13 Reasons the Olympus TG-1 Digital Camera Has Tough by the Tail
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It’s quite a simple premise: If you are passionate about digital photography, then leaving your camera at home is not an option. In fact, you might be a member of the group that expects to take a camera wherever you go: riding the surf, scaling a vertical or skiing the slopes. That’s why many of the major manufacturers make cameras specifically for you adventurous types; and the Olympus Tough TG-1 digital camera is one of the best of the lot.
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What immediately places the Olympus TG-1 digital camera in a category by itself is its f/2.0 lens. No other tough/adventure camera has such a wide aperture. Suddenly, more photos (and very acceptable photos) can be captured in low-light situations or when the action is fast, since the lens captures more light and you can select higher shutter speeds and lower ISO settings. With the TG-1’s f/2.0 lens, you’re now able to shoot underwater, under the dark canopy of the forest, spelunking in a cave or during heavily overcast days and still take pictures and video everyone will want to see again and again.
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Another major step forward for the Olympus TG-1 is its versatile lens conversion system. The camera comes with a 4x optical zoom lens that has a focal length range of 25–100mm in 35mm format. Once you attach the lens converter adapter, the TG-1 will accept a fisheye converter lens and a tele converter lens. The dynamic wide-angle view of the fisheye lens and the fast f/2.0 aperture will open a whole new world of underwater photography. The tele converter lens transforms the 4x optical zoom to almost 7x, so you can fill the frame with distant action and excitement.
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The Olympus TG-1 has earned its “Tough” name, as it has been designed to protect itself in 5 ways; many of its competitors only offer 4 protective features and many of those don’t have the maximum specifications of this camera.
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Olympus knows how to waterproof a camera, having not just manufactured many other adventure cameras, but also has a long-standing reputation for making some of the best underwater housing equipment. The Olympus TG-1 is built with an innovative sealing system and double-lock construction, so it’s waterproof to 40 feet (12m).
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Olympus has carefully designed the TG-1 with a double chassis, which encloses the lens and operational parts of the camera in a rugged, durable structure. The TG-1 will literally bounce back from a drop of as much as 6.6 feet (2m) and continue to function flawlessly.
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The Olympus Tough TG-1 is not just designed for cold-weather use, but the company’s engineers specifically addressed the typical challenges of photographing in a frozen environment: condensation on the lens and a non-functioning auto zoom. This means the TG-1 will operate when the temperature is as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10°C) and you’ll capture more in-your-face images of all the action.
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The same sealing system that keeps water and moisture from penetrating the TG-1 also stops dust and dirt from reaching the internal workings of the camera.
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The fifth layer of tough protection for the Olympus TG-1 is one not often found on competitive cameras. The TG-1 will withstand the crushing force of as much as 220 foot-pounds (100kgf) of pressure. The double chassis system that cushions the TG-1 when dropped is further reinforced with a durable layer of polycarbonate resin. This super-strong combination doesn’t just save the camera from being crushed, but also saves the screen from cracking, which often happens when a standard compact camera and even many adventure cameras are packed in a suitcase or carried in a back pocket.
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The Olympus TG-1’s 3-inch, 610,000-dot OLED display is larger than many competitors’ LCD screens and is manufactured to provide you with a clear, sharp image in full sunlight.
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What good is all that fun and action unless you record it as a movie? The TG-1 gives you 1080p Full-HD at 60 fps, stereo sound recording and an HDMI port to connect directly with an HDTV.
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Another excellent feature of the TG-1 is the Super Sport Mode, which operates with shutter speeds as fast as 1/2000 and an autofocus system with a fifth gear. Quickly select this mode and the camera will take a high-speed grouping of 5 images, so whatever rad action is occurring, you’ll have a photo of it.
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The Olympus TG-1 also includes all the necessary adventure tools: a GPS, e.compass and manometer.
Released May 7, 2012, the Olympus Tough TG-1 has another interesting use that many have overlooked: creating a passion for digital photography among children. What better camera to put in the hands of a group of children to photograph a birthday party, day-camp experience or a day at the beach from their point of view.
The Olympus Tough TG-1 Digital Camera is scheduled to be released June 15, 2012. Prior to that date, it can pre-ordered from B&H Photo Video for $399.00 at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Olympus+TG-1&N=0&InitialSearch=yes.
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Photo © 2011 Olympus America Inc.