Olympus has been refreshing its top-end rugged compact camera yearly since it introduced the TG-1 ($249.95 at Amazon) in 2012. This year's model, the TG-4, is pretty much the same camera as the excellent TG-3 ($330.00 at eBay) that was released last year. It's a pocket-friendly compact with a 16-megapixel image sensor, an f/2 wide-angle lens, and a design that can take a beating. The TG-4 adds Raw capture support, and a couple of custom settings to its mode dial, but is otherwise the same camera.
That's not a bad thing. We'd love to see the telephoto end of the 25-100mm f/2-4.9 zoom lens gather more light. But the laws of physics that go hand-in-hand with designing a folding zoom lens that can sit behind protective glass for underwater use do limit what can be done in terms of zoom range and aperture. The 16-megapixel TG-4 can go as deep as 50 feet, survive drops from 7 feet, withstand 220 pounds of pressure, and operate in frigid 14°F temperatures.
The TG-4 has the same physical design as its predecessors, so it will work with the LED Light Guide ($49.99 at Amazon) accessory, which is a helpful add-on for adding light when utilizing the 1-centimeter close-focus macro mode. Both GPS and Wi-Fi are built-in; Olympus supports wireless file transfer to iOS and Android devices.
The TG-4 will go on sale in May for $379.99.
The company is also bringing the Stylus 1s to the U.S. market. The camera, announced last year in Japan, is an updated version of the Stylus 1 ($626.00 at Adorama) . It uses the same 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch image sensor and 28-300mm f/2.8 zoom lens. It also includes Wi-Fi, an eye-level EVF, and Raw shooting support.
But the camera is styled a bit differently and it offers some features that were not initially available in the Stylus 1—including a time lapse mode and a smaller AF target area for more precise focusing. But Stylus 1 owners need not shell out $699.99 for these minor updates; they're available as a free firmware update. The 1s will be available for purchase this month.
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