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Olympus TG-1 iHS

 
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37

Olympus TG-1 iHS summary

Olympus TG-1 iHS is Olympus's Waterproof digital camera initially announced on May of 2012. The camera has a 12MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 3968 x 2976.

The TG-1 iHS is placed #38 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras and overall #821 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should test our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your customized requirements.

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Below is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Olympus TG-1 iHS history

The Olympus TG-1 iHS comes with a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can look at all previous and brand new models as well as important features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Tough-TG-6 front thumbnailOlympus TG-6
TG-1 iHS vs TG-6
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2019
Olympus-Tough-TG-5 front thumbnailOlympus TG-5
TG-1 iHS vs TG-5
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2017
Photography Glossary
Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-4
TG-1 iHS vs TG-4
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-860 front thumbnailOlympus TG-860
TG-1 iHS vs TG-860
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Tough-TG-3 front thumbnailOlympus TG-3
TG-1 iHS vs TG-3
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-850-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-850 iHS
TG-1 iHS vs TG-850 iHS
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-2 iHS
TG-1 iHS vs TG-2 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-630-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-630 iHS
TG-1 iHS vs TG-630 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-830-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-830 iHS
TG-1 iHS vs TG-830 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Tough-TG-1-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-1 iHS25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-820-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-820 iHS
TG-1 iHS vs TG-820 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Olympus-TG-320 front thumbnailOlympus TG-320
TG-1 iHS vs TG-320
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-810 front thumbnailOlympus TG-810
TG-1 iHS vs TG-810
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-310 front thumbnailOlympus TG-310
TG-1 iHS vs TG-310
28-102mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-610 front thumbnailOlympus TG-610
TG-1 iHS vs TG-610
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-3000 front thumbnailOlympus Tough-3000
TG-1 iHS vs Tough-3000
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
12MP1/2.3"2010

Olympus TG-1 iHS Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of upsides and downsides of the Olympus TG-1 iHS based on factors that are generally considered useful in a digital camera.

built-in flash
comes with HDMI support
good max aperture (f2.0)
good minimum ISO (100)
good zoom range (25-100mm 4.0 x zoom)
great battery pack (350 per charge)
has face detect autofocus
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
weather proof
cannot use external flash
doesn't have headphone jack
doesn't have mic jack
doesn't have Time Lapse function
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
lack of RAW format
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution screen (610 thousand dot)
manual mode not possible
max zoom aperture not good (f4.9)
no aperture priority
no shutter priority mode
screen is fixed
screen is not selfie friendly
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Olympus TG-1 iHS Sensor features

The Olympus TG-1 iHS is run by the TruePic VI processor. The specification of the sensor on the Olympus TG-1 iHS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can capture 3968 x 2976 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 12 megapixels and has a standard ISO range of 100 to 6400. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.

The image below displays the TG-1 iHS's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The TG-1 iHS sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is outlined in green.

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To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus TG-1 iHS dimensions

Olympus TG-1 iHS has a weight of 0.51 lbs (230 grams / 8.11 ounces) and features external proportions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2"). The weight of typical Waterproof camera is 195 grams and the Olympus TG-1 iHS is more heavy compared to other rivals.

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Below is a photo of the Olympus TG-1 iHS besides a soda to help you to have a feel for its size.

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS dimensions scale

The top view here will illustrate the button layout on the TG-1 iHS.

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS topview buttons dials

Olympus TG-1 iHS Lens features

The TG-1 iHS houses an inbuilt lens giving a focal range of 25-100mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which might not be significant but it will probably be very helpful in certain circumstances.

At it's widest 25mm, it offers an aperture of f2.0 making it fantastic in low light circumstances and getting a shallow depth of field. It is going to also allow you to use a lower ISO and get clearer shots. On the long end, 100mm comes to f4.9 making it pretty sluggish and you may have to apply slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus TG-1 iHS Connectivity

The TG-1 iHS has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can send files and usually alter settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

A few apps also give a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.

