Olympus TG-6 vs OM System TG-7
The Olympus Tough TG-6 and the OM System Tough TG-7 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in May 2019 and September 2023. Both the TG-6 and the TG-7 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12 megapixels.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Tough TG-6 and the OM System Tough TG-7? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus TG-6 and the OM System TG-7 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, red).
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus TG-6 and the OM System TG-7 are of equal size. However, the TG-7 is slightly lighter (2 percent) than the TG-6. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments. More than that, both cameras are water-proof and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.
Concerning battery life, the TG-6 gets 340 shots out of its Olympus LI-92B battery, while the TG-7 can take 330 images on a single charge of its OM System LI-92B power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus TG-6 | 113 mm | 66 mm | 32 mm | 253 g | 340 | Y | May 2019 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
2. | OM System TG-7 | 114 mm | 66 mm | 33 mm | 249 g | 330 | Y | Sep 2023 | US$ 549 | amazon.com | |
3. | Canon SX740 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 40 mm | 299 g | 265 | n | Jul 2018 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
4. | Nikon W300 | 112 mm | 66 mm | 29 mm | 231 g | 280 | Y | May 2017 | US$ 389 | ebay.com | |
5. | Olympus E-PM1 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 34 mm | 265 g | 330 | n | Jun 2011 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Olympus TG-4 | 112 mm | 66 mm | 31 mm | 247 g | 380 | Y | Apr 2015 | US$ 379 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus TG-5 | 113 mm | 66 mm | 32 mm | 250 g | 340 | Y | May 2017 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus XZ-1 | 111 mm | 65 mm | 42 mm | 275 g | 320 | n | Jan 2011 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
9. | Panasonic FZ300 | 132 mm | 92 mm | 117 mm | 691 g | 380 | Y | Jul 2015 | US$ 599 | amazon.com | |
10. | Panasonic TS7 | 117 mm | 76 mm | 37 mm | 319 g | 300 | Y | May 2018 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
11. | Ricoh WG-6 | 118 mm | 66 mm | 33 mm | 246 g | 340 | Y | Feb 2019 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
12. | Sony HX99 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 242 g | 370 | n | Aug 2018 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The TG-6 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 18 percent) than the TG-7, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.
The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 12 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the TG-6 and the TG-7 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the TG-7 is much more recent (by 4 years and 3 months) than the TG-6, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.
The Olympus Tough TG-6 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The OM System Tough TG-7 offers exactly the same ISO settings.
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus TG-6 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 4K/30p | 20.7 | 12.2 | 1127 | 52 | |
2. | OM System TG-7 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 4K/30p | 20.9 | 12.7 | 1553 | 54 | |
3. | Canon SX740 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1050 | 51 | |
4. | Nikon W300 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 12.0 | 938 | 50 | |
5. | Olympus E-PM1 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 1080/60i | 21.0 | 10.3 | 499 | 52 | |
6. | Olympus TG-4 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.2 | 11.6 | 737 | 47 | |
7. | Olympus TG-5 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 934 | 50 | |
8. | Olympus XZ-1 | 1/1.7 | 10.1 | 3664 | 2752 | 720/30p | 18.8 | 10.4 | 117 | 34 | |
9. | Panasonic FZ300 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 4K/30p | 19.3 | 11.0 | 97 | 38 | |
10. | Panasonic TS7 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1028 | 51 | |
11. | Ricoh WG-6 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.7 | 12.2 | 1104 | 52 | |
12. | Sony HX99 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1058 | 51 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The TG-6 and the TG-7 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus TG-6, the OM System TG-7, and comparable cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus TG-6 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 20.0/s | Y | Y | |
2. | OM System TG-7 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 20.0/s | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon SX740 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | n | 1/3200s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Nikon W300 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Olympus E-PM1 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 5.5/s | n | Y | |
6. | Olympus TG-4 | none | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Olympus TG-5 | none | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 20.0/s | Y | Y | |
8. | Olympus XZ-1 | optional | n | 3.0 / 614 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 2.0/s | Y | Y | |
9. | Panasonic FZ300 | 1440 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
10. | Panasonic TS7 | 1170 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/1300s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
11. | Ricoh WG-6 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 1.0/s | Y | n | |
12. | Sony HX99 | 638 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
The Olympus TG-6 and the OM System TG-7 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
Both the TG-6 and the TG-7 have zoom lenses built in. Both optics have identical focal length range and aperture specifications (4.5-18mm f/2.0-4.9). Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the TG-6 and the TG-7 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus Tough TG-6 and OM System Tough TG-7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus TG-6 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
2. | OM System TG-7 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
3. | Canon SX740 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
4. | Nikon W300 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
5. | Olympus E-PM1 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Olympus TG-4 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
7. | Olympus TG-5 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
8. | Olympus XZ-1 | Y | mono / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
9. | Panasonic FZ300 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
10. | Panasonic TS7 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
11. | Ricoh WG-6 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
12. | Sony HX99 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y |
Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that both cameras feature internal geolocalization sensors and can record GPS coordinates in their EXIF data.
The TG-7 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of OM System. In contrast, the TG-6 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the TG-6 was succeeded by the OM System TG-7. Further information on the features and operation of the TG-6 and TG-7 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus TG-6 Manual (free pdf) or the online OM System TG-7 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus TG-6 or the OM System TG-7 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.
Arguments in favor of the Olympus Tough TG-6:
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (18 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in May 2019).
Advantages of the OM System Tough TG-7:
- More modern: Reflects 4 years and 3 months of technical progress since the TG-6 launch.
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the TG-6 comes out slightly ahead of the TG-7 (2 : 1 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus TG-6 and the OM System TG-7 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the TG-6 and the TG-7 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.
Expert reviews
This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus TG-6 | 4/5 | + + | 4.5/5 | 76/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | May 2019 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
2. | OM System TG-7 | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2023 | US$ 549 | amazon.com | |
3. | Canon SX740 | .. | + | 3.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jul 2018 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
4. | Nikon W300 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | May 2017 | US$ 389 | ebay.com | |
5. | Olympus E-PM1 | .. | 86/100 | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2011 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Olympus TG-4 | .. | + | .. | 79/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Apr 2015 | US$ 379 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus TG-5 | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | May 2017 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus XZ-1 | 4/5 | .. | .. | 74/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2011 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
9. | Panasonic FZ300 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2015 | US$ 599 | amazon.com | |
10. | Panasonic TS7 | .. | + | .. | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | May 2018 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
11. | Ricoh WG-6 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Feb 2019 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
12. | Sony HX99 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2018 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 250D vs Olympus TG-6
- Fujifilm GFX 100 vs OM System TG-7
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs OM System TG-7
- Fujifilm X-T5 vs OM System TG-7
- Nikon D3X vs Olympus TG-6
- Nikon D4 vs Olympus TG-6
- Nikon D7000 vs Olympus TG-6
- OM System TG-7 vs Panasonic FZ100
- OM System TG-7 vs Sony A7C II
- OM System TG-7 vs Sony A7R IIIA
- Olympus E-420 vs Olympus TG-6
- Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-6
Specifications: Olympus TG-6 vs OM System TG-7
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Olympus TG-6 | OM System TG-7 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Fixed lens compact camera |
Camera Lens | 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 | 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 |
Launch Date | May 2019 | September 2023 |
Launch Price | USD 449 | USD 549 |
Sensor Specs | Olympus TG-6 | OM System TG-7 |
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | 1/2.3" Sensor |
Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | 6.17 x 4.55 mm |
Sensor Area | 28.0735 mm2 | 28.0735 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | 7.7 mm |
Crop Factor | 5.6x | 5.6x |
Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | 12 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 4000 x 3000 pixels | 4000 x 3000 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 1.53 μm | 1.53 μm |
Pixel Density | 42.74 MP/cm2 | 42.74 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12,800 ISO | 100 - 12,800 ISO |
Image Processor | TruePic VIII | TruePic VIII |
Screen Specs | Olympus TG-6 | OM System TG-7 |
Viewfinder Type | no viewfinder | no viewfinder |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | 1040k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Fixed screen |
Shooting Specs | Olympus TG-6 | OM System TG-7 |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/2000s | 1/2000s |
Continuous Shooting | 20 shutter flaps/s | 20 shutter flaps/s |
Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | UHS-I | UHS-I |
Connectivity Specs | Olympus TG-6 | OM System TG-7 |
External Flash | no Hotshoe | no Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | micro HDMI |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Geotagging | GPS built-in | GPS built-in |
Body Specs | Olympus TG-6 | OM System TG-7 |
Environmental Sealing | Waterproof body (15m) | Waterproof body (15m) |
Battery Type | Olympus LI-92B | OM System LI-92B |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 340 shots per charge | 330 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
113 x 66 x 32 mm (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.3 in) |
114 x 66 x 33 mm (4.5 x 2.6 x 1.3 in) |
Camera Weight | 253 g (8.9 oz) | 249 g (8.8 oz) |
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