Tip: Try to shoot in 'P' mode if you can, as the 'i-Enhance' color profile in Auto mode is over-the-top, to say the least. As much as I like that camera line (I've had both the TG1 and TG4) its lens and sensor is nearing the end of the line. With the flash turned off, the Olympus TG-6 doesn't show any obvious signs of vignetting at wide-angle or full zoom. However, it does occur when the flash is on. Certainly at wide-angle, at least. It's less so at full zoom, but on a plain white wall, it's still noticeable. Combine all this with a 100-12,800 ISO range and you have a camera that delivers great images in good light, and performs admirably in challenging lighting conditions –obviously noise is going to be a factor with a sensor this small in low light, but files are still usable and the ability to shoot in RAW means that you can recover details. The most famous photographs were made with cameras that we would consider inferior by today’s standards. A beautiful photograph transcends the technology it was made with.

My smartphone is in a drybag when I am kayaking, but the drybag plastic is a poor lens cover, even if it doesn't fog it will soften, distort and flare the image. I did buy a hard case for the phone with a decent optical port, but when I got it was so bulky and clunky.

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You can get a bit more image quality by setting the aperture to f/2.8. The average improves (2,218 lines), and the edges of the frame show decent clarity (1,828 lines). There is also an f/8 option, but it's not an actual aperture setting—instead, it activates a 3-stop neutral density filter. You’ve already learned that new gear is not the answer to this depressing dry period you’re going through. But that’s because most gear is the wrong gear for you. The rest of the navigation pad has direct access to different controls, again which is sometimes dependent on the shooting mode you’re in. The up button controls exposure compensation, while the left button can be used to bring up the aperture control when in aperture priority (then you use the up and down buttons to move between the given apertures). The right button gives you the different flash modes to choose from, while the down button accesses drive mode, or the timer options. Lastly, the TG-6's host of close-up features not only allow for capturing subjects 1cm (0.4") away: the 'digital microscope' mode lets you zoom in up to four times more, though with a reduction in image quality. Olympus sells a ring light and flash diffuser to add flexibility to your macro photography.

Also new to the TG-6 is a new digital teleconverter, that doubles the zoom factor of the 4x optical zoom for a maximum of 8x zoom. An Anti-reflective (AR) coating on the image sensor glass now reduces ghosts and flares while the TruePic VIII image processor from the OM-D E-M1Xhelps to reduce noise levels and improves the resolution in low contrast areas. The only major advance from previous Tough model is arguably the ability to shoot video at up to 4K resolution at 30fps, although there are also new underwater modes (three choices, rather than just one), macro photo options (allowing captures as close as 1cm), plus an improved LCD screen resolution at 1.04 million dots. In the meantime, this Olympus tough camera has the fastest, if not optically best, zoom lens out of all tough camera models from Olympus, Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic and Pentax. (I'm not sure if Sony or Canon still makes a tough camera.) While the later models in this TG series, I believe 4-5-6, perhaps 3, are the only tough cameras that shoot raw. LB-T01 Lens Barrier for protecting the lens surface against dirt and scratches. The barrier is easily opened/closed by rotating the edge which ensures easy handling even when wearing gloves. It’s safe to say that the Olympus TG-6 has somewhat of a utilitarian feel to it - as is often the case with tough or rugged type cameras. That’s not a criticism, with the simple design no doubt helping to keep it as strong as possible. Not a whole lot has changed from the TG-5 to the new model, with it being hard to tell the difference too obviously when placing them side by side.

The On/Off button is on top, along with the shutter release, zoom control, and a control wheel. The control wheel isn't comfortable—it's very slim, and it has to be waterproof, so sealing makes turning it require some effort. Olympus has added plastic ridges, so you can get a grip and turn it, but they are a little pointy. The wheel is useful—the TG-6 doesn't include full manual exposure control, so many photographers will opt to use it to dial in exposure adjustments. It's also not the end of the world—you're not going to cut yourself on it, but you may notice some small indentations in your thumb after turning it a few times. The great-value price includes a six-month warranty extension 5 if new owners register their camera at www.my.olympus.eu. The Olympus Tough TG-6 may seem like a subtle update to the TG-5, but there are a number of welcome improvements that make the camera easier, and more enjoyable to use, helping you get the best results possible. Using a 12mp sensor, noise performance is good, and the camera offers, 4K video, and high-speed video with FullHD video recording at 120fps possible. The camera offers a bright f/2.0 lens, making it more suited to underwater photography compared to other waterproof cameras, as there is less light underwater. Get the latest photography news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter. Newsletter Signup

At the maximum zoom setting (100mm), the aperture is f/4.9 at its brightest. There's a dip in resolution, 1,872 lines, but it's still a good result for this type of camera. You should avoid using the f/6.3 and f/18 apertures, as diffraction softens images to a not-so-great 1,577 lines. After using the Olympus Tough TG-6 for about a month, I’ve figured out my favorite combination of settings for everyday use; P mode. It may sound like we’re down on the Olympus TG-6 – but that’s really not the case. Having an f/2 lens puts it ahead of basically any other tough compact in terms of low-light performance and versatility, and its optical zoom lens and ergonomic form factor give it solid advantages over a GoPro. It’s just important to view the camera in context. It won’t produce incredible, mind-blowing images that can be blown up on billboards, but it will do exactly what it’s designed to do – produce decent-looking images in challenging conditions for a fairly reasonable price. Olympus Tough TG-6 review: videoAll of the scene modes feature an example photo, giving you an idea of when it's best to use the mode, and there is a built-in help to explain the modes and options on the camera. There are a number of underwater modes available: underwater snapshot, underwater wide, underwater macro, underwater microscope, and underwater HDR. Art filters are available, with a number of different versions of each. Using Lightroom 6, I am unable to edit the RAW files from the TG-6. However, Olympus provides free editing software called, Olympus Workspace.

At the 2x zoom (50mm equivalent) setting, the maximum aperture has dropped to f/3.2. The resolution drops a little bit, to 1,936 lines. You can stop down to f/4.5 and get a little more detail (2,013 lines). There's an f/13 setting, again, it's just the f/4.5 aperture with the dimming ND filter added into the optical path.

All of this makes it sound like images from the Olympus TG-6 are bad - they’re not, but they’re far from amazing either. In good light, it is capable of delivering well-balanced and vibrant images with a reasonable impression of detail. It’s unlikely to be a camera you’ll want to take into very dark conditions, or one you’ll want to use as your every day camera. It’s also great to have a few different shooting modes to work with, as well as raw format shooting.