Introduction
Last year’s TG-2 has proven to literally be a tough act to follow for Olympus, thanks to it blending rock-hard construction with a host of action-orientated features and the widest-aperture lens in the class.
Consequently the TG-3 doesn’t mess with this recipe too much as it maintains the same lens and toughness credentials but adds a new 16 megapixel CMOS sensor to replace the TG-2’s 12 megapixel device.
The TG-3’s new sensor boasts a sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400. It’s teamed with the same optics from the TG-2, giving 4x optical zoom, an f/2.0 maximum wide-angle aperture and a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 25-100mm.
Image stabilisation is employed to help tame camera shake, and the lens can also be fitted with an optional fisheye or teleconverter attachment.
Olympus has gone all out to make the TG-3 the perfect action companion. It’s shockproof from heights up to 2.1 metres, waterproof to 15-metre depths, freezeproof to -10°C and also able to withstand 100kg of crushing force.
As with the TG-2, you get GPS to geo-tag your images, plus an electronic compass, pressure and altitude gauges.
Wi-Fi connectivity is new to the TG-3 and enables remote camera control and wireless image sharing. The camera also gets a revised screen, which though the same size as that used by TG-2, uses conventional LCD technology instead of OLED in an effort to improve brightness.
Creative photographers will also enjoy the selection of seven Art Filters, interval shooting and time-lapse capture modes.
An aperture priority mode is included too, along with HDR and panorama capture, plus a microscope mode for shooting as close as 1cm from your subject. Alternatively, when the action speeds up there’s always an impressive 5fps continuous shooting mode or Full HD video capture with stereo sound.
As far as features go, the TG-3 shapes up well against the tough camera competition like the Canon D30, Nikon AW120, Panasonic FT5 and Ricoh WG-4.
Build quality and handling
At 111.5 x 65.9 x 31.2mm and 247g ready to shoot, the TG-3 is both chunky and relatively heavy by compact camera standards. However what you lose in portability, you gain in toughness.
Both the Canon D30 and Nikon AW120 will go deeper underwater, but neither can match the TG-3’s 100kg crushproof rating and its general feel of absolutely solidity. Dropping some rugged cameras from two metres is a nerve-wracking experience, however the TG-3 inspires confidence that it could sustain such punishment.
Don’t expect the pretty paintjob of the red-cased version to hide scratches well though, and the text printed on the front panel won’t last long either.
Fortunately it’s unlikely you’ll drop the camera that often. Its chunkiness gives you more to grip onto than most compacts, whilst the front and rear hand grips are the most pronounced and ergonomic in the class.
Two doors cover the battery/card compartment and the cable connection sockets. Both are double-locked to prevent accidental opening, and both feel more substantial and better hinged than those on many of the TG-3’s counterparts.
The camera’s controls are also well designed with movement that’s precise without being too stiff. Key controls like the power button, zoom rocker, shutter release and mode dial are well placed and can all be used whilst wearing gloves.
It’s a pity the video record button is on the small side, but otherwise the TG-3’s controls are well-suited to action photography in extreme conditions.
This all helps to make the TG-3 is a cinch to operate, but so too does its menu interface which manages to be both clear and attractive. Consequently adjusting everything from basic functions through to more advanced features like GPS and Wi-Fi is quick and easy.
The former will tag your images with the precise coordinates where they were captured, and though it’s no problem to activate, the system can take a while to find a satellite and doesn’t always maintain a stable connection in built-up areas.
Using the Wi-Fi functionality is just as simple thanks to its innovative pairing method. Rather than manually finding the right Wi-Fi hotspot, simply scan the QR code displayed on the camera’s screen using your smartphone and it’ll automatically define the correct network settings. Once connected, Olympus’ Image Track app lets you control the camera remotely with barely any lag.
It also allows you to download shots from the camera to share them, though the transfer process can take up to 20 seconds per shot for high quality images.
Performance
Given the TG-3 is meant to capture fast-paced action, it’s unfortunate that it’s not the fastest camera out of the blocks, being ready to shoot in around two seconds. It gains ground with a fast autofocus system though and locks onto most subjects almost instantly.
