Olympus TG-310 rugged waterproof compact camera

The Olympus TG-310 is a great compact camera for people who want to capture their holidays.

It takes still images at a resolution of four megapixels and is waterproof down to three metres. Olympus also says that the Olympus TG-310 camera will survive being dropped from five feet.

It certainly felt rugged, and the lens doesn't protrude from the front of the camera. Even when you zoom in, the 3.6x zoom lens physically moves only inside the camera.

Like most cameras it has sockets and a slot for the memory card on which pictures are saved but because of the waterproofing these are hidden behind a hatch on the side, which has a step catch to make sure that it doesn't open accidentally.

A socket behind the panel is used for both charging and connection to a computer or TV. Cables and the mains adapter are supplied, but the socket is not a standard one so if you lose the cables you'll need to contact Olympus for new ones rather than using cheap standard replacements.

This panel also gives access to the removable, rechargeable battery and the SD memory card. It supports the SDHC and SDXC standards for memory cards with larger capacities.

That's a good thing because the TG-310 can capture high-definition video, and it has a special button for doing so. It's often frustrating to have to go through menus or adjust dials to get to video so this is ideal for quick captures.

The camera was easy to use and quick to take shots. There are plenty of easy-to-access scene modes for simple shooting (select the mode that corresponds to your surroundings and the camera does the rest). If you're confused, the iAuto mode will choose the scene for you.

Comprehensive help is available on screen, and a ‘?' button makes this easy to access. Like many more expensive cameras the TG-310 can display a histogram on the screen, which is a useful tool for setting up shots with the correct lighting balance.

This view also includes guide rules that appear on the screen and are very handy for framing your shots so they look just right.

There are some fun extras such as the two pet modes that will automatically take a picture when a cat or dog is detected. It even takes pictures in 3D – take one shot, then move very slightly to the side and take another, and the camera combines them.

Help is provided and, while the results were nowhere near as good as from a proper two-lens camera, they were enjoyable and entertaining.

The Olympus TG-310 costs around £155, which is a good price given its features. It's an ideal camera for taking out and about and on holiday.