Olympus’ TG-3 Tough Cam Sports Serious Macro Capabilities Like Focus Stacking
The PEN-like Stylus SH-1 wasn’t the only camera to get its debut tonight. Olympus also introduced a new Tough camera, the Stylus Tough TG-3, whose claim to fame is impressive macro photography capabilities including an automatic focus stacking feature that’ll help expand your depth of field when you’re shooting really tiny subjects.
Basic specs are the same as the SH-1: a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor is joined by a TruePic VII processor, a 3-inch 460k-dot LCD (this one’s not touch) and built-in WiFi. On top of that, the TG-3 also boasts a fastest-in-class 4x 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 lens, GPS, water depth and elevation sensors, and an e-compass.
Additionally, as you might expect from a Tough camera, this little shooter can withstand a great deal of abuse. The TG-3 is freezeproof to 14-degrees F, waterproof down to 50ft, shockproof from 7 feet up, crushproof to 220 pounds and dustproof.
Here are a few more pictures of the red model (it also comes in black):
Like we said though, the really impressive features of this camera have to do with macro photography. Four modes including Microscope Mode, Microscope Control Mode, Focus Stacking Mode and Focus Bracketing Mode all help you take beautiful close up shots of everything from flowers to snowflakes.
You can take pictures of subjects as close as 10mm away from the lens when it’s set in microscope mode, and the focus stacking feature will take 8 pictures in quick succession, shifting the focus each time and then combining the shots so that everything is in focus.
Of course, lighting things that close can be a challenge, and so Olympus is also releasing a new ring light attachment that will take the camera’s built-in flash and redirect it more evenly over a small subject:
And if you want to change your field of view, you can fit the camera with these new telephoto and wide-angle conversion lenses:
The Stylus Tough TG-3 will arrive a bit later than the SH-1. This one will hit stores in June for $350 in either black or red. You can learn more about the new tough camera by clicking here.
