The Editor says: In recent years, the Olympus TG series has become the go-to choice for beginner underwater photographers, thanks to its compact form factor, built-in waterproofing, and incredibly capable macro performance. When Olympus launched the TG-6 in 2019, the hardware specs didn't appear to have changed dramatically — but what about the software updates? Do they meet the needs of underwater photographers? We're thrilled that 京太郎 was quick to share his hands-on impressions. Let's take a look and decide together whether the Olympus TG-6 is really worth upgrading to!
The TG-6 comes with quite a few updates this time around. The following impressions are aimed at friends who are genuinely into diving — after all, 99% of my own use of the TG series is underwater. I've narrowed it down to three updates that I could genuinely feel during my hands-on time at the launch event, so you can weigh them up and decide whether upgrading to the TG-6 is right for you. (Launching in July, pre-order price NT$14,990)
Olympus TG-6 Highlights
-
In P and A modes, you can achieve 1cm close-up shooting via the settings menu. P/A モードでは顕微鏡モードに設定する必要なく、1センチまで接近して撮ることができる。
-
Underwater white balance has been expanded to three presets, adjustable manually. 水中WBは、浅い(3m)、中層(3-15m)、深層（ハウジング装着）の3種類に改良された。
-
The body is slightly larger, with a corresponding new underwater housing PT-059. カメラが大きくなり、ハウジングはPT-059に対応している。
Point 1 is very good news for me — this alone makes it worth upgrading from my TG-5 to the TG-6. Whenever possible, I shoot with the TG in A mode, which gives me greater freedom and more parameters to adjust. However, on the TG-5, achieving 1cm close-up shots requires switching to microscope mode, which comes with a few more restrictions. So the TG-6 essentially unlocks close-up shooting within A mode — a welcome change.
Point 2 concerns the expansion of underwater white balance to three presets: shallow (3m), mid-water (3–15m), and deep (with housing). This is designed to prevent the occasional overcompensation (excessive red cast) that appeared on earlier models. Those who have attended my courses will know that I manually adjust the A and G values in the white balance menu — but that process is admittedly fiddly, and there isn't always time to do it underwater. Now, three dedicated underwater white balance presets are accessible directly from the outside of the menu (though you can still fine-tune them inside), which will be a much more user-friendly experience for most people, especially those who don't do post-processing on a computer.
Point 3 — I didn't have my TG-5 on hand at the launch event to compare directly, but given that no new buttons or dials have been added, the fact that the larger body forces a switch to the PT-059 housing really stings the wallet! It's not quite like the transition from PT-056 to PT-058, where there were genuine improvements to underwater handling that made the extra cost easier to swallow…
Summary: For those of you currently on a TG-5, the upgrade may not be as significant as expected — you'll need to weigh it against your budget, especially since a new housing adds a considerable cost on top. However, if you're still on a TG-4, or you haven't yet joined the TG family, I think there's no need to wait any longer — go ahead and buy it. The TG's strengths lie in macro and casual shooting, and it truly has no real competitors in its category. This update, in particular, is one you can genuinely feel.
A reply to fellow divers: In terms of lens, sensor, and autofocus speed, the TG-6 shows no visible spec improvements, and the final image quality probably won't be dramatically better either. I'd describe it as a TG-5 with a firmware update (or a "modified" TG-5) — one that lifts some of the original body's limitations. Because the changes to autofocus and white balance make my usual shooting workflow smoother, I personally will be upgrading. That said, if you don't primarily shoot in A mode, or you've never found yourself frequently tweaking the A and G values in the white balance menu, you may not fully appreciate my reasons for choosing to upgrade to the TG-6.
Related links:
