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Olympus TG-4

 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus TG-4 summary

Olympus TG-4 is Olympus's Waterproof digital camera initially released on April of 2015. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus introduced this model in order to replace the earlier Olympus TG-3 (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards introduced the fresher Olympus TG-5 (Read Full Comparison) in order to update this camera.

The TG-4 ranks at #4 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras & over-all #518 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please try our Advanced camera finder to get camera ratings based on your customized factors.

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The following is a diagram of various factors used in the rating system.

Olympus TG-4 history

The Olympus TG-4 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can view the full range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Tough-TG-6 front thumbnailOlympus TG-6
TG-4 vs TG-6
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2019
Olympus-Tough-TG-5 front thumbnailOlympus TG-5
TG-4 vs TG-5
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2017
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Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-425-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-860 front thumbnailOlympus TG-860
TG-4 vs TG-860
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Tough-TG-3 front thumbnailOlympus TG-3
TG-4 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-4 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-4 vs TG-2 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-630-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-630 iHS
TG-4 vs TG-630 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-830-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-830 iHS
TG-4 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-4 vs TG-1 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-820-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-820 iHS
TG-4 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-4 vs TG-320
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-810 front thumbnailOlympus TG-810
TG-4 vs TG-810
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-310 front thumbnailOlympus TG-310
TG-4 vs TG-310
28-102mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-610 front thumbnailOlympus TG-610
TG-4 vs TG-610
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-3000 front thumbnailOlympus Tough-3000
TG-4 vs Tough-3000
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
12MP1/2.3"2010

Olympus TG-4 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of advantages and disadvantages of the Olympus TG-4 based on aspects that are usually regarded as essential in a digital camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
built in zoom lens (25-100mm 4.0 x zoom)
delivers RAW formats
does have HDMI socket
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detection focus
features tracking autofocus
flash built-in
focusing manually
good battery life (380 per charge)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
weather proofing
cannot use external flash
does not have external microphone socket
does not have headphone socket
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed screen
lack of shutter priority mode
lacks phase detect auto focus
manual exposure not available
more heavy than competitors (247g)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
screen has low resolution (460 thousand dots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
slow at full zoom (f4.9)
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Olympus TG-4 Sensor specifications

The Olympus TG-4 is powered by the TruePic VII processor. The dimension of the sensor in the Olympus TG-4 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

The BSI-CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 6400. RAW format is supported therefore the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The image below displays the TG-4's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The TG-4 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

Olympus Tough TG-4 sensor size AI-made Images of Food Appear More Delicious Than Real Photos

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus TG-4 dimensions

Olympus TG-4 weighs in at 0.54 pounds (247 gr / 8.71 ounces) & has outer measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2"). The weight of average Waterproof camera is 195 gr so the Olympus TG-4 is weightier in comparison with various rivals.

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The following is a photo of the Olympus TG-4 next to a soda so you can get a sense of its scale.

Olympus Tough TG-4 dimensions scale

The top view here will illustrate the button design on the TG-4.

Olympus Tough TG-4 topview buttons dials

Olympus TG-4 Lens specifications

The TG-4 has got a built-in lens and it has a focal range of 25-100mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which isn't really very good however it is likely to be handy in some conditions.

At the widest 25mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f2.0 and that's wonderful for low light occasions and getting good bokeh. It would also allow you to set a much lower ISO for getting crisper images. For the tele end, 100mm comes at f4.9 which is very slow and you would need to choose slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus TG-4 Connectivity

The TG-4 has the following connectivity:

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

Digital cameras that consist of NFC and / or Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to copy images and usually alter settings with no need to connect straight to the camera.

Several applications even stream a Liveview and release the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external display. Most cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Olympus TG-4 Video specifications

The highest possible video resolution in the Olympus TG-4 is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in H.264 and Motion JPEG file format. 1080p resolution will provide a decent balance between video quality and file sizes but 1080p is not going to leave you with any room to downsample. The camera does not offer a microphone and / or headphone socket which means that you get little control over the sound. It is perhaps best to have a look at another camera should you want better sound for your videos.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Olympus TG-4 Weather Sealing

Olympus TG-4 comes with weather proofing making it a excellent selection for use during challenging places. This is particularly valuable when you are not sure about the elements you may encounter during outdoor photography.

Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus TG-4 houses a 3 inch fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

Please note that the display has no touch support.

Olympus Tough TG-4 screen and viewfinder Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

The View Finder specifications for Olympus TG-4 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be very beneficial during bright outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Olympus TG-4 Shutter specifications

Olympus TG-4 continuous shooting speed is 5.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000s.

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Olympus TG-4 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Olympus TG-4 comes with only inbuilt flash with no external flash support.

Olympus TG-4 Autofocusing specifications

Olympus TG-4 comes with just Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & exact in comparison with Contrast Based focusing. The camera boasts Face detection making it valuable for portrait photography.

The Sensor boasts 25 focus points to choose from. It also features Tracking Autofocus for objects that move. Olympus TG-4 can use manual focusing in case it is needed during low light or you require more accurate focusing control.

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Olympus TG-4 Battery life

The battery life (LI-92B) for the Olympus TG-4 is built to last for 380 photographs with respect to the CIPA measurements making it above average when compared to its category. The average Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 offers the best (380) battery life within this category of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Waterproof cameras having the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-4380 yesnono
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Olympus TG-4 for various types of photography

The following chart provides a rundown of the Olympus TG-4 for various types of photography. To look at more, go to the specific paragraph below.

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography advice

The Olympus TG-4 gets a rating of 47 which is modest, and means the camera is reasonably suited to use for portrait images. Taking portrait images favors greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support & flexibility to use off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")

Olympus TG-4 Street photography features

With a above average rating of 65, the Olympus TG-4 is a fine fit to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera offers a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (247g)

Olympus TG-4 as a Sports photography camera

A modest sports photography points total of 48 means the Olympus TG-4 is fairly acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera must have very good tracking plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography factors

Size is super critical in choosing a camera for travel. Over-all, the Olympus TG-4 gets a above average 74 for a travel camera which makes it a respectable pick for your journeys.

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great battery power (380 per charge)
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average (247g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen

Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography highlights

When you're planning to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most essential aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Olympus TG-4 and it's very good score of 62 as a landscape camera is a fine fit in the current market.

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you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
good battery power (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera really should posses a moving screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Considering every thing, the Olympus TG-4 is simply not good as a vlog camera as it delivers a subpar rating of 34.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (247 grams)

Olympus TG-4 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the TG-4, below is a collection of the top placed cameras that fall within the class of Waterproof.

The line chart underneath shows you a summary of the TG-4 compared to it's top scoring rivals suggested previously.

Following are additional cameras you may see as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Olympus
Model type
Olympus Tough TG-4
Class
Waterproof
Announced
2015-04-13
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Chip
TruePic VII
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW format
Max native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points
25
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture
f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance
1cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
3"
Resolution of screen
460 thousand dots
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
Minimum shutter speed
4 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes
Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
247 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions
112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
Other
Battery life
380 photos
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
LI-92B
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots
Single
Cost at release
$379