Thanks very much! There have been lots of reviews of the Tough cameras over the years, but I've never seen one that puts its toughness to the test. I was happy to rectify that!
Nice review. I'm a TG4 and TG5 owner... Looking for another macro camera for the clinic for my son... Sounds like the TG6 may be just the thing... You left out how the TG 4 thru 6 series of cameras has a modest number of accessories that easily attach to the camera that can make it even more useful in custom situations -- stuff that a cell phone camera may not offer. There's attachments allow for adding filters (magnifying, color, underwater, polarizing), LED lighting, a strobe diffuser, and longer lens to customize your options... The filter option works as you go deeper and deeper underwater to getting good color shots at depths... In my dental clinic, the TG4 thru TG6 cameras offer a strobe diffuser option for macros and other close up shots that is hard to beat. The diffuser redirects the strobe (flash) in the upper left of the camera front and spreads it's light around the entire camera lens providing relatively shadowless macro shots of things like flowers, bugs, and teeth... Also, in it's macro mode, when shooting teeth, the sensor IDs individual teeth as people in a group shot, putting green 'in focus' squares around the teeth in focus... This makes it easy to take high quality macro shots with lots of things in focus... In aperature priority + macro mode, zoomed at 4X optical, the camera offers a respectable f18 range of macro close up things in focus. You've got to spend about $1500 in dedicated DLSR macro gear to get anything better... The TG series is real easy for clinic staff to figure out how to use without specialized training... And, unlike the DLSR gear, the TG cameras can be easily washed to remove clinic contamination... I'm curious if the new video modes might work in macro shots so there's more pictures to choose the right shot from, or perhaps one might do several shots in one movement...
Artaius I have yet to push its limits when I take with me to the beach. So far the still photos are remarkable. Just as what to expect with an Olympus camera. 😊
I have the TG-4. It also looks the same and does most of what the TG-6 can do. One feature most forget to mention is focus stacking, so you get macros with a large depth of field, unpossible otherwise. If you are a fan of macro photography, there is by far no better option under 500 USD on the market. Especially when you consider, that this camera also can do raw. There are some improvements to the TG-6, for instance the sharper display, the larger pixel area (compared to the TG-4) or features like live composite, which has made me decide to trade my old TG-4 for the new TG-6. And no, I don't do any underwater photography with it.
Yes! I didn't really focus on the stacking (my bad on that front), but it's a really cool feature. You're right, this is a very underrated macro camera, especially at this price point!
@@andreika6681 Sure. But that's not what I wrote. You will get better used cameras for under 500 USD than a TG-series, but you will be hard pressed to find a better macro photography system under 500 USD.
@@Dahrenhorst you may know it all way better than me, macro is not my speciality... buying/selling used - is. while i was getting rid off my apsc stuff (i went to nikon df on full frame side and g80+gx80 on m43) i've sold my d7100 for 300 and tokina 100mm f2.8 for 160, and i think w/o automatic focus stacking IQ wise it'd be way better than tg5 for macro for 460 :-P ... but, you may know it all better. oh, and why i am here - well, my tg5 bought used for 180 is coming in a day or two, some say IQ is crappish, but i was ok it's raws when i asked the seller to send me some samples, and reading you guys i'm happy to discover that it's still a great cam for a few different things even it it's getting an old tech since 2017... i mostly plan to used for street photo in harsh weather (rain & snow)
@@andreika6681 The TG-Series cameras are small sensor cameras after all - with certain special features. Of course, there are limitations in picture quality, but for 90% of all people, who never print out a photo larger than in photobook size and usually only watch their pictures on tablets or laptops this is simply irrelevant. Despite its small sensor, TG-Series cameras still profit from the outstanding color science and computational photography capabilities of Olympus. There is no other camera on the market with similar macro capabilities in that price range. If you want the same macro capability in larger format you have to pay thousands of dollars. IQ becomes irrelevant when you simply can't take that picture because of the camera's limitations. There are few other cameras similarly robust, I know of no camera with larger sensor sizes similarly environment and shock proof. If the rigidness of the camera or its macro capabilities are of no interest to you, you surely can get better image quality for the same price. I usually do large format photography with 5x7 and 11x14 inch cameras when I want to produce quality. I have an Olympus Pen-F and a Panasonic GX8 for most day to day photography. And a TG-6 when I need a shock proof camera or want to take a quick portrait from that small bug or that tiny blossom in my garden or just want to quickly take a camera with me for a walk.
