Olympus has launched the new Tough TG – 1 iHS, a rugged high-end point-and-shoot camera. Olympus has a long standing tradition of making cameras that take the worry out of the equation while travelling or shooting in risky conditions and the TG – 1 iHS is no exception.
Improving upon its existing offering, Olympus has amped up the rugged offering to resist drops almost 7 feet, waterproof till 40 feet of submersion and freeze resistant to a temperature of -14 degree Celsius. And in case you happen to “accidentally” drop 100 kilograms of weight onto the camera, there’s nothing to worry about. The TG – iHS will withstand that without breaking a sweat.
The toughness isn’t all that the TG – 1 iHS has to offer. Olympus has packed a modest 12-megapixel back-illuminated sensor that is augmented by their TruPic VI image processor, enabling faster focus and a better burst mode. The camera also sports an f/2.0 lens, a first of its kind in the “Tough” class of cameras. While the aperture isn’t constant, it is still a much welcome addition to have at the wide end (especially when shooting under-water). The lens is also coated with a water repellant substance to ensure that water droplets don’t ruin your precious photos by sticking to the lens.
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The think tanks at Olympus figured that despite the great optics, some photography aficionados might feel a little limited with the 4x (optical) zoom lens, so they introduce the fisheye converter and a teleconverter to expand the creative capabilities of the camera. Unlike other converters, the two by Olympus as designed to withstand being underwater as well, without sacrificing that sweet f/2.0 aperture. Just in case you think that being 40 feet under isn’t enough, Olympus has you covered with their underwater housing that would allow you to dive with the TG – 1 iHS to depths of 135 feet.
The usual GPS and compass find their way into the Olympus TG – 1 iHS, but the manometer that measures the depth and elevation of the camera is a nice addition. It also warns the user when they start approaching the 40 feet depth limit.
The Olympus TG – 1 iHS is slated for a June release in the US for $399.99. We’re hoping for an India release around the same time.
