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For most of us smartphones have replaced the need for point and shoot cameras. There is, however, one category of point and shoot that's still going strong: the rugged, waterproof, shock-proof take-it-anywhere camera.
Want a selfie next to a waterfall? How about *in* a waterfall? Or maybe you just want some shots of the kids playing the pool this summer? Your smartphone camera, nice as it is, isn't going to live to tell the tale.
These situations are exactly where Olympus's new TG-6 tough camera thrives.
## Familiar Favorites
Olympus is no stranger to rugged cameras and we've been using and abusing [various](https://www.wired.com/2014/03/olympus-tough-tg-3/) [models](https://www.wired.com/2013/06/spring-camp-rafting-gallery/) from the TG line for years now. The latest is the TG-6, which makes some welcome, but incremental, updates to an already very successful camera, the TG-5.
The TG-6 looks nearly identical to TG-5. It fits well in both pocket and hand, though the buttons are on the small side. More important for this type of camera the TG-6 offers the same indestructible body. While there are limits, the TG-6 is generally freeze proof, crush proof, dust proof and shockproof (from 7 ft).
To achieve this leveled of everything-proof, sealed-off serenity Olympus uses an all metal body and dual locks on the two hatches. The double latches makes changing the battery or connecting a cable a little fiddly, but inspires more confidence that the hatch won't pop open when you accidentally bang the TG-6 on the hull of that wreck you're diving.
The same body design also means the TG-6 will work with all the existing TG-5 housings and accessories (on the flip side, this means the TG-5 should work with the new accessories as well, more on those in a moment).
The TG-6 uses the same fast f/2.0 lens with 4X-optical-zoom (25mm to 100mm) as the TG-5. It also sports the same 12 MP sensor, which produces very high quality images for the point and shoot. What the TG-6 adds to this already winning combo is an anti-reflective coating on the glass surrounding the sensor, which will help reduce flare and ghosting.
The biggest and most welcome change in the TG-6 is the vastly improved resolution of the rear LCD panel. The screen jumps from the 460K dots on the TG-5 to over a million on the TG-6. The extra sharpness makes it much easier to see when reviewing images underwater. Unfortunately Olympus has not improved the protective glass that covers the LCD, it still scratches quite easily, a problem that has plagued this otherwise tough camera for several revisions now.
If you're using the TG-6 underwater there are some new white balance modes that will help capture better colors. The new modes help for snapshots, but if you're serious about underwater photography you'll want to get the full [waterproof enclosure](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1477203-REG/olympus_v6300680w000_pt_059_underwater_housing.html){: rel=nofollow} (which ups the TG-6's depth rating from 30 meters to 75 meters) and the [external flash](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1079589-REG/olympus_v6320120u000_ufl_3_underwater_flash.html){: rel=nofollow}.
The TG line has always boasted impressive macro capabilities for a compact camera. The TG-6 builds on that foundation by bringing macro controls to the program and aperture priority modes. This is one thing that may tempt TG-5 owners to upgrade.
The TG-6 employs the same focus stacking you'll find in other Olympus models, which is handy for macro photography. Focus stacking refers to taking multiple exposures at slightly different focus points and then combining them to increase the depth of field, which tends to be very thin in macro shots. If you've ever seen a close up of an insect and the entire body was in focus, there's a good chance focus stacking made that possible.
The TG-6 has some features you won't find elsewhere, like a built-in compass, thermometer, manometer (pressure), and accelerometer. The camera tracks location and associates all the data from the other sensors with your images via an app. That way not only can you know where that reef shot is from, but what the water temperature was like, how deep you were, and more.
## Quality and Confusion
The quality of images coming out of the TG-6 are quite good for the small sensor inside it (the TG-6's sensor is about the same as what you'll find in top smartphones). Colors are nicely balanced and images are sharp. I think Olympus uses too much noise reduction in its JPGs by default, but you tone that down in the settings (or shooting RAW and reduce noise in a photo editor).
The TG-6 can do 4K/30p video, and 1080 at up to 60 frames per second. Still with no mic or headphone sockets video capture is always going to be limited.
The trickiest thing about the Olympus is figuring out how to use it. The menu system is fine, but it's not immediately obvious how you access some menus. The only way I found to change the shooting format to RAW was by simultaneously pushing Menu and OK, which brings up a menu to choose format and capture mode. And no, I didn't figure that out on my own. First I spent nearly an hour reading the manual and fiddling with the menus and modes. When that didn't turn up what I was look for I turned to the internet and finally found the answer in forum post from equally frustrated users.
That's not to say that the TG-6 is difficult to use, it's not. The problem is that Olympus doesn't do a good job of documenting what the camera is capable of doing and how to go about doing it. If you want to get the most out of the TG-6, it pays to do a little research on your own.
## Accessorize
The Underwater Case, which extends the depth to 45 meters, is new and there's a new fisheye converter that fits with that case. There's also a new silicon jacket if you don't want the full case.
The TG line has long had extra lens options like a fisheye lens, which fits over the front of the lens and extends the field of view to 105 degrees. Not as wide as a GoPro, but useful underwater where the natural magnification of shooting through water effectively narrows your field of view. If you want to go the other way, there's also a telephoto lens attachment that extends the zoom to 170mm (35mm equivalent).
All the accessories make the TG-6 considerably more than just a rugged point-and-shoot. Costs can add up if you want a full kit, but it's still much cheaper than leaping into the DSLR world. If you want beautiful underwater images without the stick shock of a DSLR, the TG-6 will not disappoint.
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