Olympus Tough TG-5
£399 www.olympus.co.uk At a glance
Offers raw format recording Impressive image quality Improves on the excellent Tough TG-4 Provides thumb-operated mode dial
THE TG-5 differs from the others in this round- up in that it shoots in the raw format. The 12MP BSI CMOS sensor teams up with a TruePic VIII processor to provide a sensitivity range of ISO 10012,800, while the 4x optical zoom is equivalent to 25-100mm. The lens uses anti-fog dual-pane glass to stop it misting up and by positioning the lens centrally it can accommodate an extensive range of converters and accessories.
It’s built to survive a drop from 2.1m, is crushproof to a weight of 100kg, freezeproof to -10°C and waterproof to a depth of 15m. To take it deeper (up to 45m), users will need the PT- 058 underwater housing (£279). To help capture fleeting moments as they happen, the TG-5 inherits the Pro Capture feature from Olympus’s OM- D series. It also provides the option of shooting a burst of up to 20fps. As well as offering Wi- Fi and GPS, it features a compass, manometer and temperature sensor.
You get a zoom lever that encircles the shutter button and a scroll wheel on the corner to take control of exposure compensation. Having a mode dial is a good idea in principle, but be warned that it can get stiff if sand gets trapped behind it. Button placement is excellent and the central OK button loads a quick menu so you can adjust settings on the fly. The screen doesn’t trump the one you get on the AW130. However, it clearly displays shooting settings around its perimeter. Elsewhere it supports USB charging and is also available in a striking red colour.
We captured sharp and vibrant images, with 2,400 l/ph recorded by the TG-5’s sensor at ISO 100. The exposure system delivers good exposures in high- contrast scenes and detail is well preserved up to ISO 1600.
A real boon of the TG-5 is its fast autofocus response, which is noticeably faster than its rivals. The auto white balance does a commendable job of ensuring colour is vibrant when shooting underwater scenes. It burst into life 1 minute 55 seconds after being broken out of ice, and we were able to pre-focus and take an image 15 seconds later. We dropped it from arm’s length and it switched on and worked perfectly, with no sign of any damage.
Olympus’s TG Tough compacts have only got better with age. The TG-5 is a great all-round model and puts in a sensational image- quality and usability performance. It’s the real standout here.