Excellent, straightforward review! I'm considering one of these as I already have enough "Pro" and point-and-shoot cams. I'm looking for a nice, rugged model. Thanks for pointing out that issue with one of the back panels that might come off under severe usage. I am also looking at the TG-5, but it's hard to ignore the massive macro capability and slow motion reach of the TG-6. It's getting cold where I am in the US, so I'm hoping to get one before things freeze over.
Cheers Eric! I've started carrying it in my bag everywhere - it was raining like crazy yesterday and I wanted to take a picture of something on the way home… and I was able to! It's the little things :-D
Great video do you notice any faint beeping for watching video playback i've been told by olympus that it's the auto focus doing it's job as it goes away when i turn it off only really notice it in quiet parts of the video not when you're outside filming
come on, its raws are ok for web, 75% of pix are being viewed of 6" screens today and like in 5 secs max. tg-s allow you to do fun street photos under crappiest weather ever w/o any hassle. it's just a bit overpriced. a used tg6 for $250 max makes sense to have... i've got tg5 for $180 and i'm ok with its stills (don't care about vids)
Ha. Not bad sir. I was expecting another lame type review. You’re alright. 💁🏻♀️💕 thank you Btw.. your “Jumping Jacks” showing film rate was wonderful. I learned something. ツ
One flaw you failed to notice is there’s no way of protecting the front glass from sand which can cause scratches, it wouldn’t be difficult for Olympus to achieve this. As it’s promoted as a camera for the beach or underwater this seems a bit of a flaw.
Thanks for the review. How is the battery life when recording video? I am thinking of using it as a second video camera on the shore, while I am fishing using a gopro on my head.
I have a tg 4 that I use for all water related activities. I have a hard time seeing the screen in bright sunlight. How is the viewing the screen on the tg 6 in bright sunlight.
The monitor is definitely better than in the TG-4 - I didn't have one to do a side-by-side comparison, but from memory and unscientifically I *think* the TG-6 is brighter, because I didn't have any instances where the screen was an issue.
Thanks Jimmy, I appreciate it! The quality is surprisingly solid in low light, bearing in mind that it's a 1/2-inch sensor. At f/2 with the ISO cranked up, JPG images get noisy but they're not horrible by any means - and there's rescuable detail in in the blacks if you edit from the RAW files. What I was most surprised about, though, is how good the flash is on this. You can take manual control from and adjust the power in 18 increments from Full to 1/64th. There's also an LED option, which produces a much less harsh and more natural looking light that gives quite pleasant results and is even good for a bit of gentle fill. Nice surprises all round!
Hi thanks for your feedback ! A couple of weeks ago I bought a rx100 va as a take anywhere camera to use this instead of my XT100 which I think it’s to big although it’s small. At that moment I doubt to buy the Ricoh TG5.. now that I see your review and read your feedback I have a sort of regret. Yeah people think I am crazy because the rx is in specs 100 miles away from the tg6, but the rx is so fragile and of course not water and dust proof that my thoughts are saying sell the rx100 and buy a real everyday take away camera like the TG6 :) ... my wife is going to kill me ...
@@ItsfreakyDB I feel the same way! The Sony RX100 series takes good photos and has a larger sensor but they are FRAGILE as well as absurdly expensive. I believe that in order to get 4K video at all you've got to be willing to buy at least the MkIV which at the time of this writing is $800. The other thing you have to consider is not only water, but DUST! Most compacts I have had ended up getting dust into the lens barrel in a relatively short time period, even though I take really good care of them. If the TG-6 is waterproof then that means it's also dust-proof, and that's something major for me. (I don't plan to ever use it underwater at all actually.) So the TG-6 is a good idea simply because it has better longevity, and a bit slimmer to boot. Honestly I think the Sony RX100 line is waaaay overrated. I'm definitely buying the TG-6 to replace my old Canon when it comes out.
T F The RX100 is a great camera, but you’re right - so many compacts really don’t take kindly to dust and everyday particles. That’s one reason I love the Toughs so much - the IQ may not be as mighty, but it’s still very solid and you don’t have to worry about them succumbing to a bit of dirt!
Good video Has the menu improved Olympus is the worst that could be even worse than Sony. The points you make don’t inspire to run out and buy one. There are trade offs for dropping and waterproof for quality images Most of the phones take better images Now there are attachments you can add to the lens Personally I will wait a lot longer. Thanks for your video good work
I looked closely at the TG-5, but the extensive and useful features couldn't make up for the appalling image quality. They must produce a 1" sensor version post-haste. I've more faith in Olympus than Sony generally, but in this case the RX0 with the Tessar lens is clearly superior despite being more limited. The RX0 is just barely good enough, and that's with a very impressive lens. There is a place for tiny phone sensors, but that's in watches or fake fingernails, not in dedicated cameras. I'm a believer that microfourthirds and giant GFX etc each have a part to play, but the 1" really is the minimum now.
The RX0 II is a great camera, but I actually found that it struggled with stills unless there was strong light, and it doesn't have continuous autofocus, which for a vlogging camera is a huge oversight. In ideal circumstances it takes a great photo, and obviously great video as well, but as an all-round vacation and everyday camera I'd still pick the Tough over it.
@tyvek05 That's good news. Sometimes the reviews are off. I was very interested at the time of release, but the price for apparent performance didn't quite work for me when it came down to it. Glad you're enjoying it; it looked very well-featured.
who told you that ppl get tgs just for their pix quality ? and smarter ppl who want pix quality will buy a em10 mk2 with a real lens for $1k which will obliterate $1K flagship phone in terms of everything non phone calling related. go drop you phone while biking and we'll see that pix quality will be left after that, tg will still deliver its ok IQ...
This was one the best reviews on the TG-6. Good job!
The most brutal test I've ever seen. So convincing. Great job!
Thanks very much! There have been lots of reviews of the Tough cameras over the years, but I've never seen one that puts its toughness to the test. I was happy to rectify that!
@@Artaius I do agree. What they do is reviewing picture and video quality. They miss a word 'tough' on TG-6.
Nice review, thanks. Your voiceover sounds very professional.
Great video. Your voice over and talking was 1st class for this type of video. Well done.
Nice review. I'm a TG4 and TG5 owner... Looking for another macro camera for the clinic for my son... Sounds like the TG6 may be just the thing...
You left out how the TG 4 thru 6 series of cameras has a modest number of accessories that easily attach to the camera that can make it even more useful in custom situations -- stuff that a cell phone camera may not offer. There's attachments allow for adding filters (magnifying, color, underwater, polarizing), LED lighting, a strobe diffuser, and longer lens to customize your options... The filter option works as you go deeper and deeper underwater to getting good color shots at depths...
In my dental clinic, the TG4 thru TG6 cameras offer a strobe diffuser option for macros and other close up shots that is hard to beat. The diffuser redirects the strobe (flash) in the upper left of the camera front and spreads it's light around the entire camera lens providing relatively shadowless macro shots of things like flowers, bugs, and teeth...
Also, in it's macro mode, when shooting teeth, the sensor IDs individual teeth as people in a group shot, putting green 'in focus' squares around the teeth in focus... This makes it easy to take high quality macro shots with lots of things in focus...
In aperature priority + macro mode, zoomed at 4X optical, the camera offers a respectable f18 range of macro close up things in focus. You've got to spend about $1500 in dedicated DLSR macro gear to get anything better... The TG series is real easy for clinic staff to figure out how to use without specialized training... And, unlike the DLSR gear, the TG cameras can be easily washed to remove clinic contamination...
I'm curious if the new video modes might work in macro shots so there's more pictures to choose the right shot from, or perhaps one might do several shots in one movement...
I very much enjoyed this review!!
Mine came today!!! Can’t wait to use it!!!
Amazing!!!! How are you enjoying it?
Artaius I have yet to push its limits when I take with me to the beach. So far the still photos are remarkable. Just as what to expect with an Olympus camera. 😊
I have the TG-4. It also looks the same and does most of what the TG-6 can do. One feature most forget to mention is focus stacking, so you get macros with a large depth of field, unpossible otherwise. If you are a fan of macro photography, there is by far no better option under 500 USD on the market. Especially when you consider, that this camera also can do raw.
There are some improvements to the TG-6, for instance the sharper display, the larger pixel area (compared to the TG-4) or features like live composite, which has made me decide to trade my old TG-4 for the new TG-6. And no, I don't do any underwater photography with it.
Yes! I didn't really focus on the stacking (my bad on that front), but it's a really cool feature. You're right, this is a very underrated macro camera, especially at this price point!
a used $250 gx80 will do focus stacking and plus it'll be done on like on 8 times bigger m43 sensor
@@andreika6681 Sure. But that's not what I wrote. You will get better used cameras for under 500 USD than a TG-series, but you will be hard pressed to find a better macro photography system under 500 USD.
@@Dahrenhorst you may know it all way better than me, macro is not my speciality... buying/selling used - is. while i was getting rid off my apsc stuff (i went to nikon df on full frame side and g80+gx80 on m43) i've sold my d7100 for 300 and tokina 100mm f2.8 for 160, and i think w/o automatic focus stacking IQ wise it'd be way better than tg5 for macro for 460 :-P ... but, you may know it all better. oh, and why i am here - well, my tg5 bought used for 180 is coming in a day or two, some say IQ is crappish, but i was ok it's raws when i asked the seller to send me some samples, and reading you guys i'm happy to discover that it's still a great cam for a few different things even it it's getting an old tech since 2017... i mostly plan to used for street photo in harsh weather (rain & snow)
@@andreika6681 The TG-Series cameras are small sensor cameras after all - with certain special features. Of course, there are limitations in picture quality, but for 90% of all people, who never print out a photo larger than in photobook size and usually only watch their pictures on tablets or laptops this is simply irrelevant. Despite its small sensor, TG-Series cameras still profit from the outstanding color science and computational photography capabilities of Olympus.
There is no other camera on the market with similar macro capabilities in that price range. If you want the same macro capability in larger format you have to pay thousands of dollars. IQ becomes irrelevant when you simply can't take that picture because of the camera's limitations. There are few other cameras similarly robust, I know of no camera with larger sensor sizes similarly environment and shock proof.
If the rigidness of the camera or its macro capabilities are of no interest to you, you surely can get better image quality for the same price.
I usually do large format photography with 5x7 and 11x14 inch cameras when I want to produce quality. I have an Olympus Pen-F and a Panasonic GX8 for most day to day photography. And a TG-6 when I need a shock proof camera or want to take a quick portrait from that small bug or that tiny blossom in my garden or just want to quickly take a camera with me for a walk.
Excellent, straightforward review! I'm considering one of these as I already have enough "Pro" and point-and-shoot cams. I'm looking for a nice, rugged model. Thanks for pointing out that issue with one of the back panels that might come off under severe usage. I am also looking at the TG-5, but it's hard to ignore the massive macro capability and slow motion reach of the TG-6. It's getting cold where I am in the US, so I'm hoping to get one before things freeze over.
Great review! I'm hoping to pick one up for travelling. Seems a great deal better for underwater photography than my go pro.
Cheers Eric! I've started carrying it in my bag everywhere - it was raining like crazy yesterday and I wanted to take a picture of something on the way home… and I was able to! It's the little things :-D
Great video do you notice any faint beeping for watching video playback i've been told by olympus that it's the auto focus doing it's job as it goes away when i turn it off only really notice it in quiet parts of the video not when you're outside filming
I own TG-6. Photos are bad. Video is worse. But it's waterproof! Thanks for that, Olympus, ha-ha!
come on, its raws are ok for web, 75% of pix are being viewed of 6" screens today and like in 5 secs max. tg-s allow you to do fun street photos under crappiest weather ever w/o any hassle. it's just a bit overpriced. a used tg6 for $250 max makes sense to have... i've got tg5 for $180 and i'm ok with its stills (don't care about vids)
Ha. Not bad sir. I was expecting another lame type review. You’re alright. 💁🏻♀️💕 thank you
Btw.. your “Jumping Jacks” showing film rate was wonderful. I learned something. ツ
One flaw you failed to notice is there’s no way of protecting the front glass from sand which can cause scratches, it wouldn’t be difficult for Olympus to achieve this. As it’s promoted as a camera for the beach or underwater this seems a bit of a flaw.
Thanks for the review. How is the battery life when recording video? I am thinking of using it as a second video camera on the shore, while I am fishing using a gopro on my head.
I have a tg 4 that I use for all water related activities. I have a hard time seeing the screen in bright sunlight. How is the viewing the screen on the tg 6 in bright sunlight.
The monitor is definitely better than in the TG-4 - I didn't have one to do a side-by-side comparison, but from memory and unscientifically I *think* the TG-6 is brighter, because I didn't have any instances where the screen was an issue.
