Fujifilm XP90 vs Olympus Tough TG-5: Which Waterproof Compact Camera Reigns Supreme?

Choosing between rugged waterproof compacts like the Fujifilm XP90 and the Olympus Tough TG-5 can be puzzling. Both geared for adventure, these cameras promise durability with photography convenience, yet diverge significantly under the hood and in real-world use. Having extensively tested them side by side across diverse scenarios - from macro insect shots to fast-paced sports and underwater landscapes - I’m here to break down their core differences, strengths, and weaknesses to help you decide which model suits your photographic style and budget.

Handling and Ergonomics: Toughness Meets Usability

At first glance, both the XP90 and TG-5 project rugged durability, but their physical design philosophies differ notably. The Fujifilm XP90 is a compact, slim waterproof camera measuring 110x71x28mm and weighing just about 203 grams, making it one of the lightest in its class. Its minimalist design is fairly pocketable, perfect for travel photographers keen on unobtrusive gear.

Olympus’s TG-5, while still compact, ups the ante in sturdiness. Its dimensions (113x66x32mm) and weight (250 grams) hint at the extra armor packed inside, including crushproof construction - the XP90 lacks this particular certification. This difference translates into a tangible heft and confidence-in-hand feel that adventure photographers, often tossing cameras into backpacks or rough environments, will appreciate.

Looking at control access, the TG-5 features more tactile, purpose-driven buttons and dials, giving finer manual control even with gloves or wet hands. In contrast, the XP90 keeps controls simple and somewhat streamlined, which, while approachable for beginners, can feel restrictive if you want to tailor exposure settings quickly. Neither camera offers a viewfinder, which keeps the bodies light but occasionally hampers bright sunlight composition.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Performance: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras share a 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, a typical sensor size in waterproof compacts, but key differences lie in resolution, processing, and ISO performance.

The XP90 sports a 16MP sensor with a max native ISO of 3200, boosting up to 6400, which aligns well with general use but tends to struggle in dim environments due to noise. The TG-5 opts for a 12MP sensor, but couples it with Olympus’s TruePic VIII processor - a leap forward in image processing that partially compensates for the lower megapixel count with better noise handling and dynamic range. The TG-5 impresses with an extended ISO range maxing out at 12,800, allowing superior low-light capture where the XP90’s 6400 ceiling often falls short.

Despite these specs, dynamic range on both cameras remains limited compared to larger sensor systems, but the Olympus pulls ahead for scenes requiring retained shadow and highlight detail, such as landscape shots with dramatic skies.

In practice, on bright days, both cameras deliver punchy colors and good detail for social media-sized prints. However, when inspecting 100% crops, images from the TG-5 show notably less noise and crisper textures, particularly in shadow areas. The XP90 sometimes renders colors with a slight cool tint, necessitating tweaks in post-processing, whereas the TG-5’s colors tend to be warmer and more natural straight out of the camera.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Catching the Moment

Photo opportunities happen fast - especially underwater or during action-packed scenes - so autofocus (AF) speed and burst capabilities are crucial.

The XP90 uses contrast-detection autofocus with limited AF points but supports face detection and tracking for steady focusing on known subjects. Burst shooting reaches a respectable 10 fps, adequate for casual bursts but not ideal for wildlife or sports photography.

The TG-5 steps up with a more sophisticated contrast-detection system featuring 25 focus points, enabling finer subject acquisition and tracking across the frame. Plus, burst shooting doubles to an impressive 20 fps, locking focus on the first frame - excellent for capturing rapid wildlife moments or sports sequences.

In testing, this difference translated into fewer missed focus opportunities and smoother continuous shooting on the Olympus, especially when photographing fast-moving fish during a snorkeling trip or kids playing beach volleyball.

Lens and Optical Flexibility: Zoom Range and Aperture

Neither camera offers interchangeable lenses, standard for their waterproof categories, but their built-in optics deserve scrutiny.

The XP90’s 28-140mm equivalent zoom (5x optical) covers broad shooting needs - from wide landscapes to moderate telephoto. Still, it opens at a somewhat restrictive f/3.9-4.9 aperture, limiting low-light use and bokeh capability. Macro focus distance is 9cm, which is decent for close-up shots, but not stellar.

On the flip side, the TG-5’s 25-100mm zoom (4x optical) trades some telephoto reach for a brighter starting aperture of f/2.0 at wide angles. This lens advantage greatly benefits low-light and underwater scenarios, and Olympus’s inclusion of focus stacking and focus bracketing expands creative macro potential down to an impressive 1cm focus range, making fine detail capture more robust.

For portrait photographers, neither system produces silky bokeh comparable to mirrorless cameras but Olympus’s wider aperture and better macro support offer subtle edge for isolating subjects and getting creative shallow depth of field effects.

Display and User Interface: Seeing Your Vision

Both cameras rely on 3-inch fixed LCDs for live preview and menu navigation, but with notable differences in resolution.

The Fujifilm XP90’s screen boasts a sharp 920k-dot resolution, providing crisp monitoring and ease in reviewing images. Unfortunately, it lacks touchscreen capability, and brightness adjusts manually; in bright settings, visibility can be challenging.

Olympus’s TG-5 has a lower 460k-dot resolution, which might feel somewhat less detailed when scrutinizing shots. However, it benefits from a daylight-viewable screen optimized for strong sunlight - a crucial advantage for outdoor shooters. Like the XP90, it lacks touchscreen, but Olympus’s interface is generally more intuitive, with quick access to shooting modes and customization.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance: Ready for Adventure

This is where these cameras show their true mettle.

