Olympus's 2011 entry rugged compact — 14MP, 28-102mm zoom, waterproof to 3m, shockproof, freezeproof.
The Tough TG-310 was unveiled in early 2011 as the entry model in Olympus's Tough range of rugged compacts, launched alongside the more capable TG-610. It offered the family's sealed, go-anywhere construction at a lower price for holidaymakers, families and beach or poolside use, and sat below the deeper-diving TG-610 and TG-810 in the line-up.
A 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sits behind a 3.6x internal zoom equivalent to 28-102mm, and the body is waterproof to 3m, shockproof against drops from 1.5m, freezeproof to -10C and dustproof. Framing uses a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot LCD, sensitivity runs ISO 80-1600, video records at 720p HD, and continuous shooting manages 1.2fps at full resolution or 3fps at 3 megapixels. A 3D shooting mode, usable underwater, was a period novelty; storage is on SD-family cards with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The TG-310 suits buyers wanting a cheap, sealed camera for beach trips, skiing, paddling and kids' hands rather than serious underwater work, where its 3m depth rating is quickly outgrown. Image quality is ordinary small-sensor CCD fare, but the camera's value lies in surviving places a phone or standard compact should not go.
On used examples the seals are everything: inspect the battery/card and connector door gaskets for grit, nicks or perishing, and treat any corrosion around the contacts as evidence of a past flood. Check the internal zoom and 720p video work, confirm the correct lithium-ion battery and charger are present, and look for pressure marks on the LCD. Waterproofing this old should no longer be trusted without new seals.