, survive 7-foot drops, handle freezing cold, and resist crushing. Key performance pros include a very fast f/2.0 lens, a super quick autofocus system, and an amazing macro mode that focuses just 1 cm away. Most notably, it is the only camera in its class that allows you to shoot in RAW format, giving users maximum photo editing control. It also packs helpful features like a dedicated video button, a bright LCD screen, built-in Wi-Fi, and a GPS that works underwater. However, the review also highlights a few notable cons. The camera features a massive array of shooting modes, which can feel quite overwhelming to navigate. The user interface makes it tedious to scroll through all the options, making it a bit of a guessing game to find the right setting...

The Olympus Stylus TG-4 is a durable, 16-megapixel camera featuring a 4x optical zoom and robust waterproofing, with Consumer Reports highlighting excellent daytime, outdoor image quality and fast performance. Key features include RAW format support, built-in GPS, effective close-range flash, and high-quality construction suitable for rugged environments. However, the review notes the camera captures only fair-quality, 1080p video and audio, and the flash struggles to illuminate distant subjects in low light. Additional drawbacks include a lack of full manual exposure controls and the absence of a viewfinder, limiting creative control compared to traditional cameras.

The DPReview conclusion identifies the Olympus Tough TG-4 as a top-tier rugged camera, praising its exceptional durability, fast f/2.0 lens, and the addition of RAW shooting capability, which enhances image quality. Key strengths include a rock-solid build and impressive low-light performance, making it an excellent choice for active, underwater, or outdoor environments. However, the camera is limited by restricted aperture control and underwhelming video quality, which appears soft and unimpressive. Additionally, while RAW helps, JPEG output still suffers from aggressive noise reduction on its small sensor, resulting in loss of fine detail in certain shooting conditions.

The Olympus Tough TG-4 is a pocket-friendly, rugged compact camera designed for extreme environments, earning an "Excellent" 4.0 rating and an Editors' Choice award. While its core hardware design remains largely unchanged from its predecessors, this iteration introduces highly anticipated Raw shooting support, allowing photographers to bypass the camera's somewhat flawed in-camera JPG processing. Key technical specifications include a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a bright f/2 wide-angle lens with a 4x optical zoom range (25-100mm equivalent), and a 3-inch fixed LCD screen. The camera also boasts advanced connectivity features like built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, enabling seamless location tracking and remote control functionality via the Olympus Image Share app. Performance testing highlights notable strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, the TG-4 features exceptional durability, certified waterproof up to 50 feet, drop-proof from 7 feet, and highly resistant to crushing, dust, and freezing temperatures. It also features a unique microscope macro mode, speedy 0.07-second autofocus lock, and a 5fps continuous shooting speed. However, the camera suffers from several drawbacks, including a waxy, oversharpened default JPG output and an increased level of grain...