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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2013
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus TG-2 iHS, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and both are sold by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was brought out 5 months later than the TG-2 iHS and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-M1 scores vs the TG-2 iHS for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-M1 TG-2 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k610kSharper display (+427k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Olympus E-M1

 TG-2 iHS E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-M1 TG-2 iHS 
AnnouncedOctober 2013June 2013Same age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 offers physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Olympus TG-2 iHS has proportions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus TG-2 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 and the TG-2 iHS.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and TG-2 iHS is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and TG-2 iHS.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M1 will result in extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
27
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment sealing
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (16MP)
bad battery life (350 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
environment sealing
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery life (350 shots)
46
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
better than average battery (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
lighter than competition in class (497g)
display isn't selfie friendly
36
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-2 iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
Type Pro Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2013-10-28 2013-06-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 610k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 230 grams (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" 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 350 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $380