As a photographer and tech journalist, the primary query that I often ask myself when packing for a visit is that this: Which cameras am I going to deliver? On my final massive household trip, I ended up packing 4 cameras, regardless of restricted baggage house. However whereas packing 4 cameras is regular for a digital camera nerd, what I didn’t count on was that, after returning dwelling, I noticed the digital camera that I used most was a compact digital camera, the waterproof OM Robust System TG-7.
I packed 4 cameras on a current household journey to Florida: my mirrorless Fujifilm X-T4, a movie Pentax K1000, a GoPro Hero 12, and the OM System Robust TG-7.
Sometimes, after I journey, the digital camera that I exploit essentially the most is my mirrorless. Taking pictures is a part of what I like about touring, however this journey was a bit completely different. For starters, a lot of the journey was seaside days, poolside afternoons, and an ocean kayaking tour, and I didn’t need to fear about dropping my mirrorless within the water or the sand.
However, to be trustworthy, as knowledgeable photographer, typically digging out my mirrorless digital camera feels an excessive amount of like work. My precedence on this journey was household first, unplugging second, and capturing reminiscences of the journey someplace behind these two.
The TG-7 might look like an odd alternative for a digital camera nerd. In any case, it has the everyday small sensor of most reasonably priced compacts and doesn’t have the mirrorless-like sensor of pricier compacts just like the Fujifilm X100VI, which can look like a extra apparent alternative for each a digital camera nerd and a Fujifilm photographer. Sure, I’ve eyed the X100VI, however each time I’m tempted, I’ve appeared on the value, then the worth of the 27mm pancake lens that I may use to flip my present digital camera into one thing comparable, and have resisted the temptation.
I purchased the TG-6 as a present for my pre-teen as a result of I needed one thing that wasn’t too “kidish” but additionally one thing that might survive when he inevitably dropped it. I justified the worth tag that’s increased than a typical children’ digital camera with the thought that I’d be capable of borrow it for moist and sandy places that aren’t protected for a mirrorless digital camera. OM System has since launched the TG-7, and the corporate despatched me one to check out, in order that’s the one which I packed.
The most important cause that I used the TG-7 greater than my mirrorless digital camera on that journey boils all the way down to sturdiness. The TG-7 is waterproof all the way down to 49 ft / 15m, sealed in opposition to mud and sand, and likewise drop resistant. I may have taken my weather-sealed mirrorless digital camera to the seaside with some care, however I needed to spend the day watching my children see the ocean for the primary time with out worrying about my digital camera. I didn’t need to danger it in an extended ocean kayak tour, and undoubtedly not underwater within the ocean and pool. I even handed it over to my nieces and nephews so they might take pictures with it too, contained in the pool.
I pulled my mirrorless digital camera out to {photograph} manatees from a boardwalk and turtles in a tank at a turtle hospital, however utilizing the Robust sequence digital camera for seaside days, kayak rides, and dips within the pool was a straightforward alternative.
However maybe you’re questioning why I introduced each the TG-7 and a GoPro. In any case, GoPros are waterproof too, and whereas initially supposed for video, they will take some first rate nonetheless pictures for one thing so small. There’s actually one key cause that I nonetheless packed the TG-7: zoom.
When my kayak tour out to a small ocean island ended with a go to by a dolphin and her child, I captured remarkably secure POV footage of the encounter with the GoPro that I’ll all the time treasure. However then I additionally pulled out the OM System compact digital camera and was capable of seize some close-up (albeit a bit shaky) footage of the dolphins, too.
Would my mirrorless digital camera have taken higher pictures? Completely. However typically, it’s not the picture high quality that issues most, however the means to take photos whereas staying within the second. For me, utilizing a water-resistant compact digital camera felt like unplugging.
And that’s additionally why I believe compact cameras are making such a giant comeback – the act of taking pictures with a point-and-shoot feels extra like staying within the second than taking pictures with a smartphone. Utilizing a water-resistant, dropproof digital camera provides to that have by eradicating the concern over ruining an costly gadget and the power to take a digital camera in locations sometimes harmful to electronics. Capturing with a digital camera that I may freely dunk into salt water with out disastrous penalties felt liberating.
My mirrorless digital camera continues to be my favourite one to shoot with – however for seaside and boat excursions, I like having a water-resistant compact readily available. The OM System Robust TG-7 is DCW’s present best choice for the finest waterproof digital camera. It’s at the moment discounted by $50 to $399 within the US at a number of retailers, together with Adorama and B&H.
Within the UK, the digital camera can be discounted to £395 on Amazon.
You might also like
Browse the finest compact cameras or the finest cameras for youths.