Olympus Tough TG-6

Tough, waterproof build. Add-on lenses and macro lights available. Sharp rear LCD. Wide aperture lens. 4K video. Wi-Fi.

Not a touch screen. LCD can pick up scuffs and scratches. Video feature lag behind action cameras. Wi-Fi app pushes spammy notifications.

Bottom Line: The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a modest update to our favorite underwater point-and-shoot camera thanks to its tough design, bright lens, and excellent macro capabilities.

Tank-like construction ; Zoom lens with f/2 ; Super slow-mo video

Middling image quality ; Over-zealous noise control

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is the best tough compact for photography and video in extreme conditions. Its small sensor means that image quality is unavoidably unexceptional, but this is simply a fact of this camera type. So as long as you temper your...

Takes a licking, keeps on ticking ; 4K and high-speed video ; Brilliant Microscope mode

… but a piece did break off! ; Only 12MP image resolution ; No fully manual control

While the TG-6 packs some fun new features, they won't warrant an upgrade if you already own the TG-5. However, if you have an older Tough or you're looking for a camera that can go in the sea, get covered in sand, be dropped onto concrete, and still...

Tough, waterproof build. Add-on lenses and macro lights available. Sharp rear LCD. Wide aperture lens. 4K video. Wi-Fi.

Not a touch screen. LCD can pick up scuffs and scratches. Video feature lag behind action cameras. Wi-Fi app pushes spammy notifications.

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a modest update to our favorite underwater point-and-shoot camera thanks to its tough design, bright lens, and excellent macro capabilities.

Shoots in raw format ; Wide maximum aperture for low light ; Useful macro mode

Buttons a little fiddly ; Manual controls limited ; Doesn’t go as deep as others on the market

Whether you're looking for a tough compact to use for specific underwater activities - such as snorkelling - or you want a well-performing camera for family trips and holidays, then the Olympus Tough TG-6 is an excellent choice. It’s a little more...

Internally stacked zoom lens Raw shooting is a bonus Video up to 4K resolution Intuitive to use

Bright conditions can lead to burnt-out highlight detail No eye-level viewfinder Quality reduced at longer focal lengths LCD visibility suffers in strong sunlight Small sensor at its heart Some controls tricky to use with gloves or with wet fingers

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is relatively easy to use and intuitive to operate, while image quality is fair without being outstanding, and build quality is reassuringly substantial. Unless you need the few upgraded features, however, the previous TG-5 or...