CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Olympus TG-6 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Olympus TG-6

    Select a Camera to Compare

    x
    Add a Camera for comparison

    Main Features

    • 12MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 12800
    • 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 Zoom Lens
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 3 Fixed Type Screen
    • 20.0 fps continuous shooting
    • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video
    • Built-in Wireless
    • Built-in GPS
    • 253g. 113 x 66 x 32 mm
    • Weather Sealed Body
    • Replaced Olympus TG-5
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Olympus TG-6 Overview

    First introduced in May 2019 , Olympus Tough TG-6 is a 12.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 lens. Olympus replaced the older TG-5 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
    Compare Olympus Tough TG-6 vs Olympus TG-5

    Olympus TG-6 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Olympus TG-6 is the latest member of Olympus's TG-X series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Olympus TG-X Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Olympus TG-6
    2019 12.0MP - 1/2.3 20.0 fps 113 x 66 x 32mm 253g
    Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    2017 12.0MP - 1/2.3 20.0 fps 113 x 66 x 32mm 250g
    Olympus TG-4
    Compare
    2015 16.0MP - 1/2.3 5.0 fps 112 x 66 x 31mm 247g
    Olympus TG-3
    Compare
    2014 16.0MP - 1/2.3" 5.0 fps 112 x 66 x 31mm 247g
    Olympus TG-2 iHS
    Compare
    2013 12.0MP - 1/2.3" 5.0 fps 111 x 67 x 29mm 230g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
    Olympus TG-6 vs TG-5 vs TG-4 vs TG-3 vs TG-2 iHS

    Olympus TG-6 has an Overall Score of 60/100 and ranked #12 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Waterproof), and ranked #296 out of 1220 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Olympus TG-6 Physical Specs
    Olympus TG-6 weighs 253 g (0.56 lb / 8.92 oz) and has external dimensions of 113 x 66 x 32 mm (4.45 x 2.6 x 1.26″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Olympus TG-6 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 32mm, it has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Olympus TG-6
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Olympus TG-6
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Olympus TG-6 with the dimensions:

    Olympus TG-6 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Olympus TG-6 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus TG-6, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Olympus TG-6 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Olympus TG-6 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Olympus TG-6 with its main competitors:

    Olympus TG-6 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs TG-6 Thickness vs TG-6
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    250g 3g lighter 32mm equal thickness
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Nikon W300
    Compare
    231g 22g lighter 29mm 3mm thinner
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-4
    Compare
    247g 6g lighter 31mm 1mm thinner
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Ricoh WG-6
    Compare
    246g 7g lighter 33mm 1mm thicker
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Ricoh WG-70
    Compare
    193g 60g lighter 30mm 2mm thinner
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-870
    Compare
    221g 32g lighter 28mm 4mm thinner
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-3
    Compare
    247g 6g lighter 31mm 1mm thinner
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Fujifilm XP130
    Compare
    207g 46g lighter 28mm 4mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Olympus TG-6 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, freezeproof)

    Olympus TG-6 Sensor and Photography Features

    Olympus TG-6 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features TruePic VIII processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. TG-6 has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Olympus TG-6 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus TG-6 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Waterproof cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Olympus TG-6's 1/2.3 sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Olympus TG-6 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Olympus TG-6 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Olympus TG-6 Lens

    Olympus TG-6 features a 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 4x zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 25mm, and 100mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    TG-6
    Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    TG-6
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    Providing a max aperture of f2.00 at 25mm, this lens is remarkably fast on wide end, but only moderately fast at the tele end with max aperture of f4.90.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    TG-6
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    TG-6
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    TG-6 is also equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Olympus TG-6's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.



    Olympus TG-6 LCD

    Olympus TG-6 has a Fixed Type 3 LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Olympus TG-6 back view and LCD

    TG-6 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 (Lumix DC-TZ95) (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Olympus TG-6 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Olympus TG-6 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our TG-6. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

    You can connect TG-6 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Olympus TG-6 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 340 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, Olympus TG-6 has a good battery life for its class.

    Battery Life Comparison in Waterproof Cameras

    Olympus TG-6
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Olympus TG-4 with its 380shots is the model with longest battery life among Waterproof cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus TG-6 vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Waterproof cameras list.

    Olympus TG-6 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 340shots Yes No No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Nikon W300
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 280shots Yes Yes No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-4
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 380shots Yes No No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Ricoh WG-6
    Compare
    3840x2160 340shots No No No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Ricoh WG-70
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots No No No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-870
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots Yes No No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Olympus TG-3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots Yes No No
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Fujifilm XP130
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 240shots Yes Yes No

    Olympus TG-6 Video Features

    With Olympus TG-6, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30p, 25p fps with bit rates up to 102 mbps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. This means that Olympus TG-6 provides 4K (Ultra-HD) video. Except some exotic 6K and 8K video recording cameras, 4K is the new standard in consumer video world.

    TG-6 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
    Olympus TG-6 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Olympus XZ-2 iHS in a similar price range.

    Olympus TG-6 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Olympus TG-6 can shoot continuously at max speed of 20.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately TG-6 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Olympus TG-6 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 25 points to choose from.