Did you ever notice a noise while you were zooming in and out while shooting video?
Really good image stabilization?
Good review ! How is the photo quality in low light ?
Thanks Jimmy, I appreciate it! The quality is surprisingly solid in low light, bearing in mind that it's a 1/2-inch sensor. At f/2 with the ISO cranked up, JPG images get noisy but they're not horrible by any means - and there's rescuable detail in in the blacks if you edit from the RAW files.
What I was most surprised about, though, is how good the flash is on this. You can take manual control from and adjust the power in 18 increments from Full to 1/64th. There's also an LED option, which produces a much less harsh and more natural looking light that gives quite pleasant results and is even good for a bit of gentle fill. Nice surprises all round!
Hi thanks for your feedback ! A couple of weeks ago I bought a rx100 va as a take anywhere camera to use this instead of my XT100 which I think it’s to big although it’s small. At that moment I doubt to buy the Ricoh TG5.. now that I see your review and read your feedback I have a sort of regret. Yeah people think I am crazy because the rx is in specs 100 miles away from the tg6, but the rx is so fragile and of course not water and dust proof that my thoughts are saying sell the rx100 and buy a real everyday take away camera like the TG6 :) ... my wife is going to kill me ...
@@ItsfreakyDB I feel the same way! The Sony RX100 series takes good photos and has a larger sensor but they are FRAGILE as well as absurdly expensive. I believe that in order to get 4K video at all you've got to be willing to buy at least the MkIV which at the time of this writing is $800. The other thing you have to consider is not only water, but DUST! Most compacts I have had ended up getting dust into the lens barrel in a relatively short time period, even though I take really good care of them. If the TG-6 is waterproof then that means it's also dust-proof, and that's something major for me. (I don't plan to ever use it underwater at all actually.) So the TG-6 is a good idea simply because it has better longevity, and a bit slimmer to boot. Honestly I think the Sony RX100 line is waaaay overrated. I'm definitely buying the TG-6 to replace my old Canon when it comes out.
T F The RX100 is a great camera, but you’re right - so many compacts really don’t take kindly to dust and everyday particles. That’s one reason I love the Toughs so much - the IQ may not be as mighty, but it’s still very solid and you don’t have to worry about them succumbing to a bit of dirt!
I’m very happy with the camera. The software to transfer your photos to your phone, is lousy.
The Olympus Share app could use some refinements, for sure… but sadly there are definitely worse apps from other manufacturers!
Good video
Has the menu improved Olympus is the worst that could be even worse than Sony. The points you make don’t inspire to run out and buy one. There are trade offs for dropping and waterproof for quality images
Most of the phones take better images
Now there are attachments you can add to the lens
Personally I will wait a lot longer.
Thanks for your video good work
You sound and behave like Richard Ayoade ;D You could easily replace him in The IT Crowd!
I got a this camera👍
I looked closely at the TG-5, but the extensive and useful features couldn't make up for the appalling image quality. They must produce a 1" sensor version post-haste. I've more faith in Olympus than Sony generally, but in this case the RX0 with the Tessar lens is clearly superior despite being more limited. The RX0 is just barely good enough, and that's with a very impressive lens. There is a place for tiny phone sensors, but that's in watches or fake fingernails, not in dedicated cameras. I'm a believer that microfourthirds and giant GFX etc each have a part to play, but the 1" really is the minimum now.
The RX0 II is a great camera, but I actually found that it struggled with stills unless there was strong light, and it doesn't have continuous autofocus, which for a vlogging camera is a huge oversight. In ideal circumstances it takes a great photo, and obviously great video as well, but as an all-round vacation and everyday camera I'd still pick the Tough over it.
@tyvek05 That's good news. Sometimes the reviews are off. I was very interested at the time of release, but the price for apparent performance didn't quite work for me when it came down to it. Glad you're enjoying it; it looked very well-featured.
Oh no, your cam is broken
Scratch the lense,is not everything proof
Lens wasn't really scratched and images weren't affected, so I'd say it's still everything-proof!
Honestly any recent iPhone or android flagships obliterates this camera in terms of picture quality or video capabilities
who told you that ppl get tgs just for their pix quality ? and smarter ppl who want pix quality will buy a em10 mk2 with a real lens for $1k which will obliterate $1K flagship phone in terms of everything non phone calling related. go drop you phone while biking and we'll see that pix quality will be left after that, tg will still deliver its ok IQ...