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Olympus TG-860

 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-870
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40

Olympus TG-860 summary

Olympus TG-860 is Olympus's Waterproof camera originally launched on February of 2015. The camera houses a 16MP, CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus released the more recent Olympus TG-870 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to replace this camera.

The TG-860 is placed #24 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras & overall #680 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please test our Smart camera filter to find camera rankings based on your personalized requirements.

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The following is a chart of different factors used in the rating system.

Olympus TG-860 family

The Olympus TG-860 has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can see all previous and more recent models along with key specs.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Tough-TG-6 front thumbnailOlympus TG-6
TG-860 vs TG-6
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2019
Olympus-Tough-TG-5 front thumbnailOlympus TG-5
TG-860 vs TG-5
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2017
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Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-870 front thumbnailOlympus TG-870
TG-860 vs TG-870
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2016
Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-4
TG-860 vs TG-4
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-860 front thumbnailOlympus TG-86021-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Tough-TG-3 front thumbnailOlympus TG-3
TG-860 vs TG-3
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-850-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-850 iHS
TG-860 vs TG-850 iHS
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-2 iHS
TG-860 vs TG-2 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-630-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-630 iHS
TG-860 vs TG-630 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-830-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-830 iHS
TG-860 vs TG-830 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Tough-TG-1-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-1 iHS
TG-860 vs TG-1 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Olympus-TG-820-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-820 iHS
TG-860 vs TG-820 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-320 front thumbnailOlympus TG-320
TG-860 vs TG-320
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-810 front thumbnailOlympus TG-810
TG-860 vs TG-810
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-310 front thumbnailOlympus TG-310
TG-860 vs TG-310
28-102mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-610 front thumbnailOlympus TG-610
TG-860 vs TG-610
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-3000 front thumbnailOlympus Tough-3000
TG-860 vs Tough-3000
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
12MP1/2.3"2010

Olympus TG-860 Pros and Cons

Here is a list of pros and cons of the Olympus TG-860 based on factors that are oftentimes regarded as essential in a camera.

environment proof
has built in flash
has HDMI support
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
image stabilization (Optical)
in built lens has zoom (21-105mm 5.0 x zoom)
provides face detect focusing
provides tracking focus
quite wide (21mm)
resolution is good (16MP)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
screen tilts
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
lacks phase detect AF
lacks RAW format
manual mode not possible
max zoom aperture not good (f5.7)
no aperture priority mode
no headphone jack
no manual focus
no mic jack
no shutter priority
pixelated screen (460 k dot)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Olympus TG-860 Sensor specs

The Olympus TG-860 features the TruePic VII processor. The dimension of the sensor in the Olympus TG-860 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 16MP and delivers a native ISO range of 125 - 6400. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The graphic below illustrates the TG-860's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The TG-860 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 sensor size President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus TG-860 dimensions

Olympus TG-860 weighs around 0.49 pounds (224 grams or 7.90 oz) & has exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1"). The weight of average Waterproof camera is 195 grams so the Olympus TG-860 is heavier compared to various competitors.

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The following is a pic of the Olympus TG-860 with a soda so you're able to get a feel for its size.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will highlight the button layout on the TG-860.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 topview buttons dials

Olympus TG-860 Lens details

The TG-860 has a built in lens giving a focal range of 21-105mm making it a 5.0 x zoom which is not perfect nevertheless it could be very helpful in a few circumstances.

At it's widest 21mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f3.5 which is quite sluggish and not the best for low light events and you will find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You will probably also need to increase your ISO resulting in noisy pictures. For the long end, 105mm comes to f5.7 making it pretty sluggish and you might have to choose slow shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-860 Connectivity

The TG-860 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to send pictures and sometimes change settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.

A few apps also provide a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external monitor. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Olympus TG-860 Video details

The highest possible video quality in the Olympus TG-860 is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in H.264 format. 1080p quality provides a good balance between quality versus file size but 1080p will not leave you with any room to crop. The body does not offer a microphone and headphone jack so you get zero control over the sound. It is probably best to have a look at a different camera in case you require decent sound for your video clips.

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Olympus TG-860 Weather Sealing

Olympus TG-860 features environment proofing which makes it a good choice for use during tough places. This is especially useful any time you are unsure about the conditions you may face during outdoor photography.

Olympus TG-860 Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus TG-860 is equipped with a 3" tilting display with a resolution of 460k dots.

Please be aware that the display screen has no touch support.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The ViewFinder specs for Olympus TG-860 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be quite helpful.

Olympus TG-860 Shutter details

Olympus TG-860 has the capability to shoot continuously at 7.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000s.

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Olympus TG-860 Flash and Hot shoe details

Olympus TG-860 comes with just integrated flash lacking external flash support.

Olympus TG-860 Autofocus details

Olympus TG-860 comes with only Contrast Based AF & doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker and precise compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera supports Face detect which makes it handy for portraits.

It also boasts Tracking AF for objects on the move. Olympus TG-860 doesn't have manual focusing. Manual focusing ability is good during low light conditions or you want to have more accurate control on focus.

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Olympus TG-860 Battery life

The battery life (Li-50B) in the Olympus TG-860 is designed to last for 300 pictures as per the CIPA measurements which is about the same as it's rivals. The average Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 comes with the best (380) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Here is a collection of Waterproof cameras that come with the strongest battery life:

Olympus TG-860 for different types of photography

The following illustration indicates a outline of the Olympus TG-860 for different types of photography. To find out more, check out the specific section below.

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography information

The Olympus TG-860 gets a score of 35 which is awful, and means the camera is just not very good for portrait images. Taking portraits favors greatly towards sensor resolution, RAW support and flexibility to use external lighting.

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MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files

Olympus TG-860 Street photography advice

Coming in at a nice points total of 69, the Olympus TG-860 is a fine option to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format

Olympus TG-860 as a Sports photography camera

A reasonable sports photography rating of 48 means the Olympus TG-860 is relatively appropriate for shooting sports. A camera needs great focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF

Travel photography with Olympus TG-860

Weight is pretty critical when choosing a travel camera. All things considered, the Olympus TG-860 gets a very good 71 as a travel camera which is a good option to buy for your journeys.

Photography Glossary
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860

For anyone planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most essential factor will be image quality. The Olympus TG-860 with it's decent score of 47 for a landscape camera is fairly appropriate compared to it's rivals.

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reasonably wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment proofing
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format

Olympus TG-860 as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging preferably should offer a moving display screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Considering all things, the Olympus TG-860 is just not very good for vlogging as it gets a awful rating of 33.

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pretty wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket

Olympus TG-860 Alternatives

If you are interested in alternatives to the TG-860, below is a selection of the top placed cameras that fall in to the family of Waterproof.

The line graph followed below shows you an overview of the TG-860 versus it's highest ranking competitors suggested earlier.

These are various other cameras you may consider as alternate options. To look at a thorough comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Olympus
Model type
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type
Waterproof
Revealed
2015-02-06
Body design
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
TruePic VII
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
21-105mm (5.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display diagonal
3 inches
Display resolution
460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
4s
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed
7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes
Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Yes
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
224 gr (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions
110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
Other
Battery life
300 photos
Form of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
Li-50B
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
One
Retail cost
$279