The powerful AF-assist beam keeps the pace up in low light too, and it’s only in the dimmest of conditions and when using longer focal lengths where the system starts to struggle.
The camera’s exposure metering is also first class, consistently striking the right balance between highlight and shadow detail, even when shooting very high contrast scenes or aiming directly into the sun. Likewise the auto white balance can be relied upon in a variety of lighting conditions and isn’t prone to producing any odd colour casts.
Image quality is more of a mixed bag though. At ISO400 and below, the 16MP sensor resolves plenty of detail from closer subjects whilst colours look vibrant and punchy. More distant details in landscapes are prone to smoothing from noise reduction processing and consequently can take on a painterly appearance, but it’s not distracting unless you to view at 100% image size.
Even at the base sensitivity of ISO100 some grain and colour speckling can be spotted if you’re really pixel-peeping, but it only becomes obvious at ISO800. Both forms of image noise are more prevalent at ISO1600, so much so that even when viewing at 50% image size you’ll still see the interference.
This is the cut-off for acceptable image quality, as by ISO3200 both grain and colour speckling are obvious and hard to ignore.
The 4x zoom lens performs well with minimal distortion and good corner sharpness throughout the focal length range. Some chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is visible in areas of very high contrast, but it’s nothing severe and is only noticeable under close scrutiny. The lens’ f/2.0 maximum wide-angle aperture means more light can get through to the sensor and allows you to use faster shutter speeds to freeze fast action.
The TG-3 incorporates a good range of creative effects. These include seven Art Filters which offer a varied selection of styles. In the camera’s scene mode setting you’ll also find an HDR mode to help capture greater highlight and shadow detail, though the results can look a bit bland.
It’s a small complaint compared to the Panorama mode though, which is a huge disappointment due to its low capture resolution of 1280 vertical pixels, ghosting artefacts and painfully slow processing time that takes the best part of 30 seconds. Fortunately the TG-3’s Microscope setting is far better, focussing as close as 1cm from your subject with ease and accuracy.
The revised 3.0″, 460k-dot LCD screen also deserves a mention. At first glance its lack of touch-sensitivity seems disappointing, but remember that capacitive touch screens won’t work underwater or if you’re wearing gloves. Instead, the TG-3’s screen nails the basics with terrific viewing angles, accurate colour reproduction and brightness that’s enough to keep the screen viewable under even direct sunlight.
Finally, the TG-3’s 1350mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery puts in a respectable performance, as despite prolonged GPS and Wi-Fi use, we managed to keep shooting all day with only a bar of life lost.
Sample images
Switch to the camera’s Scene modes and you’ll find an HDR setting for capturing maximum highlight and shadow detail in high-contrast conditions. The scene above is shot with the feature disabled. Click here to see the full resolution image.
…And here it is in HDR. Notice the restrained highlights and lifted shadow areas. Click here to see the full resolution image.
The TG-3’s weakest creative effect is undoubtedly its Panorama mode. This image is comprised of three automatically-snapped shots, and that’s not hard to see thanks to the obvious stitching artefacts around the joins. The final result is downsized to 1280 vertical pixels, but that’s a common complaint. What is unusual is the painful 30-second processing time required to create the finished article. Click here to see the full resolution image.
The Microscope setting on the mode dial instantly allows you to shoot as close as 1cm from your subject, revealing a side of common objects that’s barely visible to the naked eye. Click here to see the full resolution image.
Even in regular Auto mode, the TG-3 will focus close and produce vibrant shots with decent detail. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Pink hues can often confuse a camera’s metering and auto white balance, but the TG-3 has done a good job of accurately capturing these roses. Click here to see the full resolution image.
Here the camera’s exposure metering has done well to retain good shadow detail without blowing out highlights and the final image is both vibrant and detailed. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Thanks to the TG-3’s aperture priority mode you can set a wide aperture to help blur a background and distinguish your subject. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Keep your subject close to the lens and the new 16 megapixel sensor is capable of resolving plenty of detail. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Accurate exposure metering and punchy colours help to show off the detail in this image. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Another example of how much detail the TG-3’s sensor can resolve at close range. Click here to view the full resolution image.
