The Olympus TOUGH series is the company’s range of powerful compacts that are capable of withstanding the elements in the harshest of environment. As the series name “TOUGH” suggested, these cameras are designed for “abuse” as all TOUGH Series (TG) members are waterproof, freeze proof, knock proof & crush proof. At the top of the hierarchy sits the  TG-1, the flagship, the toughest TOUGH by far.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS is super rugged, and the lens has the equivalent of 25-100mm (in 35mm format) and useable aperture of F2.0-4.9 – extremely good & sensible specifications for a wide variety of applications. Now, that is not all, the TG goes deeper into the water now and it submerges to 12m (40ft) and you can drop the TG-1 from about a 2 meters height and the camera will not break. And of course, if you decides to keep your TG-1 inside your freezer instead of your dry cabinet, you can do that too as the TG-1 is designed for sub zero temperature – best for snow environment too!

The TG-1 iHS is built around a 1/2.3″-type 12MP back-lit CMOS sensor and a TruePic VI processor to make the most of its output. With a camera like this, we wouldn’t want to review this camera in Singapore, instead, we decided that the TG-1 should go places – and it landed in China. Our travel Editor, Yu Ling were given the task of reviewing the Olympus TG-1 and put the camera through its paces. Yu Ling took the “Ancient Tea Horse Trail” (Lijiang to Shangri-la) 3300m above sea level, a windy, dusty, freezing cold ( -7 degrees) route that will put the TG-1’s capability to the test.

Picture: Yu Ling, Travel Editor at Kunming, Photo by Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Before we read about Yu Ling’s feel, likes & dislikes on/about using the Olympus TOUGH TG-1 for this trip, let’s take a look at the photos (un-edited, straight from camera)!

KUNMING

Picture: Kunming International Airport, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Kunming International Airport, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Fried Rice Lunch at Kunming International Airport, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: “Budhha’s Palm – a local fruit at Kunming International Airport, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Another View Kunming International Airport, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

LIJIANG

Picture: Pumpkin Fritters at Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Steamed Dumplings at Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Yuling at “Black Dragon Pool” at Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Another shot of Black Dragon Pool with the Black Dragon Snow Mountain in the background, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Entertainers outside a restaurant at Lijjiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Local Breakfast at Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Lunch at an Old Town in Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Yuling Horse Riding at Nazi Lake, Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Nazi Lunch at Nazi Lake, Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: A View from the Horse Back, at Nazi Lake, Lijiang, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

SHANGRILA

Picture: Grassland, Shangri-la, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Grassland Farmhouse, Shangri-la, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Another magnificient view of Shangri-la grasslands, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

Picture: Lunch, Shangri-la, Photo by Yuling using Olympus TOUGH TG-1.

The Olympus TG-1 Experience: From Yu Ling
I find the Olympus TG-1 to be extremely reliable. It gives me certain edge over my DSLR as the zoom range of the TG-1 allows me lots of creativity uses and without having the need to change lenses. Li Jiang is very dusty with lots of fine sands in the air, I cannot imagine changing lenses often and having sands in my camera body.  The battery life lasted longer than I expected, cold temperature are the greatest enemy of battery, surprisingly the supplied battery lasted well way beyond my expectations. Color rendering is superb for a compact, all the photos here are un-edited except slight cropping and straightening, apart from that, what you see is what you get (i got). The sheer compact size, solid built TG-1 are really made for these things, for the worst of shooting conditions.

This is the first time that I will want to have this little cam in my camera bag whenever I go traveling again.

What I Like:
– Compact & Light (Compared to my DSLRs)
– Solid Build (can take real abuse)
– Nice Colors.
– ISO Handling is decent.
– Battery life.
– Ergonomics.
– Good useable focal range.
– Like the Super Macro Mode
– Nice Creative Filters (Cuisine Mode & Landscape Mode)

What I Dislike:
– Wider end of the focal range can be improved. Wider please.
– No Manual Model (Full control of Shutter Speed & Aperture)

More information on Olympus TOUGH TG-1 here.

About Olympus Imaging Singapore

Olympus Imaging Singapore is the unparalleled industry leader in opto-digital technologies, delivering award-winning digital imaging products for the consumer and professional markets in Singapore. Driven by a strong commitment in providing innovative products and solutions of the highest quality, Olympus Imaging Singapore works closely with industry partners, customers and other Olympus business units in producing leading-edge products. These include analogue and digital cameras, professional SLR imaging systems, and voice recorders, amongst others. Olympus Imaging Singapore’s unrelenting efforts in superior customer service also bear testimony to its brand promise of delivering the best user experience to all consumers and professional users in the imaging field.

For more information, please visit http://www.olympusimage.com.sg.