The smartphone all however pushed out the point-and-shoot digital camera. 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. Slightly 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 right 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.
Digital point-and-shoot cameras are in again. Here’s what to know before buying one
Sorry, ’90s infants. Your aesthetic is classic now, nevertheless it’s again in model and a point-and-shoot is the right option to obtain it.
However heading underwater is not the one factor this digital camera 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
Advisable
A troublesome, succesful compact digital camera
The OM System TG-7 is a compact digital camera that may go the place different cameras cannot and take epic macro images. However do not anticipate higher than smartphone-quality images.
- Sturdy, waterproof physique
- Wonderful 11x macro mode
- Vivid 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 digital camera 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 presents an excellent set of controls. The highest homes the shutter launch, zoom toggle, on/off button, and a swap 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 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 digital camera 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 final 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 gentle. OM System additionally presents a housing that extends the bare digital camera’s 50-foot depth ranking right down to round 147 toes.
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 number of options that set it aside. It features a 20 fps burst mode that may enhance your odds of capturing the right shot. That is sooner than some mirrorless cameras.
Nevertheless, autofocus efficiency is not a power 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 total the main target system saved up pretty properly, particuarly for a digital camera at this value level.
The place the TG-7 shines is in how shut it could possibly monitor a topic. The macro mode is so good, I used to be capable of {photograph} particular person snowflakes. This can be 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 number of options to take advantage of these capabilities. The TG-7 can carry out focus stacking in digital camera to provide 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’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. Nevertheless, as TG-7 is restricted to 4K seize at 30fps, and the stabilization is digital solely, video efficiency is not the rationale to purchase this digital camera.
For stills, optical sensor stabilization is on the market. It is not as succesful as what you will discover on OM System’s mirrorless cameras, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a pleasant enhance 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 number of side-by-side snapshots with my iPhone 15 Pro to match 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 includes a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch backlit sensor that is pretty typical for a point-and-shoot. In reality, it is the identical sensor you will discover on the TG-6. It is really a fantastic mannequin to match 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 images from the TG-7 have 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 permits extra gentle than the common compact digital camera. 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 digital camera, it is fairly good. Even heading underwater, the TG-7 retains good shade and element — although, like all digital camera underwater, it should 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 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 once I took it indoors. Once you’re exterior adventuring, it is simple to overlook that it is a primary point-and-shoot. Inside, photos rapidly develop into grainy. I most popular the photographs that I took with the iPhone in a darkish hallway.
The TG-7 lacks a full handbook mode, nevertheless it does embody an aperture precedence possibility, and it could possibly 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 an excellent match for anybody with an adventurous spirit. The TG-7 can be a wonderful possibility for youths too outdated for a chintzy toy digital camera however not but sufficiently old to be trusted to maintain a mirrorless digital camera. I really purchased its predecessor, the TG-6, for my 11-year-old. Apart for a number 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. Exterior the brand new OM System title on the entrance and the swap to a USB-C port, there are few variations between the TG-6 and TG-7. When you do not thoughts the microUSB port, it can save you $50 by going with the older mannequin. A bigger sensor would have helped the digital camera to beat out a smartphone in each class. I would not suggest the TG-7 for any sort of restricted gentle. It isn’t going to beat out your present cellphone in these conditions.
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My different hesitation is value — you’ll be able to choose up a GoPro Hero 11 Black for $200 much less. The motion digital camera is video-focused, nonetheless, and does not provide the identical macro capabilities. Nonetheless, it is a hefty value for those who’re simply choosing up a water-resistant digital camera 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 for those who’re searching for a compact digital camera 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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