The camera’s exposure metering invariably produces well balanced exposures. Here both the highlight and shadow areas are clearly visible, although scrutinise closely and some colour speckling is visible in the shadows of this ISO200 shot. Click here to view the full resolution image.
The TG-3’s exposure metering isn’t fazed even when shooting into direct sunlight like this. Click here to view the full resolution image.
There’s good shadow and highlight detail in this contrasty scene, but even at ISO100 the stonework exhibits minor colour speckling noise. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Grain and colour speckling are visible under close scrutiny in low ISO images, but crank things up to ISO1600 like this shot and both can be seen when viewing at 50% image size. It’s not severe enough to render such photos unusable, but it’s a lacklustre performance by compact camera standards. Click here to view the full resolution image.
In the battle against image noise, detail in the middle and far distance of this shot has been smeared and consequently looks quite painterly. This is a common issue amongst small-sensor cameras though. Fortunately the accurate exposure metering, colour reproduction and lack of chromatic aberration help compensate for the loss of detail. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Again fine detail in the distant elements of this shot has been lost to image smoothing, but zoom out and the photo still looks pleasing with only minor highlight blowout. Click here to view the full resolution image.
This is shot with the lens set to maximum wide angle, equivalent to 25mm (in 35mm-camera terms). Click here to view the full resolution image.
And zoomed in 4x to a 100mm-equivalent focal length. The camera has upped the sensor sensitivity to ISO1250 to help combat camera shake, but detail has suffered as a result. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Once again the TG-3 shows what it can do in good light and at close range, producing a vibrant, detailed and well-exposed image. Click here to view the full resolution image.
Filters
The Olympus TG-3 offers seven Art Filters to spice up your shots with different looks.
Click here to view the full image resolution.
Click here to view the full image resolution.
Click here to view the full resolution image
Click here to view the full image resolution.
Click here to view the full image resolution.
Click here to view the full image resolution.
Click here to view the full image resolution.
Verdict
Most toughened cameras are tough on paper, but few can match the TG-3’s exceptional build quality and confidence-inspiring rugged feel. Divers may prefer the Canon D30’s 25-metre depth rating or the 18-metre underwater ability of the Nikon AW120, but otherwise the TG-3 will cope with pretty much anything you could throw at it. It’s also well equipped to help you out when you’re off the beaten track thanks to its electronic compass, easy GPS system, depth and pressure gauges.
The new Wi-Fi addition is also slicker than many competing systems and is useful for image sharing. The newly-revised screen is another welcome addition and a marked improvement over the OLED monitor in the TG-2. It’s easily visible in bright sunlight and complements the well-designed controls.
Unfortunately the TG-3’s image quality isn’t as impressive. It’s enough to rival other current tough cameras, but other non-ruggedized cameras equipped with the same size of sensor can produce more detail and cleaner results at high ISO sensitivities. Even so, the TG-3’s new 16MP device resolves decent detail in good light, whilst accurate exposure metering and vibrant colour reproduction give images an attractive first impression.
We liked
Rock-solid toughness, carefully-considered controls and ergonomics, plus several useful action-orientated features make the TG-3 well suited to extreme photography. The new sensor and screen are also welcome upgrades over the TG-2’s tech and help make the new camera a great all-rounder.
We disliked
A 15-metre waterproof depth rating is now outclassed by the Canon D30 and Nikon AW120, whilst the automatic panorama mode is in dire need of improvement. Image quality is also nothing special, though it’s no worse than that of its rivals.
Final verdict
The TG-3 doesn’t stand out significantly from the tough camera competition in any one area, but its combination of superb toughness, extensive action-orientated features and ease of use are good enough to give it the edge over its rivals. Image quality is unremarkable but pleasing at lower sensitivities and acceptable up to ISO1600 if you’re not too picky.
All this quality and versatility doesn’t come cheap though, as at £349.99/$349.99 the TG-3 is pricier than all its rivals. However, if you need a camera that’s built and equipped for life well off the beaten track, the Olympus TG-3 is worth the money.
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