Olympus TG-6 vs Samsung NX1100: A Hands-On Deep Dive into Two Distinct Cameras

Choosing the right camera is never just about specs on paper. I've spent countless hours testing both the Olympus Tough TG-6 and the Samsung NX1100 across a spectrum of photographic disciplines - from intimate macro shots to sweeping landscapes, and even fast-paced sports scenarios - to provide you with an authoritative, experience-driven comparison. While these cameras serve very different purposes and audiences, understanding their strengths, limitations, and real-world performance is key to making the best choice for your photography needs.

Let’s embark on a detailed journey into their design, technology, image quality, usability, and value - equipped with rich insights supported by my extensive hands-on testing and technical expertise.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

At first glance, these cameras couldn’t be more different in intent and form. The Olympus TG-6 is built to survive the extremes - a rugged compact waterproof camera with specialized sealing and toughened exteriors. In contrast, the Samsung NX1100 is an entry-level mirrorless with a traditional rangefinder-style body designed for flexible lens use.

Physically, the TG-6 measures a compact 113 x 66 x 32 mm, weighing 253 grams - surprisingly portable considering its robust waterproof, crushproof, and freezeproof construction. The NX1100, slightly longer but thinner at 114 x 63 x 37 mm and lighter at 222 grams, offers a classic mirrorless silhouette with modular lens interchangeability.

Holding both, I appreciate the TG-6’s rugged grip texture and button layout tailored for outdoor use, even with gloves on. The NX1100, while lighter, feels less sturdy - plastic-heavy but with a reassuring mirrorless design that many beginners will find familiar.

Control Layout: Intuitive Design Meets Functionality

What’s under your fingertips often makes or breaks the shooting experience.

Olympus opts for a simple, streamlined control scheme on the TG-6. Dedicated buttons for zoom, flash, macro mode, and a natural mode dial make switching between underwater, macro, or landscape modes effortless and fast. However, the absence of a viewfinder means you rely entirely on the rear LCD, which might be challenging in bright conditions.

The NX1100 surprisingly lacks an electronic viewfinder too, banking on the 3-inch LCD screen for composition. Yet, its rangefinder layout and customizable buttons give it an advantage for users wanting exposure modes like shutter priority and aperture priority - features the TG-6 only partially supports.

Both cameras miss touchscreen capabilities, a minor disappointment especially on the NX1100, released when touchscreens were becoming standard.

Image Sensor and Quality: Small Sensor vs APS-C Powerhouse

The single biggest technical distinction lies in their sensors.

The TG-6 sports a 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a modest 12MP resolution (4000x3000 pixels). Its sensor area totals roughly 28.07 mm² - a compact sensor typical of advanced compacts design. It is paired with the TruePic VIII image processor, optimized for sharpness and noise reduction within physical limits.

The NX1100, by comparison, boasts a large 23.5 x 15.7 mm APS-C sensor delivering a higher 20MP count (5472x3648 pixels). This sensor is more than 13 times the area of the TG-6's, offering considerably better light-gathering capability, dynamic range, and noise control.

The technical implications are profound:

• Dynamic range: The NX1100 presents much richer detail retention in shadows and highlights, a crucial advantage in landscapes and contrasted light.

• Low light / high ISO performance: Larger pixels on the NX1100 translate to cleaner images above ISO 800, while the TG-6’s small sensor noise creeps up quickly beyond ISO 400.

• Resolution priorities: The NX1100’s 20MP resolution supports large prints and vigorous cropping. The TG-6’s 12MP output suffices for smaller prints and web sharing but may limit professional uses.

Despite these differences, the TG-6 incorporates an anti-aliasing filter to suppress moiré, beneficial given its small sensor’s high pixel density.

LCD Screens and Viewfinding: Composing Your Shots

Neither camera includes an optical or electronic viewfinder - something we’ll revisit when discussing outdoor usability.

Both cameras offer a fixed, 3-inch LCD screen. The TG-6’s screen impresses with a 1040k-dot resolution, providing clearer previews even in challenging light. However, its non-touch interface limits intuitive focus selection.

The NX1100’s 921k-dot TFT LCD is slightly lower in resolution and lacks viewing angle robustness, making outdoor composition trickier. It also lacks touchscreen support, which was becoming more common in mirrorless cameras released around its era.

From a usability standpoint, the TG-6’s brighter, higher-res screen gives it an edge for casual and adventure photographers, especially underwater or in harsh environments where viewfinders are a luxury.

Autofocus Systems: Precision vs Versatility

Autofocus capabilities directly impact shot success, especially in fast-changing environments.

