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The reasons that the TG series is classified as middle to low are: (1) the sensor has approx. 12.1 megapixels, and (2) there isn’t a full manual mode. Does this really matter? I don’t plan on entering photo contests or printing much beyond an 8 x 10-inch format. I occasionally do a very aggressive crop and find that I can upscale successfully using either Topaz or Photoshop. The TG series basically has two apertures – large and small, with a third “aperture” being the small with a neutral density filter to reduce light with no change in DOF. There is consequently no full manual mode. Users can get the exposure they want in Aperture Priority mode by using the EV adjustment, controlling the strobes, and/or using the tricks described in the article. On balance the TGs are inexpensive, light and easy to pack, waterproof (i.e. forgiving for small housing leaks), and the compact size (housing, strobe and snoot) and “super-micro” autofocus allow you to readily get in close for the challenging macro shots. I’ve been able to get two dives out of a battery, but three would be a stretch.