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The New OM System TG7 is their Toughest Camera Yet!

Chris Gampat
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09/13/2023
3 Mins read
ID: 46406

The reports were everywhere, and it was only a matter of time until OM System announced a new camera. Today is the company’s new announcement OM System TG7 camera — the latest in their tough series and the first entry under the new OM SYSTEM banner. Targeted at all the people who go hard in the great outdoors, this camera is designed to meet the needs and demands of the consumer who wants to experience nature at its extremes. That philosophy is reflected in its features.

What’s New With OM System TG7?

Here are the new features from the previous camera:

  • Underwater white balance has been improved for better colors.
  • Improved ergonomic design: Enhanced anti-slip front body grip and rear thumb rest
  • Upgraded LCD for superior color reproduction
  • USB connector updated from Micro-B to Type-C 
  • RM-WR1 Remote control compatible (optional wireless remote control unit); Users can also use a smartphone to control via the OI Share App 
  • Support for Vertical Video Capture: Publish videos directly to social channels via wi-fi 
  • Time-Lapse shooting/time-lapse movie creation in-camera. Capture up to 299 shots at intervals from 1 second to 24 hours.  
  • Time Lapse: Frame Priority and Exposure Smoothing. The TG-7 will adjust settings and process to deliver even exposures across frames in the final movie 
  • Introduction of Construction Mode (to SCN modes): Designed to cater to the business needs of Civil Engineers and Public Utilities, the camera offers in-camera post processing to enhance images in challenging environments, improving high contrast lighting situations and reducing the visibility of dust particles in images
  • Compliance with CALS standards (for the Japanese market, aligning with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Digital Photo Management Information Standards sizes)
  • Support for anti-tampering cards
  • Product Name: The Tough TG-7 is the latest OM SYSTEM product to carry the new branding. This will continue with all newly launched products; Existing lines will be rebranded as stock is refreshed.
  • $549.99 price point
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The timelapse and video features are important for tons of content creators out there needing features like this. The improved white balance is also important for underwater photographers. Here are the rest of the important tech specs

  • 12MP 1/2.3″ BSI CMOS sensor
  • TruePic VIII engine
  • 25-100mm focal length starting at f2 and ending at f4.9.
  • Super macro mode
  • Microscope focusing mode
  • Sensor shift image stabilization
  • 3-inch LCD screen with 1,037k dots.
  • ISO 100-12,800
  • Shoots 12-bit lossless RAW
  • Pro Capture Mode: one of the system’s best features
  • IPX8: Waterproof to 50 feet
  • Dustproof: IP6X
  • Works at 14 degrees Fahrenheit
  • It can resist 220lbs of crushing force
  • Live Composite

Does the Sensor Size Matter?

Perhaps more than any other camera, in a camera like the TG7, the sensor size might not matter. Speaking from the image quality, it seems like it’s almost identical to the TG6. If you scroll through the work of photographer Kevin Gaeke on Flickr, you’ll find lots of great images shot with that camera. Several photographers also shoot with it underwater.

The OM System TG7 is in a space mostly dominated by action cameras but mostly targeting photographers. However, there are lots of new video features that are tempting for folks like surfers and more. It also still has lots of fun features like the Pro Capture Mode that lets you never miss a shot, along with Live Composite. Also, super close focusing abilities are only possible if you have a very tiny sensor.

I truly wish that a 4/3 sensor would come to a camera like this, as I’d buy it immediately and even use it as my point-and-shoot. But I don’t think that it will happen. And as it is, I’m not the type of person this camera would appeal to. We’re going to test it out in rougher terrain for sure, though, and we can’t wait to have fun with it.

camera OM SYSTEM small sensor tg7 underwater vertical video
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.