Best Olympus TG-870 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

The Olympus Tough TG-870 incorporates the main features of its predecessor, the TG-860 . It now has a more defined screen, 920,000 points against 460,000 points, and incorporates a new night mode. It retains a BSI CMOS sensor of 16 Mpx and 1 / 2.3 “, a 5x zoom, Wi-Fi and a water resistance up to 15 m.

Best Olympus TG-870 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Olympus TG-870 Tough Waterproof Digital Camera (Green)

2. Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera, Red

3. Olympus TG-860 Tough Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Orange)

4. Olympus TG-Tracker with 1.5-Inch LCD (Green)

5. Olympus TG-5 Waterproof Camera with 3-Inch LCD, Black – Deal-Expo Basic Accessories Bundle

Getting started

The Olympus Tough TG-870 is not very different from its predecessor, the Olympus Tough TG-860, from which it incorporates its aesthetics and robust hull. The solidity and resistance of the device are no longer to be proven since it benefits, like the previous generations, from a double system of latches which secures access to the memory card, the battery and the connectors. On the front, we find the two visible screws, characteristic of the brand. 

The rear hardly changes: the keys are exactly the same and do not move an iota. The main innovation concerns the definition of the screen, which climbs to 920,000 points from 460,000 points previously. The keys are still a bit hard, but the menus remain clear and legible.

We still like the 90 ° screen, which is particularly useful for self-portraits. Similarly, the threads on the left edge and below the device allow attachment to a tripod, facilitating horizontal and vertical framing. The other detail that is always welcome concerns the second trigger positioned on the front next to the bottom screw, designed to facilitate shooting vertically. And if you do not want to use the trigger as such, know that it is configurable. It is really well thought out.

The new night mode integrated into the TG-870 is in fact the Live Composite mode found in the latest generation Olympus hybrids. It allows you to combine several interval views on a single image. This mode is primarily intended for astrophotography and should be used when the camera is mounted on a tripod, for example.

More

Regarding the resistance characteristics, the TG-870 retains the capacities of its predecessor, namely a water resistance up to 15 m deep, resistance to temperatures of -10 ° C and to drops of 2.1 m. The compact backpacker also integrates a GPS and Wi-Fi to share files and control his device remotely via the dedicated application.

Reactivity

Since the Olympus Tough TG-850 , the 16 MP BSI CMOS sensor and the Trupic VII processor have not changed. The times of the TG-870 still vary from those of the TG-860. With the TG-870, we get better results, whether in low light, wide angle or telephoto. However, the latency between two views and the powering up of the device increases. The different burst modes “sequence” and “fast” offer two ways of photographing: either a burst in LiveView whose images are displayed progressively, or a burst without LiveView with display after recording. The “sequence 2” burst allows recording up to 8 images per second on only 7 views; still an honorable result. To record more images, prefer fast modes. Please note, however, these modes generate less defined images of 1,920 x 1,440 px. 

Image quality

Inside, the TG-870 is equipped with the same BSI CMOS sensor of 16 Mpx and 1 / 2,3 “, the same processor TruePic VII and the same optical zoom 5x equivalent to a 21-105 mm f / 3, The image quality of the Olympus TG-870 lacks detail and finesse and beyond ISO 800, the smoothing and the electronic noise make the details disappear completely. The P mode does not allow vary the aperture and automatically adjust the speed.

You can however play with the different modes to achieve more creative images, especially with the panorama and the ART mode. The super macro mode is still just as interesting, since it allows an extremely short focusing distance, of the order of 5 mm. Mostly automated, the TG-870 offers correctly exposed images and is very pleasant to use in good light conditions. The dynamics are correct and the color reproduction faithful to reality. 

Video

The video mode of the Olympus TG-870 is very classic. It is active regardless of the mode used. The maximum resolution reaches Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 px) at 60 fps. As with the TG-860 , the inevitable cropping does not allow you to exploit the 21 mm wide angle. To access a higher definition (UHD / 4K), you have to go to the Olympus Tough TG-5 adventurer . The 5-axis stabilization is effective and the continuous autofocus quickly restores the focus. The image is noisy and the microphones, which are always too sensitive, reproduce the slightest noise. In summary, there is no change compared to the previous version. 

STRONG POINTS

  • Quality of construction.
  • Ease of use.
  • Wide angle 21 mm.
  • Wi-Fi and GPS integrated.
  • Screen can be turned 180 °.
  • Water-resistant to 15 m.
  • Second front trigger (configurable).
  • Second thread for lateral tripod.
  • 5-axis stabilization in video.

WEAK POINTS

  • Image unusable beyond ISO 800.
  • Stereo microphone a little too sensitive.
  • Cropping in video which makes lose the wide angle 21 mm.
  • No electronic level.

CONCLUSION

The TG-870 and very close to the TG-860. Only the screen and the arrival of Live Composite mode really set it apart from its predecessor. Its macro mode and its wide angle of 21 mm remain its main assets. Other differentiating elements could have fully convinced us, such as a more advanced video mode, a more precise image quality, a touch screen or even higher resistance characteristics. It is nonetheless an ideal companion to take on land or underwater, especially thanks to its excellent manufacturing quality.

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