So much fun to play around with! Here’s my TG-3 underwater camera review…
By Nathan Allen
It Felt Like Christmas When This Camera Arrived in the Mail!
I did a lot of research on underwater cameras before purchasing the TG-3. People had great things to say about it, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much fun it would be to play with!
From the second I pulled it out of the box, I started experimenting with shallow depth-of-field shots (it has a 2.0 aperture lens), and taking microscopic photos of water drops on flowers in my backyard.
I initially bought it for extreme macro and underwater photography, but I must admit, in general, I probably use the camera much more often than I should. With the addition of the wide angle lens I purchased, my Sony DSLR (with a much higher quality sensor) now sits on the shelf gathering dust.
TG-3 Sample Images – Right Out Of The Box
I do love using Adobe Lightroom for post-processing, but all the photos on this page are untouched. I wanted you to see what the camera is capable of on its own…of course, the JPGs are compressed for Internet use, so the originals are even better.
For those that think a 2.8 lens is good in low-light situations, wait until you play with a 2.0 lens! You can easily shoot in dimly-lit bars, clubs, or sunset environments…with no flash.
As you can see, the camera was perfect to take with me on vacation in the Philippines. I attached the strap to a carabiner, so that the camera could lock onto my belt loop. Then I would go kayaking or shooting with my DSLR, and the TG-3 was always within reach!
Honestly, I love the piece of mind that comes with having this camera. There is almost nothing you can do to harm it! Haha. I have really punished it as well. Still powers up and shoots flawlessly.
So Why Did I Choose an Olympus Underwater Camera?
Yes, there are a lot of options out there….but for me it was all about the versatility. The camera isn’t tiny, but it will fit in a loose jean pocket, and that means I can have a great macro camera with me at all times. The lens and processing time are quite fast, and there are so many features that are a blast to play with. I planned on doing a lot of underwater photography on my vacation, so the large LCD screen was a big plus for me. I’m not big on video (though the video capabilities are not bad, I must admit).
Get INSANELY Close – Focus is Never a Problem
I got hooked on the idea of having a small macro-enabled camera years back when I had a Canon Powershot. That model wasn’t even particularly expensive, but I LOVED how close I could get to my subjects with it. That was just a 3MP camera I believe…the TG-3 is a 16MP, and the minimum focusing distance is downright unbelievable. I thought a reviewer was joking when he said to keep the lens clean, because the camera with actually focus on the dirt on the lens (perfectly), and not your subject. I was shocked to learn this is true!
As you can see, the possibilities are endless with the TG-3!
Beautiful Underwater Filters
Personally, I got very used to shooting with an LCD screen, so having an underwater camera that wouldn’t let me compose my shots just wasn’t an option.
The combination of the screen + the fast lens is perfect below the surface. You don’t always have the best lighting down there. I especially like that I can keep the wide angle lens in my pocket and put it on underwater when I need to capture landscape shots!
Honestly, at first I felt like the red TG-3 option was kind of ugly, but the black model was sold out, and I needed to leave for my trip…so red it was. Now I love the red one, and can’t imagine it being black! Go figure. Haha.
Anyhow, the red color may have saved me, because I actually left the camera and selfie stick on the seabed once while I put my fins on (in only 1.5 meters of water). I swam about 12 away before I realized what I had done! I went back in a straight line, and was lucky to see the shiny red camera off in the distance….whew! I’m not sure I could have found it if I ordered the black version. I was about 20 meters from the shore.
Purchasing a TG-3
*Update, the TG-4 has now come out, and it’s basically identical to the TG-3. One important difference is that you have the option to shoot in a more professional quality RAW format. There are a few other new processing features as well.
Ordering the TG-4 from Amazon (Red or Black Color versions) : Olympus TG-4 16 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Red)
If you want the attachable Wide Angle Lens, you must order it through Amazon in the US: Olympus Fisheye Tough Lens Pack (lens and adapter) for TG-1, TG-2, and TG-3 Cameras (Black with Red Adapter)
I haven’t tried it, but the reviews are pretty good…the Telephoto Lens option increases the reach 7X, and must be purchased through Amazon in the U.S: Olympus Telephoto Tough Lens Pack (lens and adapter) for TG-1, TG-2, and TG-3 Cameras (Black with Red Adapter)
Thanks for reading!
*Visiting links on this page will help me create more content like this. I am not connected to this company and I paid for this gear myself.
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