Olympus has a long-running reputation for being at the forefront of 'life-proof' compact camera development, frequently being the first to implement new technologies and lead the way in terms of the amount of punishment its cameras can take. Yet again with the launch of the Tough TG-1 Olympus has excelled itself. With the recent increased level of competition in this niche sector of the digital camera market, Olympus has pulled out all the stops with its latest development, to ensure that its Tough series of camera remains at the top of the pack. Setting a new precedent with its impressive specifications, the Olympus TG-1 raises the bar with its tougher-than-ever adventure-proof features. The new camera boasts significantly improved waterproofing features, being capable of resisting water ingress and coping with the pressure right the way down to a depth of 12m (40ft). It's also freezeproof to -10C (14F), crushproof to 100kg (220lbs) and shockproof if dropped from a height of up to 2m (6.6ft)The Olympus TG-1 is also dustproof, incorporates an Electronic Compass, a Manometer and boasts built-in GPS too.On paper, the Olympus TG-1 certainly looks to have the potential to be a market leader in terms of its ruggedness. But Olympus also claims to have taken steps to ensure that image quality, which as we've seen in the past can sometimes become a secondary concern in the development of these types of compact cameras, was of equal significance when developing the new camera. Tough TG-1 continues this tradition. It may have a plastic outer shell, but the camera feels very solid, reassuringly weighty and nicely balanced in the hand. Image ratio w:h 4:3, 16:9, Effective pixels 12.0 megapixels, Sensor size 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm), Sensor type BSI-CMOS, Processor TruePic VI, Normal focus range 60 cm (23.62"), Self-timer (2 and 12 sec), Filter Thread 40.5 mm, Zoom Optical 4x, Digital Zoom 4x.

*International Model - Free U.S. adapter and warranty in country of origin included with this device