Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870: The Ultimate Adventure Camera

Looking for a camera that can handle your extreme adventures? Look no further than the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870. With its rugged design, advanced features, and stunning image quality, this camera is the perfect companion for any outdoor enthusiast. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the TG-870 and show you why it's the ultimate adventure camera.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 article cover photo

Key Features

Jan 06 2016

Announced

16 megapixels

Resolution

BrandOlympus
Sensor Type1/2.3'
SensorBSI-CMOS
Weight221g
MSRP$279USD

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Overview of the Stylus Tough TG-870

Whether you're hiking through rugged terrain, flying down the slopes, or diving deep into the ocean, you need a camera that can keep up with you. That's where the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 comes in. This durable, waterproof camera is built to withstand even the toughest conditions, so you can capture every moment of your adventure with ease. But it's not just tough - the TG-870 also packs advanced features like GPS, WiFi, and 4K video recording, making it a truly versatile camera that can handle anything you throw at it. So let's jump in and explore all the incredible features of this ultimate adventure camera.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

Waterproof & shockproof
Built-in WiFi
High-quality image sensor
Wide-angle lens
GPS tracking
Vari-angle LCD screen
Fast shooting speed
Image stabilization
Time-lapse recording
Good battery life

Cons

Poor low-light performance
No RAW shooting
Limited zoom capability
No manual exposure controls
Auto-focus can be slow
No viewfinder
Small sensor size
No external flash support
Expensive compared to other rugged cameras
Limited shooting modes

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870

Weather sealed
Dimensions113 x 64 x 28mm
Weight221g
Thickness28mm
Weight
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Max
Thickness
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Weather Sealing

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 camera is equipped with environmental seals that make it resistant to weather, preventing water and dust from entering the camera. If you enjoy outdoor photography and need a camera that can handle extreme conditions, the Stylus Tough TG-870 is an excellent choice.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeTilting
Screen Resolution921k dots
Body typeUltracompact

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a tilting 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 921k dots. This makes the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the Stylus Tough TG-870 camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 has a 16MP sized BSI-CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 has a native ISO range of 125 - 6400 which can be boosted to null - 12800.

Key Features

Jan 06 2016

Announced

125 - 6400

ISO Range

Sensor1/2.3'
Extended ISOnull - 12800
Max resolution4608 x 3456 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the Stylus Tough TG-870 is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: 1/2.3'

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Battery Life300 shots
Battery ModelLi-50B
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 uses the Li-50B model of battery pack. This is rated for 300 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/2000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with null number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870?

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 features a BSI-CMOS sensor

Is the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 weather sealed?

Yes the Stylus Tough TG-870 does have weather sealing.

When was the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 announced?

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 was announced on Jan 06 2016

Does the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 have in-body image stabilization?

Yes the Stylus Tough TG-870 does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870?

The Stylus Tough TG-870 has a native ISO range of 125-6400, which can be expanded to ISO null-12800 for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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