The smartphone all however pushed out the point-and-shoot digicam. However whilst Gen Z rediscovers dedicated compact cameras, there’s one other class that has quietly remained all alongside: the waterproof compact. Reasonably 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 high for its sturdy construct and shiny lens: the TG collection from OM System (previously Olympus). The corporate lately launched its newest waterproof point-and-shoot, the OM System TG-7. Waterproof all the way down to 50 ft and drop-proof from as much as 6.9 ft, 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 telephone? I shot a number of scenes side-by-side with the TG-7 and my iPhone 15 Professional. The TG-7 gained in a handful — and survived a swim and a number of drops.
OM System TG-7 Underwater Digicam
Really helpful
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
- Glorious 11x macro mode
- Vibrant f2.0 lens
- Picture high quality is not excellent
- Few updates from TG-6
- No touchscreen
Worth, 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 Digicam
- 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 velocity
- 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 seaside bag. At lower than a pound, it is also weighs about as a lot as a telephone.
Regardless of its stature, the TG-7 gives a great 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 capturing modes, activate the self-timer, or activate the built-in flash.
For the last word sturdiness check, I even handed it over to my sticky-fingered four-year-old. The TG-7 was unfazed via 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 pressure 220 kilos in crush exams.
I spent an hour with the TG-7 in a pool. I tossed it in a snowbank. For the last word sturdiness check, I handed it over to my sticky-fingered four-year-old. The TG-7 got here out unfazed via all of it.
In brief, the TG-7 can survive situations telephones cannot. I nonetheless cannot take my iPhone 15 Professional for an hour-long swim. And threat a cracked display with a 6.9-foot drop? No, thanks.
Nevertheless, 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 gives a housing that extends the bare digicam’s 50-foot depth score all the way down to round 147 ft.
Picture 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 couple of options that set it aside. It features a 20 fps burst mode that can enhance your odds of capturing the proper shot. That is sooner than some mirrorless cameras.
Nevertheless, autofocus efficiency is not a energy of the TG-7. The main target level tends to remain caught in the course 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 properly, particuarly for a digicam at this worth level.
The place the TG-7 shines is in how shut it may possibly observe 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 might place the TG-7 in entrance of a window to {photograph} a snowflake on the opposite aspect of the glass.
OM System added a couple of options to profit from these capabilities. The TG-7 can carry out focus stacking in digicam to supply sharper photos. There is not any want to make use of Photoshop, and the TG-7 will save each the unique and the sharper stacked picture, so you may all the time choose the model you favor.
The TG-7’s autofocus capabilities translate to video too. Clips characteristic the same stage of sharpness and vibrancy as stills. Nevertheless, as TG-7 is restricted 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 out there. 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
Once I examined the TG-7, I took a couple of side-by-side snapshots with my iPhone 15 Pro to check picture high quality. OM System’s waterproof compact excelled in a couple of areas, although in the long run 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. Actually, it is the identical sensor you may discover on the TG-6. It is truly an ideal mannequin to check with the newest 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 situations, I discovered photographs from the TG-7 have been roughly on par with these from the iPhone.
What units the TG-7 aside from different waterproof compacts is its lens. At its widest, the lens has a shiny f2 aperture that permits extra mild than the typical 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 photos. At instances, 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 coloration and element — although, like several digicam underwater, it will be influenced by the readability of the water.
That stated, essentially the most enjoyable I had with the TG-7 was that microscope mode I discussed. Issue within the in-camera focus stacking and you will get some nice outcomes. There’s some occasional coloration fringing, however contemplating the value, it is forgivable.
I used to be much less impressed with the TG-7 once I took it indoors. Once you’re exterior adventuring, it is easy to overlook that it is a primary point-and-shoot. Inside, photos rapidly turn out to be grainy. I most popular the pictures that I took with the iPhone in a darkish hallway.
The TG-7 lacks a full guide mode, but it surely does embody an aperture precedence possibility, and it may possibly shoot RAW information for extra versatile edits.
Verdict
The OM System TG-7 can go the place most telephones and different cameras cannot, making it a great match for anybody with an adventurous spirit. The TG-7 can also be a superb possibility for youths too outdated for a chintzy toy digicam however not but sufficiently old to be trusted to deal with a mirrorless digicam. I truly purchased its predecessor, the TG-6, for my 11-year-old. Apart for a couple of small scratches on the display, it is pretty much as good because the day it got here out of the field.
Nevertheless, that is additionally one in all my hesitations for recommending the TG-7. Outdoors the brand new OM System identify on the entrance and the change to a USB-C port, there are few variations between the TG-6 and TG-7. For those who 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 suggest the TG-7 for any sort of restricted mild. It isn’t going to beat out your present telephone in these conditions.
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My different hesitation is worth — you may decide up a GoPro Hero 11 Black for $200 much less. The motion digicam is video-focused, nonetheless, and would not supply the identical macro capabilities. Nonetheless, it is a hefty worth in case you’re simply selecting up a water-resistant 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 searching for a compact digicam that may beat out the pictures coming out of your telephone in each regard, this is not it.
OM System TG-7 Underwater Digicam
$520 $550 Save $30
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