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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 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
  • Revealed October 2013
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus TG-860
(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
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Updated by Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

The following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-860, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was introduced 15 months prior to the TG-860 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-M1 grades vs the TG-860 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus TG-860

 E-M1 TG-860 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-M1

 TG-860 E-M1 
ReleasedFebruary 2015October 2013Newer by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-860

 E-M1 TG-860 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 has got outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-860 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-860 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 versus the TG-860.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and TG-860 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and TG-860.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M1 has got the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The more aged E-M1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
36
good resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Olympus TG-860 Street photography features
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than competitors (497g)
great ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography highlights
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (350 per charge)
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
weather sealing
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
not so great battery power (350 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
weather proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery power (350 per charge)
48
relatively wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging information
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging information
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic support
lighter than competitors (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
33
relatively wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type Pro Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2013-10-28 2015-02-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 224 gr (0.49 pounds)
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 rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 300 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $279