Olympus TG-5 "Tough" camera. This was a test.
Mar 10, 2018 07:56:27 #
Last night I photographed a Philly Pops "Best of Broadway" concert from our usual vantage point in the Kimmel Center's Conductor's Circle, which is on the first row of a balcony behind the orchestra. Gives is a great view of what the musicians are doing.
I wanted to see whether I could get credible images from a distance using my Olympus TG-5 "Tough" with a small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor. Normally, I would have taken my Lumix DMC-LX100 with its much larger Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor.
I am a small camera person. I went through the stages of carrying two bodies with three lenses each, then carrying a Rolleiflex, and also doing my own darkroom work. But when I began traveling extensively overseas in the mid-eighties I downsized to Konica and Nikon point-and-shoot cameras. Now I use one Canon T2i with a long zoom lens for high school reunions and an occasional parade, but otherwise the Olympus for cold and inclement weather and the Lumix are every day carry cameras.
Disclaimer: Virtually every image that I shoot is post-processed to some degree, usually with faux HDR, saturation and sharpening. That's what I like and I am my own favorite audience.
I chose four images to display in order to show my field of view and to show the results of racking out the TG-5's modest telephoto lens. I rested the camera on the brass rail in front of me.
My test verdict is that I exceeded the TG-5's capabilities. Not much, since I was still able to tell a story. My every day TG-5 experience has been that it's OK when carefully hand-held with the lens not extended. But next concert, I'll use my Lumix which I know will produce crisp images under similar circumstances.
I wanted to see whether I could get credible images from a distance using my Olympus TG-5 "Tough" with a small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor. Normally, I would have taken my Lumix DMC-LX100 with its much larger Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor.
I am a small camera person. I went through the stages of carrying two bodies with three lenses each, then carrying a Rolleiflex, and also doing my own darkroom work. But when I began traveling extensively overseas in the mid-eighties I downsized to Konica and Nikon point-and-shoot cameras. Now I use one Canon T2i with a long zoom lens for high school reunions and an occasional parade, but otherwise the Olympus for cold and inclement weather and the Lumix are every day carry cameras.
Disclaimer: Virtually every image that I shoot is post-processed to some degree, usually with faux HDR, saturation and sharpening. That's what I like and I am my own favorite audience.
I chose four images to display in order to show my field of view and to show the results of racking out the TG-5's modest telephoto lens. I rested the camera on the brass rail in front of me.
My test verdict is that I exceeded the TG-5's capabilities. Not much, since I was still able to tell a story. My every day TG-5 experience has been that it's OK when carefully hand-held with the lens not extended. But next concert, I'll use my Lumix which I know will produce crisp images under similar circumstances.
Mar 10, 2018 08:16:05 #
These images look acceptable to me for the intended purpose of publishing them in the Net. I have not seen the originals so only you can make a judgment regarding quality considering the small sensor and the distance of your subjects.
I am sure you know that packing lots of pixels in a small sensor will tend to reduce quality because of the small size of the pixels. That is the fundamental reason why the quality of a 12 Mp. sensor in a full frame camera is superior to those same 12 Mp. in a compact camera. I am not familiar with the TG-5 but if it has IBIS (in body image stabilizer) before placing the camera on a steady support IBIS should be off for better quality.
If these images, considering the originals will accept enlargements to lets say 8x10 inches (that only you know) and if that is the case then the camera has done its part. I am sure at closer distances and in the middle of the zoom range the images are far better in quality.
I am sure you know that packing lots of pixels in a small sensor will tend to reduce quality because of the small size of the pixels. That is the fundamental reason why the quality of a 12 Mp. sensor in a full frame camera is superior to those same 12 Mp. in a compact camera. I am not familiar with the TG-5 but if it has IBIS (in body image stabilizer) before placing the camera on a steady support IBIS should be off for better quality.
If these images, considering the originals will accept enlargements to lets say 8x10 inches (that only you know) and if that is the case then the camera has done its part. I am sure at closer distances and in the middle of the zoom range the images are far better in quality.
Mar 10, 2018 08:48:22 #
camerapapi wrote:
These images look acceptable to me for the intende... (show quote)
Interestingly, Olympus reduced the number of pixels from 16 Mp on the TG-4 to 12 Mp on its replacement TG-5. The critics lauded this move because fewer but larger pixels yielded better images.
Thanks for your comment.
Mar 10, 2018 10:37:05 #
I like your image quality! Well done. They tell the story.
A surprise gift at Christmas was a TG-5 from my wife. Previous birthdays and holidays she has given me a LX-100 and a Panasonic GX8 with 100-400 attached. So, I was unsure of what I was expected to do with the TG-5.
Turns out that it is a lot of no-worries fun. It is hard to hurt it. Her idea was that she sees me worrying about taking care of my "good" gear. She thought indestructible was something I would use. As always. She's right.
I'm playing with and delighted by the fully automatic mode. There is a macro mode with focus stacking. In "Scenes" there is an HDR function that actually works! There is even a focus bracketing option. 4K video and GPS add to the fun. Reading the manual provides surprises I don't expect.
The Olympus phone app is well done too. In a few quick steps I can get a TG-5 JPEG to my phone and to Instagram.
One thing I added was the Olympus clear filter and an adapter ring to hold it. Using it in a "rugged" way I get finger prints and other crap on the lens. I want to be wiping the filter, not the lens, with my shirt sleeve! It is kind of like have a clear lens cap.
A surprise gift at Christmas was a TG-5 from my wife. Previous birthdays and holidays she has given me a LX-100 and a Panasonic GX8 with 100-400 attached. So, I was unsure of what I was expected to do with the TG-5.
Turns out that it is a lot of no-worries fun. It is hard to hurt it. Her idea was that she sees me worrying about taking care of my "good" gear. She thought indestructible was something I would use. As always. She's right.
I'm playing with and delighted by the fully automatic mode. There is a macro mode with focus stacking. In "Scenes" there is an HDR function that actually works! There is even a focus bracketing option. 4K video and GPS add to the fun. Reading the manual provides surprises I don't expect.
The Olympus phone app is well done too. In a few quick steps I can get a TG-5 JPEG to my phone and to Instagram.
One thing I added was the Olympus clear filter and an adapter ring to hold it. Using it in a "rugged" way I get finger prints and other crap on the lens. I want to be wiping the filter, not the lens, with my shirt sleeve! It is kind of like have a clear lens cap.
Mar 11, 2018 07:41:06 #
These are beautiful images that you captured. You did a wonderful job.
Mar 11, 2018 07:54:00 #
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