If you are looking for a digital camera that is rugged and durable, ready for heavy-duty usage, with a budget under five hundred bucks, there is a huge chance that you are now considering to get either Olympus TG-4 and Nikon Coolpix AW130. Quite interestingly, they share quite some similarities in their specifications and features. Which is the one that is the most suitable for you?
Olympus TG-4
Coming from the Olympus Tough series of digital cameras, Olympus TG-4 is armed with a 16 MP 1/2.3” CMOS image sensor, which offers an ISO range of 125 – 6400 and built-in optical image stabilization. Olympus TG-4 is also famous on the market as a waterproof compact camera with the fastest lens, featuring a 25-100 mm equivalent lens with a maximum aperture range of F/2.0 – F/4.9 and 4X wide-angle optical zoom. Meanwhile, for video recording, the maximum quality is 1080p Full HD. Olympus TG-4 also already supports RAW format, which is generally more superior than JPEG. In addition, Olympus TG-4 is also equipped with various features, such as manual exposure control, AE Bracketing, Focus Bracketing, and Focus Stacking. It comes with a built-in flash, and, just like the other models of the series, features an ultra-rugged construction with environmental sealing, ensuring that you can use it in almost any condition. It is waterproof to maximum 50 feet underwater, freeze-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, shockproof for drops up to 7 feet, and crushproof to 220 lb. Read also: Olympus TG-4 vs. Fujifilm XP90.
Nikon Coolpix AW130
Nikon Coolpix AW130, on the other hand, may appear to be slightly even more durable, as it also features an ultra-rugged construction that is waterproof to 100 feet underwater, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and shockproof to 7 feet. Compared to Olympus TG-4, Nikon Coolpix AW130 offers a more powerful lens, which has a focal length of 24-120 mm and offers a maximum optical zoom of 5X. Furthermore, it also offers a faster shutter system. It has the highest shutter speed of 1/4,000s and a photo burst speed of 7.0 fps. In terms of image quality, it is similar to Olympus TG-4, as Nikon Coolpix AW130 has also been equipped with a 16 MP 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor and is capable of 1080p Full HD video recording.
Olympus TG-4 vs. Nikon Coolpix AW130
If the RAW support is vital to you, then you should go with Olympus Tough TG-4. Otherwise, Nikon Coolpix AW130 makes the fullest value for the money, as it offers a slightly better water resistance as well as a more powerful lens system.
