Olympus Tough TG-620 Digital Compact Camera Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


We recently took a look at the Olympus Tough TG-820, awarding it 4.5 out of five, which is priced at £252.00. The TG-620 is a cheaper version with fewer features and if your budget is tighter still, the TG-320 can be purchased for £139.00. The TG-620 is available in white, pink, blue, black and green for £214.00.

Olympus Tough TG-620 Features

The Olympus Tough TG-620 has Olympus' new iHS (Intelligence, High Sensitivity and High Speed) technology aimed to make it possible to take great pictures in lousy conditions. There is a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor and TruePic VI image processor (originally developed for DSLR cameras). Olympus say this will all help improve low-light performance, speed up camera response and enhance scene and subject recognition, ideal for fast-moving subjects, night scenes and other tricky shots.

Of course, the TG-620 isn't called Tough for nothing. It’s waterproof to 5m, shockproof to 1.5m and freezeproof to -10°C. All this will help protect the camera components, which include the 5x optical zoom lens, a 35mm equivalent of 28 - 140mm.

The TG-620 can also record videos, at full 1080p HD. During recording you can use Magic Filters and optical zoom with stabilisation available to ensure steady videos.

Key Features

• Waterproof to 5m
• Shockproof to 1.5m
• Freezeproof to -10°C
• 5x optical zoom lens (35mm equiv: 28-140mm)
• 12 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor
• 1080p full HD movie recording and HDMI control
• Multi-motion Movie IS
• iHS Technology
• 3 inch 460,000 dot HyperCrystal III LCD screen
• Dual Image Stabilisation
• Magic Filter Movie and/or Stills
• HDR Backlight Adjustment
• Advanced iAuto and AF Tracking
• Face Detection and Advanced SAT
• Super-resolution Zoom
• 3D Photo Shooting Mode
• Beauty Make-up Mode
• Pet Detection Mode
• In-Camera Panorama
• LED Illuminator
• Scene Modes
• Eye-Fi Card compatibility
• Photo surfing and [ib] software
• USB-Battery Charge
• Metal body

Olympus Tough TG-620 Handling

When compared to the TG-820 it's obvious which is the toughest of the two. The TG-620 has a plastic body, with two separate compartments for the battery and memory card. Both of these have two locks which require pressing to open. The zoom rocker is placed on top of the camera alongside the shutter release. On the rear is a chunky OK button which acts as a D-pad and makes it easy to use the camera even with gloves on. There is also a metal plate which helps grip and is also used to attach a strap. The playback button allows viewing of your pictures and videos even when the camera is switched off, the ? button tells you the time and date as well. The rear of the camera also hosts a 3 inch, 460,000 dot LCD screen which is easy to view in all lighting conditions.

Olympus haven't provided a CIPA rating for the camera's battery but it was charged before testing and was not needed to be recharged. We tested the camera's performance at focusing, shutter response, shot-to-shot time, continuous shooting etc. and have posted the results below. To test this we took 6 or more shots and calculated the average.

Shutter Response		0.1 seconds
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.2 seconds
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		0.35 seconds
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		1.6 seconds
Shot to Shot (without flash)		0.6 seconds
Shot to Shot with Flash		1.6 seconds
Sequential shooting		5 fps
High-speed 1		15 fps
High-speed 2		85 fps

Sequential shooting records at full-sized 12 megapixel resolution, with high-speed 1 and 2 shooting at 3 megapixels.

Olympus Tough TG-620 Performance

The Olympus Tough TG-620 produces images which are really well exposed with very pleasing colour reproduction. Detail is good at both ends of the lens, soft in the corners and with some purple fringing in high contrast areas. There are three different modes for close-up shots, macro, super macro and super macro LED. In super macro mode the camera has a minimum focusing distance of just 3cm, allowing detailed close-up shots to be taken. There are examples below using the LED light.

Olympus Tough TG-620 Lens test images

There's no noise at ISO 100, but it does start to appear at ISO 200 and more so at ISO 400. At ISO 800 noise is making the images slightly softer and again at ISO 1600. As you'd expect, noise continues to increase through ISO 3200 and 6400, but a usable image is still produced, particularly if you are resizing for web use, with colour reproduction remaining good throughout the ISO range.

Olympus Tough TG-620 ISO test images

Landscape mode takes pictures with good blues and greens. Portraits have excellent skin tones and are free from red-eye. Sport mode has been used to gain a fast shutter speed to capture the movement of the water. The fourth image used the LED macro, with the final two images taken underwater.

Olympus Tough TG-620 Sample Photos

The auto white-balance (AWB) setting takes an image with an orange cast under the incandescent lighting, with the respective preset taking a better picture. Under the fluorescent lighting, the AWB setting has a very slight magenta cast, with the fluorescent preset giving a much stronger magenta cast.

Olympus Tough TG-620 White-balance test images

There are a range of magic filters available to add creativity to both images and videos, although not all of them can be used for video recording.

Olympus Tough TG-620 Digital filters

Video Mode

Below is a video shot at full 1080p HD, the camera also allows the use of optical zoom during recording, an example of which can be seen on the ePHOTOzine YouTube Channel.

Value For Money

The Olympus Tough TG-620 is currently priced at £214.00 and is in the middle of the Olympus Tough range which includes the TG-820 and TG-320. If you want the most waterproof and shockproof camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4 ticks the box.

Camera	Waterproof	Shockproof	Freezeproof	Price
Kodak Easyshare Sport C123	3m	-	-	£50.00
Olympus Tough TG-320	3m	1.5m	-10°C	£139.00
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT10	3m	1.5m	-10°C	£144.00
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT20	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£169.00
Fujifilm FinePix XP50	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£189.00
Pentax Optio WG-1 / (GPS)	10m	1.5m	-10°C	£204.00 / (219.00)
Olympus Tough TG-620	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£214.00
Canon PowerShot D10	10m	1.2m	-10°C	£214.99
Fujifilm FinePix XP150 GPS	10m	2m	-10°C	£219.00
Olympus Tough TG-820	10m	2m	-10°C	£252.00
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3	12m	2m	-10°C	£259.00
Sony Cyber-shot TX10	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£269.00
Nikon Coolpix AW100	10m	1.5m	-10°C	£294.95
Pentax Optio WG-2 / (GPS)	12m	1.5m	-10°C	£299.00 / (£339.00)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4	12m	2m	-10°C	£329.00
Canon PowerShot D20	10m	1.5m	-10°C	£349.00
Ricoh G700	5m	2m	-10°C	£449.00

Olympus Tough TG-620 Verdict

If you participate in activities which will put your camera at risk of being dropped and have the extra cash available you are may be better off with the TG-820, which has a metal body, is crushproof to 100Kg and shockproof to 2m. Other than that, the TG-620 is much the same, with excellent image quality, full 1080p HD video recording and fast high-speed shooting.

The Olympus Tough TG-620 offers great image quality and will survive both underwater and in freezing conditions.

Olympus Tough TG-620 Pros

Excellent image quality
Built for extreme conditions
Full 1080p HD video recording
Fast continuous shooting modes

Olympus Tough TG-620 Cons

Lacks the metal body of the TG-820
AWB wayward under our studio lights

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL

Olympus Tough TG-620 Specifications

View Full Product Details