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Overview of Olympus Stylus Tough TG4
When it comes to finding a 'rock-solid' camera, the Olympus Stylus Tough TG4 is a compact and sturdy option you'll be interested in. It can survive falls from up to 7 feet, and its body is resistant to dust intrusion. You can even apply pressure up to 100 kg on the camera body.
But does it meet the standards of being the best waterproof camera? The TG4 needs to perform underwater. While it may not allow deep-sea diving, it can withstand depths of up to 50 feet, making it effective for quick underwater shots in various situations. The 50-feet water depth of the TG4 is a significant improvement over older Stylus Tough waterproof cameras.
Advantages:
- Powerful and robust camera capable of capturing raw files
- Excellent integrated GPS for underwater photography
- Optional LED ring light around the lens enables excellent close-up underwater shots
- Extended battery life surpasses the average of other waterproof cameras
- Design is a significant improvement over the rugged Olympus models of the past, such as the bulky Olympus Stylus Tough 8000
Cons:
- Low-light images lack quality without LED light
- Common noise in images at higher ISO settings
- Optical zoom limited to 4X
- Flash range could be stronger
Design and Build of Olympus Stylus Tough TG4 Camera
In contrast to the boxy, almost industrial look of previous Olympus waterproof camera models, such as the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020, the Olympus TG4 features a sleeker design with rounded edges. The lens housing has been moved to the center of the TG4 compared to the older Stylus Tough camera design with the lens in the top corner.
One disappointment with this model is its small 4X optical zoom lens. The lens housing itself doesn't extend beyond the camera body, allowing the TG4 to maintain a waterproof seal. But by keeping the F 2.0 zoom lens inside the camera body, the optical zoom capability in the Tough TG4 is significantly limited compared to other compact cameras.
Waterproof Feature
The standout feature of this underwater camera is its integrated GPS system. Determining the location of underwater photos can be challenging when reviewing them at home weeks after your trip due to the lack of recognizable landmarks underwater. However, the GPS unit can tag each photo with your precise location, making it easy to accurately remember where you captured each shot. The Tough TG4 also features a built-in compass.
The TG4 can operate at depths of up to 50 feet, an improvement over older cameras like the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010, which could function at depths of only 33 feet. While not matching the underwater depth of the Canon D30 (82 feet), the 50-foot depth will meet the needs of most people in most situations.
Additionally, the Stylus Tough TG4 can survive drops of up to 7 feet, withstand impacts of up to 220 pounds, and operate in temperatures as low as 14 degrees F.
Image Quality of Olympus Stylus Tough TG4
The TG4 improves upon previous Olympus Tough models by combining a 16-megapixel resolution, compared to the 12-megapixel resolution in older cameras. The Pro Capture Low-Light mode is also an exciting feature, allowing users to capture beautiful photos of city lights, stars, and light trails with minimal effort.
Unfortunately, the Olympus Tough TG4 features a small image sensor with a physical size of 1/2.3 inches. This is the smallest image sensor size you'll find for a digital camera. It's a common size for point-and-shoot cameras, but it poses some challenges for image quality, especially in low-light indoor scenes.
Even when capturing photos in good outdoor lighting conditions, you'll notice an overall lack of sharpness if you zoom in on the computer screen or try to create a large print. The Stylus Tough TG4 can't compete with the sharpness of some cameras in its price range. But as long as you intend to view photos on a computer screen at normal size or on a smartphone or tablet screen, you won't notice any blurriness.
Low-light Performance and Video Mode
There are various shooting modes to choose from, including custom mode, shoot/raw process, artistic filters, picture mode, interval shooting, and time-lapse.
When capturing underwater photos, most of the time you'll be shooting in low-light conditions. I recommend adding the optional LED ring to the Olympus TG4 lens; this will significantly improve lighting in the scene, especially when working underwater. Olympus also includes a small LED light alongside the built-in flash for continuous lighting if you don't want to purchase the LED ring, but the built-in LED light is not as effective as the LED ring.
While you can shoot with a maximum ISO setting of 6400 with the Olympus Stylus Tough TG4, you'll want to use ISO from 800 and below to avoid noise (inaccurate pixels) appearing in your photos.
You can capture full HD quality videos with this camera, and Olympus designers have provided the TG4 with a dedicated video recording button to streamline the video recording process.
Battery Life
Unlike many compact point-and-shoot cameras, the Olympus Stylus Tough TG4 boasts excellent battery life. Olympus estimates that this camera can capture 380 photos per charge, and real-world testing shows this figure to be quite accurate—unlike many cameras, where manufacturers often overstate battery life estimates.
Thanks to its robust battery life, the integrated WiFi connectivity in the TG4 is very useful, allowing you to share photos through the Olympus TG-4 app on your mobile device. Even with this camera's high-capacity battery, continuous use of GPS and WiFi connections will significantly reduce your battery life.
Conclusion
We've compiled this review of the Olympus Tough TG-4 to show you precisely what this model has to offer. Just place the Olympus Stylus Tough TG4 as a significant step forward in rugged features, image resolution, and design compared to previous Stylus Tough models.
Bringing useful wireless features, including integrated GPS and WiFi, it's the robust battery life that truly makes these wireless capabilities practical. You won't run out of battery while trying to send a few photos via WiFi. However, the image quality of this model is on par with what you'd expect from one of the best digital cameras under $200. Essentially, you're paying an insurance premium for the waterproof and durable capabilities in the TG4. As long as you need a rugged camera that can survive in the harsh conditions you put it through, and you don't need to produce large prints, the TG4 will perform admirably for you.
