Inspired by the WRPT, I'd like to start taking more riding pics again. I owned a TG2 and a TG4 and they performed admirably even when abused regularly. I gave the TG2 away when I bought the 4 but annoyingly scratched the lens having forgotten to screw in a UV filter one day. Replacement lens didn't seem an option from memory.
Requirements are fast lens/low light performance, 5x Zoom, rugged, water (or at least mud) proof, wifi, gps, easy transfer to Mac, video is nice but 1080P is fine, I don't really need RAW anymore since I binned my light room sub. Not bothered about touch screens especially with gloves etc.
I've been googling and while there are some options (Sony, Panasonic, Fuji), the TG7 seems to come out top in every review. My mate just carries an old phone which works really well, but there's something nice about handling a proper camera. My phone lives in a case in my backpack and I rarely bother fetching it out, so I want something "to hand" that has at least as good pic quality in a proper camera format.
What y'got? Don't mind going second hand. TG7 is £400 in a few places and that's absolutely top end of my budget.
Judging by the image compression in the WRPT you might as well use an old Nintendo Gameboy or something.
This time last year id have said absolutely not.
But they have finally sorted out the oi share app it was completely non functioning as a new install last year
I've mostly given up using my dslr camera and just use my GoPro now.
It takes a photo that is as good as me on best day with 5 min of faffing about after downloading the photos onto my computer.
Absolutely will not have the zoom you are after.
rugged, tick
water (or at least mud) proof, tick
wifi, tick
gps, tic
easy transfer to Mac,no idea
video is nice but 1080P tick.
The best camera is the one you have with you. I have my GoPro with me as it's frequently attached to my helmet while riding.
Theoretically you can shout "go pro take a photo" and it will sometimes work.
I'm away on holiday for a week. I absolutely can't be bothered lugging the DSLR round. Despite using a rucksack I bought specifically to lug the DSLR round.
I was looking at this recently, the OM TG-7 is considered to be the best in class, but the cheapest place I could find online was £400. In the end I bought a barely used Ricoh WG-5 for £80 on eBay to see how I get on. My use is primarily sea kayaking - having a camera immediately to hand when an otter or pod of dolphins literally pops up in front of you. I have used my iPhone or another water-resistant camera I have - but touch screens and wet fingers don’t work well. These were taken the other day - macro is pretty impressive.
Thanks all - I do have a GoPro 11 and have shouted at it to take photos while doing the chest-mount GoPro Crouch 😉 I stopped using it because.. well it's just pointlessly annoying to use especially with its random lockups and battery draining.
My old TGs used to sit in a pouch hanging off a carabiner on my rucksack. Did not feel like it was lugging anything around. Hence not wanting anything bigger than that.
The issue I have with the Ricoh and some other brands is the low light performance. The best thing about my TG4 was the 2.0 lens. A lot of the pics I want to take are in the woods and often in overcast conditions.
For a slightly different use-case, I opted for the OM TG-7 only a few days ago, available here £329 from Cotswold Cameras. Only ordered it at the back end of last week, and hasn't arrived yet. I note it's 4x zoom, rather than the 5x you mention. I'll keep the elderly Panasonic bridge camera for 'best' but for something to keep in a pocket and which will be light, tough, waterproof, point-and-shoot for days out on the bike or in the hills, it seemed a good option. I did see a screw-on lens cap on Amazon at one stage, but forgot to make a note of the url at the time. (Camera also available in red at the same price)
For a slightly different use-case, I opted for the OM TG-7 only a few days ago, available here £329 from Cotswold Cameras. Only ordered it at the back end of last week, and hasn't arrived yet. I note it's 4x zoom, rather than the 5x you mention. I'll keep the elderly Panasonic bridge camera for 'best' but for something to keep in a pocket and which will be light, tough, waterproof, point-and-shoot for days out on the bike or in the hills, it seemed a good option. I did see a screw-on lens cap on Amazon at one stage, but forgot to make a note of the url at the time. (Camera also available in red at the same price)
There is a Telephoto addon to improve the zoom, I have it and it works quite well!
Although my most fun addon is the fisheye!
I saw that one at Cotswolds. I really wanted it to go away for a trip next weekend but at that saving I think I'll put up with the backpack based phone. Defo getting a lens cover for it.
I've used a tg6 at work and no onto a tg7.
I'd recommend
Also been putting serious consideration on the TG-7
I like macro photography and it has very good reviews for that. It's 'microscope' mode has me very interested.
Been though a number of medium-high end fuji's, which are very programmable, but this one looks like its will be a fair match.
Aha! I just found the details for the screw-on lens cover
Might be useful for some other folk if you get the TG-7