    Olympus TG-6 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Focus Stacking

    Macro shooters will love Olympus TG-6's Focus Stacking feature. In this mode, TG-6 automatically composites multiple shots taken at different focal positions using focus bracketing to create a single image with maximum depth of field.

    Olympus TG-6 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus TG-6 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Water Proof down to 15m
    Shock Proof up to 2.4m
    Crush Proof up to 100kgf
    Freeze Proof down to -10C
    Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)
    Image Stabilization
    4K (UHD) Video
    RAW Shooting
    Face Detection Focusing
    12.800 Max ISO
    25 Focus Points
    1.040k dots LCD Resolution
    20.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter
    Long Battery Life (340 shots)
    253g Light Body
    Manual Focusing
    Environmental Sealing
    Timelapse Recording
    25mm Wide Angle Lens
    Fast 2.00 Lens at Wide
    Focus Bracketing
    Focus Stacking
    Remote control with a smartphone
    High Video bit rate of 102mbps
    UHS-I Memory Card Support
    Live Composite Mode
    Report a correction

    Buy Olympus TG-6 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    No Manual Exposure
    Slow Lens at Tele: f4.90
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Olympus TG-6 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Olympus TG-6 in 5 different photography areas.

    Olympus TG-6 for Portrait Photography

    Olympus TG-6 has a score of 44 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Image Stabilization
    RAW shooting capability
    Manual Focus Mode
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Small 1/2.3 sensor
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-6 for Portrait Photography

    Olympus TG-6 for Street Photography

    Olympus TG-6 has a score of 81 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Small Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    Small 1/2.3 sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-6 for Street Photography

    Olympus TG-6 for Sports Photography

    Olympus TG-6 has a score of 33 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTG-6.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    25 Focus Points
    Wireless Connection
    Manual Focus Mode
    Image Stabilization
    RAW shooting capability
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    100 mm Tele Lens

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-6 for Sports Photography

    Olympus TG-6 for Daily Photography

    Olympus TG-6 has a score of 74 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Waterproof Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    253g
    Environmental Sealings
    RAW shooting capability
    4.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.3 sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-6 for Daily Photography

    Olympus TG-6 for Landscape Photography

    Olympus TG-6 has a score of 32 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTG-6.
    Manual Focus Mode
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Environmental Sealings
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Small 1/2.3 sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-6 for Landscape Photography
    Olympus TG-6 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Olympus TG-6 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus TG-6 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Olympus TG-6

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus TG-6 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Olympus TG-5
    Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    Nikon W300
    Nikon W300
    Compare
    Olympus TG-4
    Olympus TG-4
    Compare
    Ricoh WG-6
    Ricoh WG-6
    Compare
    Ricoh WG-70
    Ricoh WG-70
    Compare
    Olympus TG-870
    Olympus TG-870
    Compare
    Olympus TG-3
    Olympus TG-3
    Compare
    Fujifilm XP130
    Fujifilm XP130
    Compare

    Olympus TG-6 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Olympus TG-6 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Olympus TG-6's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus TG-6
    Does the Olympus TG-6 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Olympus TG-6 have RAW support?
    Does the Olympus TG-6 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Olympus TG-6 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Olympus TG-6?
    What is the Sensor Size of Olympus TG-6?
    is the Olympus TG-6 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Olympus TG-6 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Olympus TG-6 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus TG-6?
    What is the Weight of Olympus TG-6?
    What are the Dimensions of Olympus TG-6?
    Olympus Tough TG-6 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Olympus
    Model Olympus Tough TG-6
    Announced 2019-05-22
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Number of Lenses
    Lens Focal Range 25-100 mm (4x)
    Max Aperture F2.0-4.9
    Macro Focus Range 1cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 3
    Screen Resolution 1,040k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 4s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range n/a
    Flash Modes 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 Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Size 1/2.3
    Sensor Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.07mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4000 x 3000
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 25
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC
    Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Built-In
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 253g
    Physical Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm
    Battery Life 340 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model LI-92B
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS Built-in
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support)
    Storage Slots 1


    FOLLOW US


    Most Popular Waterproof Cameras
    Olympus TG-6
    12 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor| 25-100 mm
    Olympus TG-5
    12 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor| 25-100 mm
    Fujifilm XP130
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 28-140 mm
    Olympus TG-4
    16 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor| 25-100 mm
    Panasonic TS30
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 25-100 mm
    Panasonic TS25
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 25-100 mm
    Nikon W300
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 24-120 mm
    Olympus TG-3
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 25-100 mm
    Latest Waterproof Cameras
    Ricoh WG-70
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 28-140 mm
    Olympus TG-6
    12 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor | 25-100 mm
    Ricoh WG-6
    20 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 28-140 mm
    Ricoh G900
    20 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 28-140 mm
    Fujifilm XP130
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 28-140 mm
    Nikon W300
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 24-120 mm
    Ricoh WG-50
    16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 28-140 mm
    Olympus TG-5
    12 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor | 25-100 mm
    Copyright © 2020 by CameraDecision
    About Feedback Privacy Cameras

    Report a Correction