Olympus Tough TG-810 Rugged Camera With GPS

There’s a new rugged outdoor camera in the Olympus TG “Tough” camera family. The new 14-megapixel Olympus Tough TG-810 camera is waterproof, shockproof, crushproof and freezeproof. It can capture 720p HD video, 3D still photos and it has nine Magic Filters that work for still photos and movies. But what really sets it apart from previous Olympus Tough cameras is the addition of built-in GPS, an electronic compass and a manometer, which uses pressure to track water depth or altitude.

The basic specs of the Olympus Tough TG-810 appear to be the same as the Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 introduced about a year ago. They’re both 14-megapixel cameras waterproof to 33 feet (10 m), shockproof from 6.6 feet (2 m) and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 C). Both cameras have a 5x 28-140mm zoom lens, 720p HD video, tracking auto focus and an LED light for close-up photos. They even look almost the same. I can’t say for sure that the new TG-810 has the same sensor, lens and image quality as last year’s 8010, but it sure looks like they’re the same basic camera. So if you want what’s probably a reasonable hands-on preview of the new 810, take a look at this hands-on article and video I made last year with the Olympus Stylus Tough-8010:

Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 Video & Mini Review >>

The Olympus Tough TG-810 does have some cool new features. The most interesting updates are the 3D still photo feature, the built-in GPS and the new In-Camera Panorama mode. The 3D Photo mode takes two pictures from slightly different angles and assembles them into a single 3D image. If you’re into 3D, this is a neat feature. The In-Camera Panorama mode is very cool. All you do to make a panoramic photo is press the shutter release and pan the camera and it automatically takes three photos and assembles them into a panoramic image in the camera.

The GPS is definitely the most attractive new feature of the TG-810. The built-in electronic compass might help keep you from getting lost but the built-in GPS isn’t for driving directions. In-camera GPS embeds location data in your photos so that they can be searched and shared by location. This really is a cool feature. Imagine browsing your photos on a map instead of through folders or albums. Just keep in mind that the GPS data can also tell people where you live. You might want to turn it off when you’re taking pictures at home, at your kids’ school, etc.

The Olympus Tough TG-810 should be available next month – April 2011. It will be sold in black and silver finishes and the suggested retail price is $399.99 US.