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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus TG-850 iHS, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the TG-850 iHS (16MP) is very close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was introduced 3 months before the TG-850 iHS which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M1 grades versus the TG-850 iHS for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 E-M1 TG-850 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Olympus E-M1

 TG-850 iHS E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 E-M1 TG-850 iHS 
AnnouncedOctober 2013January 2014Same generation
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus TG-850 iHS has proportions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus TG-850 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 versus the TG-850 iHS.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and TG-850 iHS is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The graphic here will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and TG-850 iHS.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same MP but different sensor sizing. The E-M1 comes with the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field easier.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Street photography camera
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competition (497 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography highlights
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
bad battery life (350 shots)
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery (330 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
65
lighter than competition (497 grams)
weather proof
features focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
bad battery life (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
72
good battery (330 CIPA)
weather proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (21mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography information
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
50
quite wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Vlogging camera
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
lighter than competition (497g)
display isn't selfie friendly
33
quite wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Type Pro Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2013-10-28 2014-01-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4616 x 3464
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 1/2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Yes
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lbs) 218 gr (0.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 330 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $799 $250