Olympus E-510 vs Olympus TG-4

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-510 vs Olympus TG-4, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and TG-4 (16MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-510 was released 8 years earlier than the TG-4 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-510 scores against the TG-4 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-510 and Olympus Tough TG-4. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Olympus TG-4 Gallery.

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 comes with external dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-4 has specifications of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-510 vs Olympus TG-4 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-510 against the TG-4.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and TG-4 is 69 and 90 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The visual below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and TG-4.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-510 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus TG-4 will render more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.