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Olympus TG-1 iHS Video features

The max video quality on the Olympus TG-1 iHS is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in H.264 file format. 1080p quality delivers a great balance in video quality versus file size but 1080p won't give you much room to crop. The body does not have a mic and headphone port which means you get zero control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to have a look at a different camera should you require better sound in your videos.

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Olympus TG-1 iHS Weather Sealing

Olympus TG-1 iHS provides weather proofing making it a good candidate to use in tough climates. This can be especially helpful if you are uncertain about the conditions you may face in outdoor photography.

Olympus TG-1 iHS Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus TG-1 iHS has a 3 inch fixed screen with a resolution of 610 thousand dots.

Sadly the screen isn't a touch screen.

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The ViewFinder details regarding Olympus TG-1 iHS are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite helpful in bright outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.

Olympus TG-1 iHS Shutter features

Olympus TG-1 iHS continuous shooting speed is 3.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000s.

Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-1 iHS Flash and Hot shoe features

Olympus TG-1 iHS includes just built in flash without external flash support.

Olympus TG-1 iHS Autofocus features

Olympus TG-1 iHS includes only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & precise compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera has Face detection which can be handy for people photography.

It also comes with Tracking Autofocus for objects that move. Olympus TG-1 iHS has not got manual focusing. Manual focusing ability can be good in low light occasions or you want to have more exact control on depth of field.

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Olympus TG-1 iHS Battery life

The battery pack (LI90B) for the Olympus TG-1 iHS is fashioned to last for 350 photos with respect to the CIPA specifications which is above the usual in comparison to its category. The usual Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 has got the maximum (380) battery life in this group of cameras.

Underneath is a collection of Waterproof cameras that have the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Olympus-Tough-TG-1-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-1 iHS350 nonono

Olympus TG-1 iHS for specific forms of photography

The following chart provides a outline of the Olympus TG-1 iHS for specific forms of photography. To find out more, check out the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS

The Olympus TG-1 iHS gets a rating of 27 which is awful, meaning that it is not really appropriate for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW photos along with the ability to work with external flash.

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features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support

Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography factors

Having a very good points total of 61, the Olympus TG-1 iHS is a fine choice to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Sports photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS

A awful sports photography points tally of 40 indicates the Olympus TG-1 iHS is not really appropriate for taking photos of sports. A camera must have very good tracking plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
weather proof
great battery life (350 shots)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF

Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography advice

Size is really crucial when choosing a travel camera. On the whole, the Olympus TG-1 iHS gets a very good 68 as a travel camera which is a good pick to purchase for your vacations.

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better than average battery power (350 shots)
weather proofing
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Landscape photography camera

If you're planning to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the biggest aspect will be image quality. The Olympus TG-1 iHS at it's decent grade of 46 for a landscape camera is somewhat adequate compared to it's competition.

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quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
good battery power (350 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode

Olympus TG-1 iHS Vlogging highlights

A vlogging camera should really posses a moving screen, mic input and preferably IBIS. Considering all the details, the Olympus TG-1 iHS is not really appropriate for vlogging as it delivers a awful rating of 36.

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really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support

Olympus TG-1 iHS Alternatives

If you are in the market for alternatives to the TG-1 iHS, below is a range of the highest rated cameras which fall within the category of Waterproof.

The diagram underneath will give you a bird's eye view of the TG-1 iHS vs it's highest scoring competitors mentioned above.

Following are additional cameras you might check out as alternate options. To read through a thorough comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Olympus
Model type
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS
Category
Waterproof
Introduced
2012-05-08
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor Chip
TruePic VI
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
3968 x 2976
RAW files
Maximum native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.0-4.9
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen size
3"
Screen resolution
610 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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
Min shutter speed
4s
Max shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed
3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
230 gr (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions
112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
Other
Battery life
350 photographs
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
LI90B
Self timer
Yes (2 and 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage slots
One
Price at release
$399