Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 to offer Raw capture

[John S.]

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/0747042553/olympus-stylus-tough-tg-4-to-offer-raw

[Ian]

This caught my attention:

"…In addition, the Tough TG-4’s multifunction e.Compass provides barometric pressure, altitude, and water depth as it displays direction."

Also…

" Capture beautiful night scenes, star trails, and cityscapes with the new Live Composite feature."

But in the specs…

"Minimum shutter speed 4 sec"

So I presume there's an app that will allow for slower shutter speed for star trails?

[Bob Gross]

"So I presume there's an app that will allow for slower shutter speed for star trails?"

Maybe it does only very short star trails.

–B.G.–

[Andy Stow]

It does say composite feature. It may merge multiple 4-second exposures.

[Ian]

Ah! I don't know that I'd use this backpacking but I'd love to have something like this for my kayaking adventures.

[Franco Darioli]

From the instruction manual
Live Composite :

The camera secured with a tripod automatically shoots multiple images, takes newly bright areas only, and composites them into a single image. With normal long exposure, an image of light trace such as star trails with bright buildings tends to get too bright. You can capture them without over exposure while checking the progress.

this is how it's done :

# Live Composite 1 Press the shutter button halfway down to focus. • The camera was unable to focus if the AF target mark flashes red. While the AF target mark is flashing, press the shutter button halfway, and without releasing this button, then press the A button. The camera focuses at infinity.
2 To take the picture, gently press the shutter button all the way down while being careful not to shake the camera. • The camera configures the proper settings automatically and starts shooting. • After pressing the shutter button, there is a time lag until shooting starts. • A combined panorama image is displayed per certain period of time.
3 Press the shutter button again to stop shooting. • The recording length in one shooting is up to three hour

[Ian]

Thanks Andrew and Franco for breaking it down for me.

[Franco Darioli]

That was the theory, as in how it should work.
If it does I don't know.
I have my doubts that RAW in a camera with a 1/2.3" sensor and folded optics will make all that much difference.
Some photos here with included RAW files :
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-tg-4/olympus-tg-4GALLERY.HTM
Iif you can open those RAW files, about 15 mb each)

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