Olympus Tough TG-5 Review

Olympus Tough TG-5

Olympus Tough TG-5 Snorkel Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Summary

By Luke

Summary

Rating: 4 out of 5.

By Luke

The Olympus Tough TG-5 is a versatile, rugged, easy to use action camera great for snorkeling to capture crisp underwater photos, and videos. This has been my go-to snorkeling camera for the past 3- years and most of the photos on the website are TG-5 captured!

Pros

  • Very rugged, waterproof, and tough
  • Clear images underwater with red filter
  • Easy to swim with whilst snorkeling
  • Good zoom

Cons

  • Video footage hasn’t got the best stabilisation
  • Auto-Focus picks up on sediment
  • Motion blur when object (marine life) moves

Description

The Olympus Tough TG-5, released on 14th September, 2022. The latest action camera brought new functionality and tech updates, including 4K resolution with 120 frame rate per second for super slo-mo footage. We’ve reviewed the new camera for snorkeling.

Specification

OLYMPUS Tough TG-5

Category:Specification:
ModelOlympus Tough TG-5
AnnouncedMay 17, 2017
Sensor12.0 MP BSI-CMOS (1/2.3″)
ProcessorOlympus TruePic VIII
Lens4.5–18mm f/2.0–4.9 (25–100mm equivalent)
Optical Zoom4x
Image StabilizationSensor-shift (up to 2.5 stops)
AutofocusContrast-detect, 25-point AF, Face Detection, Subject Tracking
ISO Range100–12,800 (manual and auto)
Shutter Speed1/2000 to 4 sec
Continuous ShootingUp to 20 fps (Pro Capture mode)
ViewfinderNone
LCD Screen3.0″ TFT LCD, 460,000 dots, fixed
FlashBuilt-in, with modes: Auto, Fill-in, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Off
Video Recording4K @30p, 1080p @60p, 720p @120p, 720p @240p, 640p @480p (High-Speed Movie)
MicrophoneStereo
StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
ConnectivityWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, USB 2.0, micro HDMI, GPS, Remote control via smartphone
BatteryLI-92B Li-ion (1350 mAh), approx. 340 shots (CIPA)
Dimensions113 x 66 x 32 mm
Weight250 g (with battery and memory card)
DurabilityWaterproof to 15m, Shockproof to 2.1m, Freezeproof to -10°C, Dustproof
Operating Temperature-10°C to 40°C
Included AccessoriesHand strap, USB cable

Frequently Asked Questions

Would you recommend the TG-5 or TG-7?

The Olympus Tough TG-5 and OM System Tough TG-7 are both rugged, waterproof cameras with a 12MP sensor, 4x optical zoom, and the same TruePic VIII processor. In my opinion they are very similar, very similar. Main difference that I’ve noticed is that there is now a USB-C port, the photos do transfer using the OMSYsystem app.

Technically, the TG-7 offers a higher-resolution LCD screen, improved video options (like vertical video), and updated design features, while maintaining the same lens and sensor as the TG-5.

If I was to buy a camera on a budget, I’d get the TG-5, primarily taking photos. However, if you want the latest enhancements and better video features, the TG-7 is preffererd.

Snorkel Snaps

Schooling Bannerfih, Phi Phi
Schooling Bannerfish
Red Fan Coral, Viking Cave
Red Fan Coral, Phi Phi Islands
Goby Fish, Phi Phi Islands
Coral, Viking Cave
Coral, Viking Cave
Blue Star Fish, Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
Blue Star Fish, Phi Phi Islands
Branch Coral, Phi Phi Islands
Branch Coral, Phi Phi Islands
Blackspotted Pufferfish, Phi Phi Islands
Blackspotted Pufferfish, Phi Phi Islands
Oscellaris Clownfish, Gili Meno, Bali
Oscellaris Clownfish seen on Gilli Meno
Loggerhead Turtle, Gili Meno, Bali
Loggerhead Turtle cruising
Green Turtle, Gili Meno, Bali
Green Turtle
Clark's Anemonefish, Turtle Paradise, Gili Meno
Clark’s Anemonefish swimming amongst the Saddle Carpet Anemone
Luke Snorkeling Nusa Lembongan

Luke

FOUNDER

Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.

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