Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Digital Camera, 12 MP, 4x Optical Zoom, 1080p Full HD Video, Waterproof, Shockproof, Red

2013-08-21T21:00:00

Well built compact camera that takes great shots underwater. Since I have DLSR's I used it exclusively for underwater photography. It takes beautiful photos when the depth is less than 10 feet. There is a lag time for autofocus and shutter delay which make it difficult to use under water and impossible to use for stills with fast moving creatures underwater. In addition, after a photo is taken, there is a recovery time before another one can be shot. It does have a digital zoom that goes to 8X.

Retired D.

2013-07-01T21:00:00

I am a pro photographer but had been wanting something small and waterproof for vacations as I cruise a lot. This camera is exactly what I needed. I can shoot in P mode and adjust most of the settings. The f/2 lenses is fast. The camera is waterproof and shockproof. The macro images from this little toy are pretty impressive. Images at ISO 400 and under are pretty great. I do not use flash so pictures above ISO 800 are too grainy for my taste. PROS: great macro photos; P mode; bunch of flashy filters and apps; decent battery life. CONS: Hate the GPS (battery hog & has to be frequently updated); no off-camera battery charger; low light performance is not great but ok for a point and shoot. Only 4x optical zoom.

Lissi

2013-05-25T21:00:00

I got this for both shallow water and general purpose use when vacationing. So far, I'm very satisfied. I chose it over its competitors because of its f2 lens. Since light is diminished so dramatically in water, I didn't want a slow lens. Also, it has an "AF illuminator" setting that acts as a kind of poor man's ring light when taking macro shots. This works very well in or out of water. Overall, the macro images it takes are really impressive, and snapshot type photos are good. I've had it in saltwater three times now, with no problems with leakage or deterioriation, but I can't speak to how it will hold up over three or five years, which I think should be the expected product life of something like this. Also note, the manual says you should have the gaskets replaced annually. I doubt many people, including myself, will ever do this. There are a few downsides to the camera. Everyone reports that there is unpleasant (audio) noise when you make videos. I never do this so don't care. The camera has a GPS function, but it requires periodic updating by linking to a computer. It draws a lot of juice from the battery, making it unsuitable for extended trips into remote places. Also, it's not good enough to use for any kind of navigation. Given these things, in my mind, it's mostly a gimic. Sure it tags your photos with a location, but seriously, what kind of person doesn't know where they took a photo? More important to me, at ISOs of 400 or above you start to notice some unpleasant noise reduction processing that smudges detail in large photos. This isn't surprising for a small sensor camera, but it should be better, and you should be aware of it. Finally, it doesn't come with a dedicated battery charger. You need to plug the whole camera with battery inside it to charge. That means you can't use the camera while you charge a spare battery. That is an annoying inconvenience for a camera of this price.

BRIAN B.

2013-03-06T19:00:00

Great underwtaer photos

Traveler