Pros & Cons
-
- Adds LED ring light for macro shooting.
- Can be used underwater.
- Easy to install or remove.
-
- Pricey for what it is.
The Olympus LED Light Guide (LG-1) for TG-1/2/3 ($40.99) expands the already excellent macro capabilities of the TG-1 ($99.95 at Amazon) , TG-2 ($49.79 at Amazon) , or TG-3 ($330.00 at eBay) . It mounts to the camera via its accessory ring connector, and redirects light from the camera's LED to a circular area that surrounds the lens. There are no electronics, so you can leave the LED Light Guide on the camera when going underwater.
The Light Guide ($33.99 at Amazon) is a rather simple accessory, essentially a piece of plastic with an integrated diffuser, and using it can improve the quality of macro shots captured with the TG series. The cameras can focus so close that you can basically touch your subject with the lens, but in doing so the camera body blocks light from hitting your subject.
The standard flash isn't ideal for illumination, as it can be harsh at such close distances, and the LED light doesn't provide even illumination on its own. The LED Light Guide redirects light from the LED so that it surrounds the lens. It's not dissimilar to the ring of LEDs that surround the lens of the Pentax WG-3 GPS ( at Amazon) GPS, but it goes a bit further in design, thanks to a diffuser which provides more even light.
I was quite happy with the results the LED Light Guide delivered when using the TG-3 in its Microscope macro shooting mode. The LED outputs continuous light, so I could get an idea of what my final image would look like just by looking at the rear LCD. The continuous output also allows you to use it along with the TG-3's focus stacking function, which merges multiple exposures to increase depth of field.
If there's anything bad to say about the Olympus LED Light Guide, it's that it's a little pricey for what it is. You can buy an inexpensive ring light like the Polaroid Macro LED Ring Flash ($39.99) for around the same price, or spend a little more on something with more power like the playfully named Photojojo Oh! Wow. Ring Light , but both are bulky accessories that require an external battery pack. If you don't want to deal with that, or simply want to utilize a ring light when capturing images underwater, the Olympus LED Light Guide is a great add-on for any TG-1, TG-2, or TG-3.