Verdict
The OM organization baffling TG-7 is never going to beat even an ingress - horizontal surface mirrorless camera on image performance ( although its macro shooting is rattling ) , but its undestroyable and waterproof purpose intend it can operate in places and situation that would demolish most electronic devices . Its package of sensors , meanwhile , will invoke to traveller who want to keep elaborated record of their exploits .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Thanks to smartphones , the sac - size compact camera market has all but conk out over the preceding ten geezerhood or so . One full stop - and - shoot enclave , however , has held out resolutely : the rugged camera . Nigh - on indestructible , these compacts can go to places your iPhone wo n’t – and take photo there .
Perhaps the best - known rugged compact range around , Olympus ’ ( now OM Systems’)Tough seriesis now on its seventh iteration .
At a shade under £ 500/$500 its latest manakin , the Tough TG-7 , is n’t cheap but it promises 4 K video and eminent - quality photos alongside build timber that ’ll survive your barbaric outdoor adventures – or even just your day business on a construction site .
Let ’s discover out if the OM System Tough TG-7 can live up to its name .
Design
For a broken camera , the TG-7 depend the part . With its visible jailer , needlelike angles and chunky hand grip , it ’s like the photography equivalent of a Casio G - Shock watch . My revue sample came in a vivid cherry metallic finale , and this salient colourway is n’t just a style affair – it also makes the camera easier to see if drop in a forest , snowfield or sea .
I more often than not use my review samples carefully , and while I was never going to throw the TG-7 around to put its claims of penny-pinching - indomitability to the test , I certainly did n’t treat it with kid gloves . And , after a calendar week of use during which it was dunked in the ocean , plunge into a packsack alongside other items and generally battered around , I ’m happy to describe that it look and works exactly the same as when it came out of its loge .
The camera isIP68rated , which mean it ’s entirely protect against dust entry ( the ‘ 6 ’ part of the military rating ) and suitable for permanent immersion in water ( the ‘ 8 ’ ) ; OM System says the TG-7 can be select to a depth of 15 m ( 50 foot ) without extra protection . One thing you need to ascertain ( and the tv camera helpfully remind you to do it , too ) is that the seal on the double - locking battery and connection door are free of sand or interchangeable objects when you close them .
It ’s also freezeproof to -10ºC , shockproof against fall of up to 2.1 m and crushproof against loads of up to 100 kilogram . Additionally , the double layer of Methedrine protect the lens ensures that it does n’t get obnubilate up if you abruptly move from one temperature extreme to another .
It ’s also lightweight and pocketable and still manage to have a pretty full - on array of physical controls available on the exterior . I will say that many of the buttons and dials are quite little , which may not suit drug user wearing gloves , but the zoom rocker and shutter button are easy to find and use – even in the dark or underwater .
There ’s a pretty standard - look 3 - inch screen on the back , but unlike on most tv camera these days , it ’s not a touchscreen – possibly due to the thick layer of protective glass that sit on top of it .
I should also cite the huge range of accessory that OM System offer for the TG-7 . These range from simple silicone pillowcase that add extra tribute , to lens teleconverters and macro lights , to a full - on prima donna example that let you take the tv camera 45 molarity below ocean degree . This orotund , supportive ecosystem feels like ample proof that the manufacturer takes the TG-7 seriously , and can earnestly expand its capabilities .
Features and Performance
Speaking of capableness , there ’s more to the TG-7 ’s adventurousness than its rugged build . It also descend with a suite of incorporate bailiwick sensors that appropriate it to embed photos and video recording with extremely elaborate locating information .
Not only is there build - in GPS , but a compass , thermometer and manometer ( an atmospherical pressure gauge , used for check altitude ) , so that when you look back on your shots in years to come , you ’ll really be capable to see what was going on when you have them .
A ‘ log ’ switch on top of the photographic camera can be used to speedily become off the sensors , and I realised , to my cost , that it ’ll unceasingly be recording location data if switch on – even if the camera itself is n’t being used . This will drain the battery astonishingly apace , so it ’s worth keep it turned off unless you really , really need it .
With the logging turned off , shelling animation is much more sane . OM System arrogate you could take around 300 exposure on a full charge , and my examination indicate that that ’s accurate . For 1080p/60fps video , I recorded an minute of video and noticed that the battery streak had only depleted by a third . However , 4 potassium video would credibly enfeeble power more quickly .
There ’s no AC courser in the TG-7 ’s boxful . It come with a single USB - A to USB - C cable for charging , and charging must be done with the battery in - tv camera . The USB - C port wine can also be used for data transfer , of course , but not for constant big businessman supplying . The only other physical connection found here is a micro HDMI , although the photographic camera does come with Bluetooth and Wi - Fi as well . Storage come courtesy of a single SD batting order slot .
The TG-7 derive with sensor - shift image stabilization , offering the equivalent of around 2.5 check of correction against camera shake . While that might not sound like much , couple with the wide-eyed - angle electron lens it does signify handheld shots feel middling regular .
Autofocus is basic , with no capable realization options . you may choose between a spacious focus area , a diminished focal point area or tracking ( in which you may select the tracked subject by hitting the ‘ okay ’ button on the back of the camera ) . They all work fine , without being particularly fast .
Image Quality
The TG-7 get with a small and relatively low - resolution sensing element ( it ’s 1/2.33 - column inch and 12MP ) , but I found its figure quality to be surprisingly honorable . At least compare to a smartphone which is , have ’s face it , what the TG-7 is in all likelihood being used as a replacement for in most cases . In good lighting , JPEGs straight out of the television camera have adorable vibrant colours and a decent amount of contingent .
The 4x optical soar crystalline lens has a maximum aperture of F2.0 at its widest place setting ( rising to F4.9 at 4x zoom ) , which is n’t too bad either – although I sure enough would n’t recommend this as a gloomy promiscuous television camera . Thankfully there ’s both a flashing and an light-emitting diode lamp on add-in , and the pick to shoot in altogether as well as JPEG means that those who want the very best images potential can fine-tune their shots in mail - production .
The one photo area in which the TG-7 really shines is macro photography . It can focus on objects very close to the lense and dissolve them in fantabulous sharp point . It also features a build - in focus stacking mood to get around the extremely shallow depth - of - field that unremarkably appears when macro images are take .
TV can be captured at 4 K ( in 30fps or 25fps ) or Full HD ( at up to 60fps ) . Interestingly , the frame is cropped quite heavily when read in 4 K , but not during Full HD recording .
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Should you buy it?
With its IP68 build , anti - fog glass and submersed adaptability , this camera is staring for uncongenial environments .
action mechanism cams ’ ultra - full lenses , tops - liquid stabilisation and blanket scope of picture modes suit mutant better than the TG-7 . I would advocate theGoPro Hero 12 Black .
Final Thoughts
The image caliber is decent rather than arresting , but it ’s the OM System Tough TG-7 ’s rugged , adventure - ready design that generate it its dependable appealingness .
If you ’re looking for a up to camera that can go to place you would n’t want to take your expensive mirrorless or risk your smartphone , the all - weather condition , all - action TG-7 is more than up to the task . If you desire something more establish , go for theGoPro Hero 12 Blackor ensure out thebest camera phones .
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How we test
We test every television camera we review thoroughly . We use coiffe trial to liken feature properly and we use it as our primary machine over the review flow . We ’ll always tell you what we find and we never , ever , accept money to review a product .
FAQs
Yes , the camera is rated IP68 for rubble and water electrical resistance .
The OM system of rules Tough TG-7 matter 249 g include its fixed lens .
Full Specs
