Since the introduction of the TG-1, Olympus has been on the top of our recommendation list for tough cameras. Its latest effort, the TG-3 ($349.99), adds a few features that were absent in the TG-1 and TG-2, including Wi-Fi and a robust Microscope macro mode that supports in-camera focus stacking. Its 16-megapixel image sensor introduces a bit more noise in photos than previous 12-megapixel models, but the wide-aperture f/2 lens captures a lot of light so you can keep it set at a reasonable level. And there's a unique LED light accessory available for macro illumination. The TG-3 is a worthy successor to its predecessor, and follows it as our Editors' Choice for rugged compact cameras.

Design and Features
Like the two models that came before it, the TG-3 eschews the standard corner lens design that most rugged compacts adhere to. Instead, it places the lens right in the middle of the body, just like most compact cameras. Despite its urged exterior, it's still quite pocketable at 2.6 by 4.4 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and light at 8.7 ounces. This is par for the course for tough compacts—the Olympus Tough TG-850, which is a solid option if you're on a budget, is just a bit smaller and lighter at 2.5 by 4.3 by 1.1 inches and 7.7 ounces. The TG-3 is available in black or red; we received a red unit for review and it's a good-looking camera.

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The central position of the TG-3's lens enables Olympus to design accessories to mount around it. There's a beauty ring around the lens that can be removed to reveal a bayonet mounting system. You can add a filter adapter to utilize 40.5mm threaded filters, and there are also fisheye ($139.98) and telephoto ($129.98) converter lenses available. One new accessory for the TG-3, but also compatible with the TG-1 and TG-2, is the LED Light Guide ($40.99), which redirects the light that the macro LED next to the camera flash outputs so that it surrounds the lens. The illumination produced is similar to a ringflash, like the model from Photojojo that we reviewed a while back, so you can really make the most out of the TG-3's macro capabilities.

The lens is a modest 4x zoom that covers a 25-100mm (full-frame equivalent) zoom range. At its wide end it opens up all the way to f/2, a setting at which it captures quite a bit of light, but the aperture does narrow to f/4.9 when zoomed all the way in. Like most compacts, the TG-3 uses a 1/2.3-inch image sensor. As a rule of thumb, cameras with larger sensors are more capable in terms of imaging, but small sensors do have an advantage when it comes to macro focusing.

The TG-3 has a Microscope mode that focuses to nearly the front protective lens cover. In order to take advantage of this capability, you'll need to set the mode dial to Microscope. It zooms the lens to the 1.2x (30mm) position, and it works throughout the rest of the zoom range, through 100mm. Once you've got Microscope enabled, you can focus on objects that almost touch the lens, but when working that close you'll notice that your depth of field is quite shallow. If you'd like more of your subject to be in focus, you can enable Focus Stacking, which narrows the aperture and takes a series of exposures, each at a slightly different point of focus. Those are blended together in a single shot that captures more of the subject in focus, and saves it alongside the first image that was captured. It's a neat trick, but it does require you to be working on a tripod (or to have a very steady hand) and with an immobile subject to work effectively.

There's also a Focus Bracketing mode that works in a similar manner, capturing ten images, each at a different focal point. It doesn't blend them together—you'll have to do that yourself in Photoshop—but if you choose not to blend, you can pick the image with the best focus point from the bunch to share with the world. The final Microscope setting is Microscope Control mode; it's identical to the standard version, but instead of showing you the zoom ratio, it lists the maximum magnification ratio at the current zoom setting. When the camera is set to its 30mm position, it's a 2.9x factor, and at 100mm it's 11.1x—needless to say, the TG-3 is a great choice if you like to hone in on small details of our world.