My much abused point and shoot Olympus Tough camera is becoming basically unusable because it just can't shed water off the lens - I suspect its either scratched or the "coating" has gone.  It never used to cause me issues, a quick lick of the lens (hmmm gritty) and then I could take terrible photos for our club newsletter, but now its just constantly blurred.

I tried putting some rainX car windscreen hydrophobic stuff on the lens but it's done nothing.

Anyone got any suggestions on how I might improve this or refresh / renew the lens? Or is it just time to get a new one?

I really should have used a case for the last few years!

Olympus have a repair service:

https://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/cameras_support/repair_service/index.html 

depending on age of camera and cost to fix vs. new model might be a viable option (not used it so can't say how good it is).
Alternatively if there's a proper camera shop near you they may be able to help if they have a tame repair person.
Constantly blurred could mean the coating has gone / got scratched / or contaminated.  Sometimes muck on a lens is hard to shift, even with wipes and lens fluid.  A Lenspen (which I've found to be great) can get fingerprints, grease, etc. off.  (blow off dust first to prevent scratching).
Scratched lenses / missing coating can cause flare and artefacts to appear especially if light is shining directly in the lens, and may be softer.  If really scratched though a new lens or cover is needed.
Alternatively if blurred autofocus might be playing up (more likely the lens though).
The TG-5 and the new TG-6 has an optional cover to protect the lens more:
https://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/cameras_accessories/digital_cameras_accessories/digital_other_accessories/lb_t01/index.html

My TG-5 has gone much the same way so be interested if you find any solution to this. The new lens barrier looks much better than the clip on one for the adapter ring that i have for it - shame it wasn't available earlier - i have a nasty feeling replacing the camera may well be the only option. My TG-2 is still going and despite being downgraded to my 'digging' camera after getting the TG-5, it seems to be generally in better condition and does seem to have survived more abuse - and i have no lens protection for it at all!

It might help if you posted an example, I would have thought that loss of coating and scratches would not make the whole photo blurred. Have you tried it in good daylight whilst dry? Can you see any obvious scratching or deterioration of the lens?

Put some rain X on it ?

maxf said:

Put some rain X on it ?

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MJenkinson said:

I tried putting some rainX car windscreen hydrophobic stuff on the lens but it's done nothing.

Click to expand...

estelle said:

The new lens barrier looks much better than the clip on one for the adapter ring that i have for it - shame it wasn't available earlier

Click to expand...

It doesn't seem to be available now! Everywhere I've looked is either "awaiting stock" or "out of stock"

Costs about ?35, but that's a lot cheaper than a new lens.

My TG-4 was in the same state. Very battered and scratched.
I did contact Olympus to inquire about repairs and they told me that they charge a flat-rate fee and that they will give it a thorough inspection and repair everything that needs fixing. I can't remember exactly but I think the cost was ?160.
If you go here: https://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/cameras_support/repair_service/index.html
then you can register for repair.

I never went down this route as I ended up with a nice new TG-5 and I'm trying to not wipe the lens at all.

That lens cap looks like a good idea if a bit pricey, but definitely better than a scratched lens.
If you are on the TG-4, someone here posted a 3D printer spec for a lens cap. I enquired locally and found a firm that would print me one for about ?20 plus VAT. The TG-5 and, I assume the TG-6, have a different connector so this wouldn't work for them.

One thing I was thinking of is that if you remove the ring and examine the lens, it is actually covered by a piece of flat glass held in by some screws. It might be worth looking for trashed TG-4s and cannibalizing.

I once had to replace the glass in front of the lens of my canon D10 (waterproof).

I went to a shop where they sell spare parts for watches. I could chose every diameter and thickness

It was in the following store: BECO (Antwerp - Belgium). But they have a webshop too

I think you can find a suitable lens on the following page.

https://www.beco-technic.be/uhrenersatzteile/armbanduhren-glaeser.html

The flat lenses which I bought could be found on the following subpage

https://www.beco-technic.be/uhrenersatzteile/armbanduhren-glaeser/mineralglaeser/mpl-mineralglasplatten-flach-rund.html

Good luck

BR

TheBitterEnd said:

It might help if you posted an example, I would have thought that loss of coating and scratches would not make the whole photo blurred. Have you tried it in good daylight whilst dry? Can you see any obvious scratching or deterioration of the lens?

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The whole picture isn't blurred it is just various areas of the lens are holding water and putting blotches / small blurred areas. It never used ti do this - I could just shake it, or give it a lick and the water would just fall off - I guess the lens is a bit scratched or coating gone which is why its almost impossible to get a clean lens.  Even when fully dry and clean on the surface its not quite right.

I will try and post an example when I get home.

Leclused said:

I once had to replace the glass in front of the lens of my canon D10 (waterproof).

I went to a shop where they sell spare parts for watches. I could chose every diameter and thickness

It was in the following store: BECO (Antwerp - Belgium). But they have a webshop too

I think you can find a suitable lens on the following page.

https://www.beco-technic.be/uhrenersatzteile/armbanduhren-glaeser.html

The flat lenses which I bought could be found on the following subpage

https://www.beco-technic.be/uhrenersatzteile/armbanduhren-glaeser/mineralglaeser/mpl-mineralglasplatten-flach-rund.html

Good luck

BR

Click to expand...

In the following clip you can see how to open up your tg-4. As you can see there is a large lense cover that can be replaced, around 5:21 in the clip you can see the lens cover being removed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBBMN4x565k

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61585572
interesting thread here - googling does seem to indicate the tg-5 has a poorer quality lens glass than it's predecessors... it would be really good if possible to find a replacement for that glass online as it does look rather simple to replace. I hadn't realised until reading above and watching the video that you could take that front bit off.

Not a solution to the damaged lens cover but I have fitted one of these to my TG5. for the price it is a lot cheaper than the Olympus version and it allows you to fit a protective UV filter.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BLNC2S3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1