The TG-6 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 25 focus points. It supports single, continuous, tracking, selective, center, and face-detection AF modes. During my testing, AF was reliable for still subjects and close-up macro work - thanks in part to its specialized modes for diverse shooting scenarios like underwater or microscope focus.

Still, contrast detection, especially on a small sensor, means AF speed and subject tracking are not as robust for high-motion subjects. Animal eye AF is notably absent, reducing utility for wildlife photographers.

The NX1100 offers 15 focus points focusing on contrast detection as well, but with slightly slower AF acquisition and no phase detection - typical of early mirrorless systems. Tracking is limited; however, the ability to manually select AF points and use real-time live view focusing gives more creative control.

Shooting Speed and Performance: Burst Rates and Buffering

Looking at continuous shooting:

• The TG-6 excels with an impressive 20 fps burst rate, though at a modest 12MP resolution and a focus system optimized for stills rather than action.

• The NX1100 offers 8 fps continuous shooting, more than adequate for casual sports but struggling with buffering limitations when shooting in RAW.

So if fast continuous shooting in a compact, rugged camera is your priority, the TG-6 surprisingly outpaces the NX1100 - although image quality trade-offs exist.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

A significant functional divergence stems from fixed vs interchangeable lenses.

The TG-6 has a built-in 25-100mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.0–4.9 lens. Its 4x optical zoom and close-focus macro range (just 1 cm) are tailored for versatility in one package - ideal for hikers, underwater photographers, and casual shooters wishing to avoid lugging equipment.

The NX1100 uses the Samsung NX mount, compatible with over 30 lenses ranging from fast primes to telephoto zooms. This flexibility is a boon for enthusiasts seeking creative control and professional results - from portraiture to wildlife.

However, Samsung’s system is no longer actively supported, limiting availability and future-proofing for lens options - an important consideration before investing.

Weather Proofing and Durability

Here, the Olympus TG-6 stands virtually alone in this comparison:

• Fully waterproof to 15 meters without housing

• Dustproof and shockproof (drops up to 2.1m)

• Crushproof (up to 100 kgf)

• Freezeproof down to -10°C

These rugged certifications make the TG-6 a go-to tool for extreme environments, underwater exploration, and adventure sports.

The NX1100, as a regular mirrorless, lacks such sealing, making it vulnerable in wet, dusty, or accident-prone environments.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs.

• The TG-6 offers approximately 340 shots per charge, respectable for a compact waterproof model.

• The NX1100 offers slightly less at about 320 shots.

Storage-wise, both accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with UHS-I support - but the TG-6’s optimized buffer and processor management grant it smoother handling during rapid shooting bursts.

Video Capabilities: 4K vs Full HD

Video remains a key buying factor for many today.

The TG-6 shoots 4K UHD (3840x2160) at 30p with a high bitrate around 102 Mbps - impressive for a rugged compact. Its H.264 codec ensures compatibility across platforms. However, it lacks microphone or headphone ports - a limitation for serious videographers.

On the other hand, the NX1100 maxes out at 1080p Full HD at 30fps (as well as lower HD resolutions). While video quality is decent, it’s clearly dated and lacks modern features like 4K or advanced stabilization.

Neither camera supports 4K Photo modes, limiting burst extraction from video.

Specialized Modes and Innovation

Olympus packed the TG-6 with unique features:

• Focus stacking and focus bracketing: For macro and product photography, enhancing depth of field through computational layers.

• Built-in GPS: Facilitates geotagging on adventures.

• Sensor-shift image stabilization: Counteracts handheld shake effectively in photos and video.

• Environmental modes: Underwater, microscope, night, and microscope modes tailored for specialized shooting.

The NX1100 lacks these refinements but offers standard manual exposure modes including aperture priority and shutter priority - a significant advantage over the TG-6’s mostly auto or aperture-only exposure options.

Practical Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s unpack performance across key photo disciplines - with real-world insights derived from extensive fieldwork.

Portrait Photography

• TG-6: The fixed lens’s f/2.0 aperture at wide angle delivers nice subject isolation outdoors, with decent bokeh rendering - especially thanks to its close focusing in macro mode. Face detection AF helps nail sharp eyes, but limited manual control restricts artistic shaping.

• NX1100: Larger sensor delivers creamy out-of-focus backgrounds at apertures like f/1.8 (with suitable lenses). Manual exposure allows precise skin tone control and creative expression.

Verdict: NX1100 wins for serious portraiture; TG-6 serves casual portraits well.

Landscape Photography

• TG-6: Limited by the small sensor and lens, but robust dynamic range for its class. Weather sealing means shooting in challenging conditions without worry.

• NX1100: Larger sensor and higher resolution reveal finer detail and richer tones - ideal for expansive vistas.

Verdict: NX1100 preferred for quality and versatility; TG-6 for rugged fieldwork.

Wildlife Photography

• TG-6: 4x zoom is basic, continuous AF decent, burst up to 20fps helps capture fleeting moments, but limited focal reach.

• NX1100: Interchangeable telephoto lenses enhance reach and image quality, but burst speed and AF tracking limitations hinder action capturing.

Verdict: NX1100 better image quality, TG-6 better burst speed and ruggedness - both compromises.

Sports Photography

• TG-6's 20 fps burst impresses but autofocus tracking is shallow.

• NX1100 slower at 8fps but manual modes aid creativity.

Neither excels compared to modern sports shooters.

Street Photography

• TG-6’s rugged design and compactness suit street photographers wanting weather-proof gear.

• NX1100’s discreet rangefinder styling helps blend in but is bulkier.

Both lack viewfinders, impacting usability.

Macro Photography

• TG-6 excels with 1cm macro focus, focus stacking, and bracketing features.

• NX1100 depends on lens choice, no stacking features.

TG-6 is the clear winner here.

Night and Astro Photography

• NX1100’s larger sensor and manual exposure modes enable star trails - TG-6’s limited exposure control and small sensor restrict night capability.

Video

• TG-6’s 4K video offers better resolution; NX1100 capped at 1080p.

• Neither camera offers advanced video controls.

Travel Photography

• TG-6’s ruggedness and lightweight make it ideal, despite limited zoom.

• NX1100’s lens flexibility at the cost of bulk.

Image Sample Comparison

For a visual reference, here are curated samples from both cameras across genres:

Notice how the NX1100’s larger sensor achieves cleaner, crisper images with better tones in landscapes and portraits, while the TG-6 impresses underwater or macro close-ups.

Performance Ratings and Technical Scores

While DxOMark did not test the TG-6, the NX1100 achieved an overall score of 73, with 23.0 bits color depth and 12.5 stops dynamic range.

Breaking down by photography genre:

The TG-6 scores highest in ruggedness-dependent uses and macro work; the NX1100 leads in image quality and exposure flexibility.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Both cameras include built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer, though lacking Bluetooth or NFC. The TG-6’s GPS is an added plus for adventure photographers.

USB 2.0 connectivity is standard but dated, requiring patience for transfers.

Price and Value: What Will Your Dollar Buy?

At the time of comparison:

• Olympus TG-6: Around $449

• Samsung NX1100: Around $599 (noting it is older and increasingly discontinued)

Given TG-6’s rugged design and versatile shooting modes, the price is excellent for outdoor specialists.

The NX1100 offers substantial sensor quality and lens system flexibility but risks obsolescence due to discontinued support.

Who Should Buy Which? Clear Recommendations

Choose the Olympus TG-6 if:

• You need a durable, waterproof camera for adventures, underwater, and extreme conditions.

• Macro photography and close-ups excite you.

• You want high-quality 4K video in a compact, affordable package.

• You value simplicity and rapid shooting over interchangeable lens flexibility.

Choose the Samsung NX1100 if:

• You want better image quality, color depth, and exposure control on a familiar mirrorless platform.

• Manual shooting modes, interchangeable lenses, and sensor size matter.

• Your photography leans toward landscapes, portraits, and controlled studio work.

• You are budget-conscious but willing to invest in lenses and know the system’s limited future.

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

The Olympus TG-6 and Samsung NX1100 represent two very different philosophies in camera design and use cases.

The TG-6 is a remarkable compact rugged powerhouse - specialized for those who put their camera through the paces, into water, dirt, or tight macro spots. Its sensor may be small, but it delivers impressive performance given its tough credentials and ease of use.

The NX1100 offers a more traditional photographic experience with a larger APS-C sensor and creative control but lacks the durability and specialized features for extreme conditions. Its discontinued lens mount ecosystem limits its appeal for long-term investment.

Ultimately, your choice hinges on what kind of photographer you are and where you plan to shoot.

Regardless of your pick, both cameras demonstrate that with thoughtful design and careful use, impressive images and experiences are achievable - whether deep underwater or in a studio lit with soft light.

If you're looking to add to your kit or step into a new photographic niche, I hope this in-depth guide equips you well. Feel free to ask for lens recommendations or shooting tips tailored to your style - I’m always happy to share expertise gleaned from thousands of shooting hours.

Happy shooting!

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• Olympus TG 6 front Olympus TG 6 screen back Samsung NX1100 front Samsung NX1100 screen back