TG-7 questions

[Smaug01]

I'm just now reading through DPR's Hands-on article {https://www.dpreview.com/news/0925537683/hands-on-with-om-system-s-tough-tg-7-rugged-camera }and have a few questions for you experts:

1. Re. BSI CMOS sensor. CMOS sensors are considered to have more pleasing rendering than more modern ones, right?
2. Re. the sensor shift image stabilization, I shot one video from aboard my bike and it was shaky as can be. Good outdoor lighting. I don't feel like it had any IS at all. My old iPhone 12 Pro easily beats it. I looked, and it WAS turned on. Was I missing something or did I just get used to better IS from a heavier crop on the iPhone?
3. Re. this bit: "The camera has a semi-fixed aperture and uses an ND filter to stop the lens to its minimum setting. Thus, at any focal length, there will only be three apertures to choose from (e.g., F2, F2.8, and F8)." Later on, they say: "...due to the camera's use of a partial aperture." What the heck does "partial aperture" mean? This sounds like it doesn't actually have different aperture settings, but actually an electronic ND filter? If so, we actually have zero control of focus depth, correct?
4. Re. this: "One of the other issues on the previous models was the ease of scratching the display. According to OMDS, the glass is the same, so heed our advice and buy a tempered glass screen protector." Thomas Eisl recommends a plastic screen protector, as they're more rugged. However, the tempered glass ones tend to come in 2 or 3 packs at a cheap price. What's your feeling on this? I guess the glass ones are easier to see through at the cost of the ruggedness?
5. Re. "There's a new construction scene mode, which needs to be turned on in the main menu. It can remove dust from photos, brighten dark scenes, and take photos of blueprints or drawings." Have you guys tried this mode? Removing dust sounds like it might be useful. What processing would it do to take photos of blueprints; just +1 exposure compensation to keep paper looking white?
6. It seems like DPR's Jeff Keller agrees with us re. a "Super TG": "It would be great to see a 'Super TG' camera with a larger sensor, but given the market for such a device, the odds of that happening are slim." I hope he's wrong, since the market seems to be missing fixed lens compacts now. Canon cheapened up their one remaining Elph.
7. Have you guys tried the teleconverter lenses? If so, how is the quality?

 

[gary0319]

I'm just now reading through DPR's Hands-on article {https://www.dpreview.com/news/0925537683/hands-on-with-om-system-s-tough-tg-7-rugged-camera }and have a few questions for you experts:

1. Re. BSI CMOS sensor. CMOS sensors are considered to have more pleasing rendering than more modern ones, right?
2. Re. the sensor shift image stabilization, I shot one video from aboard my bike and it was shaky as can be. Good outdoor lighting. I don't feel like it had any IS at all. My old iPhone 12 Pro easily beats it. I looked, and it WAS turned on. Was I missing something or did I just get used to better IS from a heavier crop on the iPhone.
3. Re. this bit: "The camera has a semi-fixed aperture and uses an ND filter to stop the lens to its minimum setting. Thus, at any focal length, there will only be three apertures to choose from (e.g., F2, F2.8, and F8)." Later on, they say: "...due to the camera's use of a partial aperture." What the heck does "partial aperture" mean? This sounds like it doesn't actually have different aperture settings, but actually an electronic ND filter? If so, we actually have zero control of focus depth, correct?
4. Re. this: "One of the other issues on the previous models was the ease of scratching the display. According to OMDS, the glass is the same, so heed our advice and buy a tempered glass screen protector." Thomas Eisl recommends a plastic screen protector, as they're more rugged. However, the tempered glass ones tend to come in 2 or 3 packs at a cheap price. What's your feeling on this? I guess the glass ones are easier to see through at the cost of the ruggedness?
5. Re. "There's a new construction scene mode, which needs to be turned on in the main menu. It can remove dust from photos, brighten dark scenes, and take photos of blueprints or drawings." Have you guys tried this mode? Removing dust sounds like it might be useful. What processing would it do to take photos of blueprints; just +1 exposure compensation to keep paper looking white?
6. SIt seems like DPR's Jeff Keller agrees with us re. a "Super TG": "It would be great to see a 'Super TG' camera with a larger sensor, but given the market for such a device, the odds of that happening are slim." I hope he's wrong, since the market seems to be missing fixed lens compacts now. Canon cheapened up their one remaining Elph.
7. Have you guys tried the teleconverter lenses? If so, how is the quality?

IBIS is weak maybe 2-3 stops at best. Not surprised your phone is better for video in a bike. A hint to help the IBIS for still images… set minimum shutter speed in auto ISO to either 1/350 or 1/500 sec. (apples to only P or A mode)

I had used a glass screen protector, but it was more prone to breakage than the bare screen so I removed it.

Yes, you gat a choice of 3 aperture settings and they vary depending on the focal length of the lens zoom. This is limiting but actually works well for shooting in P mode while zooming the lens for composition.

All in, the TG7 is a great pocketable companion camera but it took me some time to realize that to get the best from it, it requires letting the TG7 just do its thing. A true point and shoot with a ton of in-built capabilities.

For examples, see my TG7 album in my gallery.

 

[Smaug01]

gary0319 wrote:IBIS is weak maybe 2-3 stops at best. Not surprised your phone is better for video in a bike. A hint to help the IBIS for still images… set minimum shutter speed in auto ISO to either 1/350 or 1/500 sec. (apples to only P or A mode)

I had used a glass screen protector, but it was more prone to breakage than the bare screen so I removed it.

Yes, you gat a choice of 3 aperture settings and they vary depending on the focal length of the lens zoom. This is limiting but actually works well for shooting in P mode while zooming the lens for composition.

All in, the TG7 is a great pocketable companion camera but it took me some time to realize that to get the best from it, it requires letting the TG7 just do its thing. A true point and shoot with a ton of in-built capabilities.

For examples, see my TG7 album in my gallery.

Thanks as always for the thoughtful reply, Gary. I'll take a look at your gallery.

--
-Jeremy
*********

 

[ChuckB]

I'm just now reading through DPR's Hands-on article {https://www.dpreview.com/news/0925537683/hands-on-with-om-system-s-tough-tg-7-rugged-camera }and have a few questions for you experts:

1. Re. BSI CMOS sensor. CMOS sensors are considered to have more pleasing rendering than more modern ones, right?

Personally, in a TG I don't look for that fine a distinction.

1. Re. this bit: "The camera has a semi-fixed aperture and uses an ND filter to stop the lens to its minimum setting. Thus, at any focal length, there will only be three apertures to choose from (e.g., F2, F2.8, and F8)." Later on, they say: "...due to the camera's use of a partial aperture." What the heck does "partial aperture" mean? This sounds like it doesn't actually have different aperture settings, but actually an electronic ND filter? If so, we actually have zero control of focus depth, correct?

I think this is correct. Again, I leave this concern in the hands of my OM-1.

1. Re. this: "One of the other issues on the previous models was the ease of scratching the display. According to OMDS, the glass is the same, so heed our advice and buy a tempered glass screen protector." Thomas Eisl recommends a plastic screen protector, as they're more rugged. However, the tempered glass ones tend to come in 2 or 3 packs at a cheap price. What's your feeling on this? I guess the glass ones are easier to see through at the cost of the ruggedness?

I put on a glass protector and it now looks like the craquelure on the Mona Lisa. Still doing it's job of protecting the screen but the next one will be plastic.