3.5 to 5.7 / 21-105 mm lens 5x Zoom
Waterproof Action, beach and snorkeling cameras I use over and over again very much. They are much more robust than the other bag snapping do not necessarily have an extra bag and do not have to sand tight in cotton already be packed. The monitor is the only thing that may be at risk scratch. I had, in recent years the UW models from Canon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Nikon to travel with in addition to the DSLR. Whenever I am in the southern countries or by rough coastal road, I like to use the weatherproof and safe beach cameras also accompany me into the water.
The main problem in the water are clean and proper seals that guarantee is then severely limited at each manufacturer, so I change my cameras in each year.
The UW cameras from Fuji, Canon, Panasonic have been rather disappointed me.
For me, the cameras must be apart from the good sensor and sharp imaging bring four important things: a lot of intensity, a lot of image angle (short focal length), speed and ease of use.
A colorful camera for me is usually at an advantage, because they are found more easily again, black, dark green or Flecktarn- cameras I would not want to select for the beach so. Now there is this Olympus strangely only in silver and black, too bad.
Spontaneously I like about the Tough TG850 particularly well that she has a mobile monitor that can be folded very high self-portrait even.
Truly remarkable is the lens that starts at sensational 21 mm focal length (based on KB full format). The 5x zoom sounds great to 105mm is a great area. Zoom out still leaves something but while snorkeling or even underwater shortest possible focal length between 18 mm to 24 mm is actually indispensable. Underwater for a wide-angle lens ever means the better here creates the TG850 finally set a new record for small, compact cameras. But the weakness is light with f: 3.5 to f5,7 then rather underwhelming because the camera needs already extremely much light. On the beach, which is still ok, but the water then no longer, here should be a camera at least f: 2.0 or better f: 1.4 or bring a larger, light- sensitive sensor.
The 16 MP sensor the TG850 is tiny, 1 2/3 ie only 4.5 x 6.2 mm.
The tiny, built-lenses whose light beam is deflected to the sensor, also are notorious for a rather weak resolution You can TZ41 (best performance) or Olympus XZ-2 Reisekamera not withstand long compared with a conventional Panasonic.
The operation is mostly logical and Ruck-Zuck seen through.
The camera is aimed more at beach clippers, sports fans and snorkelers because of ambitious photo enthusiasts that show the programs. Time, Aperture automatically or even manually can be here to set anything. In addition, the exposure is only in 1/3 increments possible I hold levels for meaningful and effective. The correction can be made only to +/- 2 EV, which is little standard are 3 stops and often are also 5 aperture possible. Even the RAW format has been saved, but probably is not a bug on this camera.
The photos of the TG850 are in DHW position not really sharp edges and in the telephoto range suffers generally the resolution a bit. The ISO range is up to 6400 but at 1600 ISO one should stop at the latest without the flash, if you still want to see some details.
It has been my experience with various waterproof cameras that on the beach and in the water quickly scratched the large monitor. A really good protection but there are not.
I would personally since the publication of the much more intense Olympus TG-cameras (f: 2.0 = quadruple luminous intensity in the WW area) prefer for use in shallow water, especially as it also true underwater housings and lens converters also are.
GPS, height, depth, air pressure meter and compass are not on board here.
WiFi is of course on board. Films is not a focus of the camera, but the sound is more than lousy.
If one compares the UW cameras the manufacturer, noticed that often the same sensor / lens construction is built (the vast majority use the same sensor) and only a manufacturer of fall with a stronger light lens from the frame. Better UW Photos you get only with expensive housings, special lighting and a lot of practice. The picture quality is nevertheless higher than what provide the GoPro previously. On the beach and in the rain it is certainly a better choice than the usual compact cameras that have no seal, particularly sand is very critical for any other camera.
The price seems reasonable compared. Most disturbs me the tiny Accu, which is hardly compatible with other Olympus cameras.
I am practical and user no fanboy and have no significant brand preference, basing myself only on practicality, technical implementation and price / performance.
5 star corresponds with me the theoretical maximum performance in the prior art and therefore I forgive when cameras are extremely rare and not because to me a product like. Really bad cameras there is virtually indistinguishable from the leading brand manufacturers and after a bit of study of photography and the camera normally succeed each so good photos.
In hard comparison, but differences become visible that would otherwise remain hidden.
Of all current underwater cameras of this type, I like the Olympus TG850 best by far. Of course it's too faint, the sensor would be even much better and the monitor resolution is rather low but in Plus it is very handy, stable, fast, has an exciting focal length and provides beautiful colors.
Who can spend more money, only with the Olympus TG2 that is brighter and can be supplemented by wonderful accessories, even better advice.
As Olympus brand is pressed in this type of cameras for a long time the most innovative and has top dogs such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic and other underwater.
What should keep even with these cameras catchment course, are much better sensors, better image quality and more luminous intensity of the lenses but since the cameras are again significantly higher, which is only a few photographers like vacation.
LIGHT particularly postiv
+ Small and handy to 10 m supposedly waterproof
+ Very good color rendering
Integrated image stabilizer +
+ Shockproof to 2m
+ Supposedly cold-resistant to -10 degrees
+ Relatively fast reactions
+ To 7fps
+ Can be operated with thin gloves yet
+ Very good close range of approximately 10cm at telephoto
+ Learns fast
+ LED light for Tele-macro shooting up close
+ ART filter and Program AE
+ Almost completely silent as all UW-cameras
+ 3 inch monitor with only 460,000 MP resolution
+ 37 MB internal memory
220g + easily
SHADOWS - lugubrious:
- Extremely faint f: 3.5 5.7
- Exposure compensation in 1/3 increments only & only +/- 2 EV
- Image edges in the WW and the telephoto end is not in high resolution
- Shutter speed & Aperture can not be selected manually
- Details suffer from ISO 800
- Not really a charger included
- Very small Accu 925 mAh
- Accu can be easily plugged in backwards
- No accessories, no additional lens or underwater housing
- Only video HD resolution
- GPS and supplementary services are missing
- Made in Indonesia
Achievable image quality up to 800 ISO: **
Achievable image quality above 800 ISO: *
Viewfinder / Monitor: ***
Speed: ****
Lens zoom range: ****
Perceived quality: ****
Creative Potential: **
Height Weight: ****
Price-Performance: ****
