The smartphone all however pushed out the point-and-shoot digicam. However at the same time as Gen Z rediscovers dedicated compact cameras, there’s one other class that has quietly remained all alongside: the waterproof compact. Relatively than beating telephones in picture high quality, they outdo them in functionality.
In my decade of reviewing cameras, there is a compact that has lengthy sat on the prime for its sturdy construct and vibrant lens: the TG sequence from OM System (previously Olympus). The corporate not too long ago launched its newest waterproof point-and-shoot, the OM System TG-7. Waterproof all the way down to 50 toes and drop-proof from as much as 6.9 toes, the TG-7 goes the place even splash-resistant smartphones cannot.
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However heading underwater is not the one factor this digicam can do. Its macro mode can solely be described as microscopic. In fact, the query with any point-and-shoot is can it produce higher outcomes than a cellphone? I shot a number of scenes side-by-side with the TG-7 and my iPhone 15 Professional. The TG-7 received in a handful — and survived a swim and a number of drops.
OM System TG-7 Underwater Digital camera
Beneficial
A troublesome, succesful compact digicam
The OM System TG-7 is a compact digicam that may go the place different cameras cannot and take epic macro photographs. However do not count on higher than smartphone-quality photographs.
- Sturdy, waterproof physique
- Wonderful 11x macro mode
- Brilliant f2.0 lens
- Picture high quality is not excellent
- Few updates from TG-6
- No touchscreen
Value, specs and availability
The OM System TG-7 retails for $550. It is the primary TG digicam to bear the OM System label.
OM System TG-7 Underwater Digital camera
- Model
- OM System
- Sensor
- 12 megapixel 1/2.3″
- Decision
- 4,000 x 3,000
- Lens
- 4.5mm -18.0mm f2.0-f4.9
- Zoom
- 4x optical
- Show Dimension
- 3 inch
- Max burst pace
- 20 fps
- Stabilization
- Optical sensor stabilization (stills), digital stabilization (video)
- Sturdiness
- IPX8
- Video
- 4k at 30fps
- Dimensions
- Approx. 4.48 x 2.59 x 1.28″
- Weight
- 8.8 ounces
Design
Small however sturdy
You may tuck the TG-7 right into a jacket pocket or seashore bag. At lower than a pound, it is also weighs about as a lot as a cellphone.
Regardless of its stature, the TG-7 affords set of controls. The highest homes the shutter launch, zoom toggle, on/off button, and a change to rapidly flip GPS logging on and off. The buttons and dials on the again make it straightforward to rapidly change taking pictures modes, activate the self-timer, or activate the built-in flash.
For the final word sturdiness take a look at, I even handed it over to my sticky-fingered four-year-old. The TG-7 was unfazed by way of all of it.
However the spotlight of the TG-7’s design is its sturdy housing. The digicam is IP6X-certified and rated to outlive a power 220 kilos in crush checks.
I spent an hour with the TG-7 in a pool. I tossed it in a snowbank. For the final word sturdiness take a look at, I handed it over to my sticky-fingered four-year-old. The TG-7 got here out unfazed by way of all of it.
Briefly, the TG-7 can survive eventualities telephones cannot. I nonetheless cannot take my iPhone 15 Professional for an hour-long swim. And danger a cracked display screen with a 6.9-foot drop? No, thanks.
Nonetheless, the rugged construct does imply the rear LCD is not a touchscreen. Level-and-shoots not often accommodate equipment, however the TG-7 can accommodate a telephoto or fish eye adapter, in addition to a hoop mild. OM System additionally affords a housing that extends the bare digicam’s 50-foot depth ranking all the way down to round 147 toes.
Photograph and video efficiency
Robust to beat macro efficiency
Level-and-shoots aren’t recognized for his or her snappy efficiency, however the TG-7 has a number of options that set it aside. It features a 20 fps burst mode that can improve your odds of capturing the right shot. That is quicker than some mirrorless cameras.
Nonetheless, autofocus efficiency is not a energy of the TG-7. The main target level tends to remain caught in the midst of the body. The TG-7 does characteristic eye detection autofocus, which helps issues a bit.
I skilled the occasional autofocus miss with the TG-7, however general the main focus system stored up pretty effectively, particuarly for a digicam at this worth level.
The place the TG-7 shines is in how shut it will probably monitor a topic. The macro mode is so good, I used to be capable of {photograph} particular person snowflakes. It is a characteristic you simply will not discover on telephones. I may place the TG-7 in entrance of a window to {photograph} a snowflake on the opposite aspect of the glass.
OM System added a number of options to benefit from these capabilities. The TG-7 can carry out focus stacking in digicam to supply sharper photographs. There isn’t any want to make use of Photoshop, and the TG-7 will save each the unique and the sharper stacked picture, so you’ll be able to at all times choose the model you like.
The TG-7’s autofocus capabilities translate to video too. Clips characteristic an identical stage of sharpness and vibrancy as stills. Nonetheless, as TG-7 is proscribed to 4K seize at 30fps, and the stabilization is digital solely, video efficiency is not the explanation to purchase this digicam.
For stills, optical sensor stabilization is obtainable. It is not as succesful as what you may discover on OM System’s mirrorless cameras, but it surely’s nonetheless a pleasant increase when capturing low-light snaps and utilizing the 4x zoom.
Picture high quality
Good however not nice
After I examined the TG-7, I took a number of side-by-side snapshots with my iPhone 15 Pro to check picture high quality. OM System’s waterproof compact excelled in a number of areas, although ultimately I most popular the iPhone for capturing low-light and indoor scenes.
The TG-7 encompasses a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch backlit sensor that is pretty typical for a point-and-shoot. The truth is, it is the identical sensor you may discover on the TG-6. It is really a fantastic mannequin to check with the most recent iPhone as a result of the 4,000 x 3,000 decision stills produced by the TG-7 are shut sufficient to these captured by the iPhone. In most eventualities, I discovered photographs from the TG-7 had been roughly on par with these from the iPhone.
What units the TG-7 other than different waterproof compacts is its lens. At its widest, the lens has a vibrant f2 aperture that allows extra mild than the common compact digicam. Moreover, the lens has a 4x optical zoom, however low-light high quality drops when utilizing the zoom performance as a result of the aperture narrows to f4.9 on the lengthy finish.
The TG-7 produces sharp and colourful photographs. At occasions, the sharpness feels a bit over-the-top, however for a compact digicam, it is fairly good. Even heading underwater, the TG-7 retains good shade and element — although, like several digicam underwater, it may be influenced by the readability of the water.
That stated, probably the most enjoyable I had with the TG-7 was that microscope mode I discussed. Issue within the in-camera focus stacking and you may get some nice outcomes. There’s some occasional shade fringing, however contemplating the worth, it is forgivable.
I used to be much less impressed with the TG-7 after I took it indoors. Once you’re outdoors adventuring, it is easy to overlook that it is a fundamental point-and-shoot. Inside, photographs rapidly turn out to be grainy. I most popular the photographs that I took with the iPhone in a darkish hallway.
The TG-7 lacks a full handbook mode, but it surely does embrace an aperture precedence choice, and it will probably shoot RAW recordsdata for extra versatile edits.
Verdict
The OM System TG-7 can go the place most telephones and different cameras cannot, making it match for anybody with an adventurous spirit. The TG-7 can be a wonderful choice for youths too previous for a chintzy toy digicam however not but sufficiently old to be trusted to maintain a mirrorless digicam. I really purchased its predecessor, the TG-6, for my 11-year-old. Apart for a number of small scratches on the display screen, it is nearly as good because the day it got here out of the field.
Nonetheless, that is additionally one among my hesitations for recommending the TG-7. Exterior the brand new OM System title on the entrance and the change to a USB-C port, there are few variations between the TG-6 and TG-7. If you happen to do not thoughts the microUSB port, it can save you $50 by going with the older mannequin. A bigger sensor would have helped the digicam to beat out a smartphone in each class. I would not advocate the TG-7 for any sort of restricted mild. It isn’t going to beat out your present cellphone in these conditions.
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My different hesitation is worth — you’ll be able to decide up a GoPro Hero 11 Black for $200 much less. The motion digicam is video-focused, nevertheless, and would not supply the identical macro capabilities. Nonetheless, it is a hefty worth in case you’re simply selecting up a water-proof digicam for a once-in-a-lifetime trip and never common use.
The OM System TG-7’s largest benefit goes the place a smartphone cannot and getting nearer than even a pro-grade macro lens. However in case you’re on the lookout for a compact digicam that may beat out the photographs coming out of your cellphone in each regard, this is not it.
OM System TG-7 Underwater Digital camera
$520 $550 Save $30
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