The XP90 caters to waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof certifications, alongside freezeproofing, able to handle submersion up to 15m and falls from up to 1.75m. Ideal for casual diving, rafting, or poolside shooting.

The TG-5 builds on these traits by also being crushproof, withstanding 100kgf, perfect for mountain biking mishaps or tight-packed gear bags. It maintains waterproofing to 15m, dust and shockproof credentials, and freezeproof to -10°C. Olympus’s rugged construction is demonstrably more robust in extreme outdoor conditions.

Both cameras secure reliable seals, but TG-5’s overall tougher chassis makes it a more confident partner in harsher environments.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

A common pain point for compacts is battery endurance. Here, the Olympus TG-5 excels with a 340-shot rating per charge (CIPA standards), noticeably longer than the 210 shots offered by Fujifilm XP90’s NP-45S battery. For extended days of travel or expeditions where charging options are limited, the TG-5 reduces worries about downtime.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Olympus supports UHS-I cards, allowing faster write speeds beneficial for high-bitrate 4K video recording and burst shooting, whereas the XP90 maxes out at USB 2.0 transfer speed with no mention of UHS-I support.

Video Capture: Beyond Stills

Video capabilities often influence purchase decisions for travel and action enthusiasts.

The Fujifilm XP90 records Full HD 1080p at 60 fps, with MPEG-4 and H.264 compression. While this is serviceable for casual video, it lacks 4K support and offers no external microphone option, limiting sound control. Additionally, no electronic stabilization beyond sensor-shift is present, so handheld footage may suffer minor shakes underwater or in rough conditions.

Olympus TG-5 is a clear winner for videographers, offering 4K UHD at 30p with a 102 Mbps bitrate for vibrant, detailed footage. It uses sensor-shift stabilization too, and while it lacks mic inputs as well, the inclusion of GPS tagging for video clips adds an extra layer of utility for adventure logging.

Both cameras lack headphone jacks, so audio monitoring is impossible, a foreseeable compromise given compact durability priorities.

Special Features and Connectivity: The Extra Mile

The XP90’s wireless function enables image transfer, beneficial for quick sharing but limited by older Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols - no NFC support.

The TG-5, though also missing Bluetooth and NFC, integrates GPS, a standout feature for geotagging images automatically - particularly useful for travel and nature photography journaling.

Olympus additionally implements advanced macro modes, Pro capture modes, and underwater shooting presets that genuinely enhance image quality and ease-of-use in specialized conditions.

Real-World Photography: Where Each Camera Shines

Portraits

For portraits, especially casual outdoor headshots, TG-5’s wider f/2.0 aperture at wide angle and face detection yields slightly better skin tone rendition and subject separation in natural light. XP90’s higher megapixel count doesn’t compensate for narrower aperture, resulting in flatter depth of field effects.

Landscapes

Both perform well capturing vibrant landscapes on sunny days, but TG-5’s superior dynamic range and noise handling boost shadow detail on overcast days. Weather sealing on both is solid; however, crushproofing gives the TG-5 an edge for rugged treks.

Wildlife and Sports

Here, TG-5’s 20 fps burst and faster AF system excel. The XP90 can track subjects moderately but loses ground when rapid focus acquisition is needed. Shot-to-shot viewing and buffering also feel quicker on the Olympus.

Street and Travel

XP90’s smaller size and lighter weight make it more pocket-friendly for street shooters aiming for discretion, but poorer low-light performance hinders night street photography. TG-5’s versatile video and macro functions enrich travel storytelling, balanced by a moderate size penalty.

Macro

Olympus’s near 1cm macro focus and focus stacking/ bracketing abilities enable intricate close-up work unseen on the Fujifilm.

Night and Astro

TG-5’s expanded ISO range and noise control offer cleaner night images, making it preferable for casual astrophotography and dim-lit scenes.

Fujifilm XP90 front Fujifilm XP90 screen back Olympus TG 5 front Olympus TG 5 screen back

Value and Pricing: What Do You Get for Your Money?

At an MSRP around $180, the Fujifilm XP90 represents excellent budget waterproof compact value, making it ideal for casual users and families wanting a durable point-and-shoot without breaking the bank.

The Olympus TG-5’s $450 price tag reflects its advanced features, improved build, and image quality - a worthwhile investment for enthusiasts needing a camera that can weather serious abuse and deliver specialized creative tools.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Summarizing my findings:

• Pick the Fujifilm XP90 if: You want an ultra-compact, splash-and-shock resistant camera that fits light budgets and suits casual travel or family outings. It is friendly, straightforward, and good enough for well-lit conditions but expect limitations in low light and fast action.

• Pick the Olympus TG-5 if: You prioritize durability, superior image quality, (notably in low light and macro), faster autofocus, extended battery life, and 4K video capabilities. It’s better for adventure photographers, travelers seeking flexibility, and hobbyists who want a rugged secondary or even primary compact camera with features to explore creative photography seriously.

Overall, they cater to somewhat overlapping but distinct niches: XP90 embraces simplicity and affordability, TG-5 targets enthusiasts craving extra speed, functionality, and resilience.

This comparison’s breadth - from sensor tech nuances to ergonomics and real-life handling - reflects the kind of rigorous field testing I recommend for readers researching waterproof compacts. Choosing the right tool boils down to matching specific use cases and how much you need from your camera beyond “just point and shoot.”

If you want to discuss any aspect further or need lens recommendations that pair well with their fixed optics’ ranges, I’m happy to dive deeper. Until then, happy shooting out there - these little tough dogs are eager to go anywhere you do!