OM System’s first compact digital camera is the OM System Powerful TG-7

A latest historical past of the Powerful TG sequence

With the introduction of the Olympus Powerful TG-5 in 2017, the product line reached a really respectable degree. The Powerful TG-5 got here with a brand new 12MP sensor able to taking pictures 4K video and introduced a lot much less noise than the TG-4’s 1080p video.

When the Olympus Powerful TG-6 was introduced in 2019, although, little or no modified. In actual fact, just about nothing modified aside from the rear LCD, which elevated in decision from 460 thousand pixels to 1.04 million pixels.

The Olympus Powerful TG-6 was primarily a tiny incremental replace for brand new customers trying to purchase an underwater compact. It wasn’t actually an “improve” for the Powerful TG-5.

There hasn’t been a launch since 2019, in all probability principally as a result of Olympus digital camera division altering arms. Olympus bought it to JIP, and it was later rebranded as OM System. And now we lastly have a brand new mannequin of the Powerful TG sequence rugged compact digital camera.

It loses the Olympus title, in fact. It’s now the OM System Powerful TG-7.

What’s new with the OM System Powerful TG-7?

Effectively, there’s excellent news and unhealthy information. The “unhealthy” is that its core options nonetheless stay largely the identical because the Powerful TG-6 (and the Powerful TG-5). It nonetheless encompasses a 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, it nonetheless accommodates a 25-100mm equal f/2.0-4.9 lens, and it shoots 4K 30fps video.

It nonetheless gives unmatched ruggedness and sturdiness in its class. It’s drop-proof from 2.1 metres (~6.9ft), freeze-proof to -10°C (~14°F) and crushproof to 100kg (~220lb) of power. It’s additionally waterproof to a depth of 15 metres (~50ft) with none exterior housing and has an IP6x dustproof score, providing full safety from mud.

So, what actually is new? Effectively, the “good” is that there are just a few good (however minor) upgrades. They’re largely quality-of-life upgrades slightly than quality-of-image upgrades. The sensor within the TG-7 is identical as that discovered within the TG-6 and TG-5, so it produces the outcomes you’ve come to anticipate.

It nonetheless has a 3″ TFT show on the again, though it’s stated to be rather more colour-accurate than it was within the Powerful TG-6. This won’t be a giant deal to lots of people who solely depend on the LCD for composition and focus, however something that’s simpler to see and appears extra correct goes to be a bonus.

One space that could be a good improve is a barely redesigned grip. photos of the digital camera, it now appears to sport fins that ought to present simpler gripping skills. That is form of necessary while you’re underwater together with your wrinkled-up fingers attempting to carry onto a digital camera.

Interval Timer Taking pictures and Publicity Smoothing

One very good addition to the OM System Powerful TG-7 is an replace to the interval timer taking pictures mode. This lets you shoot timelapses with picture sequences of as much as 299 photos. As soon as the sequence is full, a video file is robotically made within the digital camera.

Interval timer taking pictures isn’t new to the Powerful sequence, however what’s new is publicity smoothing. This offers with publicity variations from one body to the subsequent – which might be widespread open air when the solar bounces out and in from behind clouds.

It prevents the juddery and jarring variations from one body to the subsequent because the publicity adjustments. That is additionally finished in-camera and lets you create a timelapse sequence with a pleasant, easy, exposures all through.

Two key options for social media content material creators

One other replace to the Powerful TG-7 over its predecessor is the introduction of vertical taking pictures mode. Because the title suggests, it lets you shoot vertical video natively throughout the digital camera. After all, you may shoot vertical video with any digital camera. Simply rotate it 90 levels and shoot, proper?

Effectively, sure, however the Powerful TG-7 really acknowledges the orientation of the digital camera when taking pictures vertically in order that the video recordsdata it produces are literally vertical. So, you don’t should depend on having modifying software program that permits you to rotate the clips.

One other huge improve for social media shooters is that the digital camera now encompasses a quick USB-C port. This implies you may shortly and simply unload footage and pictures straight from the digital camera to your cellphone over a USB-C to USB-C cable.

Certain, you can do that with the micro USB connection of its predecessor with the suitable cable, however USB-C is a a lot much less delicate socket, and it’s an entire heck of so much quicker to switch recordsdata with, too. Naturally, you can even join this to a laptop computer for quick, simple transfers to be used with video modifying software program like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Professional.

The USB-C socket can be utilized for charging the battery, though it can’t be used to energy the digital camera. So, when you needed to depart it up and working for ages on exterior energy, this isn’t going to work.

Is it value shopping for?

Whereas the additions and upgrades to the Powerful TG-7 are fairly good, for a lot of Olympus Powerful TG-6 customers – and even Powerful TG-5 – it’s in all probability not but well worth the improve. The core options of the digital camera haven’t modified.

The picture and video high quality haven’t modified. Certain, it’s acquired a extra colour-accurate show, publicity smoothing for timelapse, vertical video and a USB-C socket, however that’s in all probability not going to be sufficient for most individuals over what they have already got.

For those who’re a brand new person, it will get somewhat trickier. That is principally as a result of the truth that the OM System Powerful TG-7 sees a slight worth enhance. Each the Olympus Powerful TG-5 and Powerful TG-6 had been $499 at launch. The OM System Powerful TG-7 provides a $50 premium to that worth for the good thing about the brand new options.

You’re going should resolve for your self whether or not that further $50 is value it for these options over the Powerful TG-6 (whereas shares nonetheless final at retailers) or when you may be higher served searching across the used marketplace for a TG-5 or TG-6.

Value and Availability

For those who really feel the OM System Powerful TG-7 goes to be value it for you, then it’s obtainable to pre-order now for $549 in both black or crimson. Transport is anticipated to start on the finish of September.