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Olympus TG-6

 
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 253g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Announced May 2019
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45

Olympus TG-6 overview

Olympus TG-6 is Olympus's Waterproof camera initially announced on May of 2019. The camera has a 12MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000.

Olympus brought out this camera in an effort to upgrade the earlier Olympus TG-5 (Read Full Comparison)

The TG-6 stands at #3 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras and all-around #515 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can try out our Advanced camera search to see camera results based on your personal requirements.

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Below is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Olympus TG-6 family

The Olympus TG-6 is part of a family of cameras. You can see the complete range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Tough-TG-6 front thumbnailOlympus TG-625-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2019
Olympus-Tough-TG-5 front thumbnailOlympus TG-5
TG-6 vs TG-5
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2017
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Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-4
TG-6 vs TG-4
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-860 front thumbnailOlympus TG-860
TG-6 vs TG-860
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Tough-TG-3 front thumbnailOlympus TG-3
TG-6 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-6 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-6 vs TG-2 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-630-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-630 iHS
TG-6 vs TG-630 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-830-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-830 iHS
TG-6 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-6 vs TG-1 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-820-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-820 iHS
TG-6 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-6 vs TG-320
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-810 front thumbnailOlympus TG-810
TG-6 vs TG-810
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-310 front thumbnailOlympus TG-310
TG-6 vs TG-310
28-102mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-610 front thumbnailOlympus TG-610
TG-6 vs TG-610
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-3000 front thumbnailOlympus Tough-3000
TG-6 vs Tough-3000
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
12MP1/2.3"2010

Olympus TG-6 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of pluses and minuses of the Olympus TG-6 based on things which are generally seen as essential in a camera.

above average min ISO (100)
better than average battery power (340 CIPA)
comes with HDMI socket
environment proof
exports RAW files
fairly wide (25mm)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
flash built-in
good zoom range (25-100mm 4.0 x zoom)
has face detect focus
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has manual focus
has tracking focus
high resolution screen (1,040 thousand dots)
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
can't use external flash
doesn't have headphone socket
doesn't have mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have phase detect auto focus
heavier than average (253g)
lack of shutter priority mode
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
max zoom aperture not good (f4.9)
no manual control
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Olympus TG-6 Sensor info

The Olympus TG-6 is run by the TruePic VIII processor chip. The sensor dimension in the Olympus TG-6 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 12MP and has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800. RAW format is saved so the user has wider margin for error.

The picture underneath displays the TG-6's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The TG-6 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is outlined in green.

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To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus TG-6 dimensions

Olympus TG-6 is 0.56 lb (253 gr / 8.92 oz) and features outside dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3"). The weight of general Waterproof camera is 195 gr so the Olympus TG-6 is weightier in comparison with other competitors.

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Underneath is a shot of the Olympus TG-6 beside a soft drink so you're able to have a sense of its scale.

Olympus Tough TG-6 dimensions scale

The top view under will highlight the button design on the TG-6.

Olympus Tough TG-6 topview buttons dials

Olympus TG-6 Lens info

The TG-6 provides a built in lens and it has a focal range of 25-100mm making it a 4.0 x zoom which is not at all ideal however it is likely to be handy in certain conditions.

At the widest 25mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.0 and that is excellent in low light conditions and capturing a shallow depth of field. It would also let you use a lower ISO for getting better files. With the tele end, 100mm comes to f4.9 which is really slow and you may need to apply slow shutter speeds.

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Olympus TG-6 Connectivity

The TG-6 has the following connectivity:

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

Cameras that have NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to copy photos and sometimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.

Some applications even enable a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external screen. Most cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB socket.

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Olympus TG-6 Video info

The highest video quality in the Olympus TG-6 is 3840 x 2160 and it can shoot in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p is a superb quality for video recording. You can easily crop to Full HD in order to get cleaner results. Be wary of the large file sizes and make sure you have got good SD cards that have fast write speed. The camera doesn't include a mic or headphone port so you have little control over your audio. It is perhaps a better idea to have a look at an alternative model in case you need decent audio in your video clips.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Olympus TG-6 Weather Sealing

Olympus TG-6 provides environment sealing which makes it a excellent selection to use during tricky conditions. This is especially handy any time you are not sure about the conditions you might face during outdoor photography.

Olympus TG-6 Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus TG-6 has a 3 inch fixed screen supporting a resolution of 1,040 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.

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The ViewFinder specifications regarding Olympus TG-6 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are pretty useful during sunny outdoor conditions which can make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Olympus TG-6 Shutter info

Olympus TG-6 has the capability to shoot continuously at 20.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Olympus TG-6 Flash and Hot shoe info

Olympus TG-6 includes only in-built flash with no external flash ability.

Olympus TG-6 Autofocus info

Olympus TG-6 includes just Contrast Detect Autofocus and does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more faster & accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera has Face detect which is useful for portraits.

The AF system has 25 focus points to choose from. It also comes with Tracking Autofocus for things that move. Olympus TG-6 includes manual focus when required during low light scenarios or you need more precise control on focus.

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Olympus TG-6 Battery life

The battery power (LI-92B) on the Olympus TG-6 is made to last for 340 images based on the CIPA specifications which is higher than the usual when compared to its class. The typical Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 has got the highest (380) battery life within this range of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Waterproof cameras that have the best battery life:

Olympus TG-6 for different kinds of photography

The following chart displays a summation of the Olympus TG-6 for different kinds of photography. To look at more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-6

The Olympus TG-6 receives a points total of 40 which is horrible, meaning that it is not really suitable for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans heavily to sensor dimension, support for RAW photos together with the flexibility to use external lighting.

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has manual focus
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")

Olympus TG-6 Street photography advice

Having a nice rating of 65, the Olympus TG-6 is a good pick to use in street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (253 grams)

Olympus TG-6 Sports photography information

A moderate sports photography score of 47 indicates the Olympus TG-6 is fairly acceptable for photographing sports. A camera needs to have very good focusing and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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high frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery life (340 per charge)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus

Olympus TG-6 Travel photography information

Weight is super important in choosing a camera for travel. Overall, the Olympus TG-6 gets a above average 68 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent fit for your trips.

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good battery pack (340 shots)
weather proof
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors (253g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display

Olympus TG-6 Landscape photography info

In case you're planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most critical factor is going to be image quality. The Olympus TG-6 and it's decent score of 57 for a landscape camera is somewhat suitable within the current marketplace.

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focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery (340 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")

Olympus TG-6 Vlogging features

A vlogging camera really should offer a articulating screen, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Olympus TG-6 is not really suitable as a vlog camera as it gets a horrible score of 34.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (253 grams)

Olympus TG-6 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the TG-6, below is a number of the highest placed cameras that fall in to the category of Waterproof.

The line chart down below shows you a summary of the TG-6 versus it's top ranked rivals shown previously.

These are various other cameras you may take into account as alternate options. To look at a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Olympus
Model
Olympus Tough TG-6
Class
Waterproof
Announced
2019-05-22
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
TruePic VIII
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW images
Max native ISO
12800
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points
25
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture
f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display sizing
3 inches
Resolution of display
1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
4 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash settings
Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill- in, Manual, Flash Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC
Max video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
253 grams (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions
113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
340 pictures
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery model
LI-92B
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support)
Card slots
1
Retail price
$449