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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90 Imaging
40 Features
51 Overall
44

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 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
  • Announced October 2013
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-3
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-5
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-4, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and they are both built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the TG-4 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was revealed 17 months earlier than the TG-4 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M1 scores vs the TG-4 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary 

        

          

            
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus TG-4

          

          

            
 E-M1 TG-4 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display  Easily navigate
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus E-M1

          

          

            
 TG-4 E-M1 
ReleasedApril 2015October 2013More modern by 17 months
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-4

          

          

            
 E-M1 TG-4 
Focus manually  Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen  Neither offers selfie screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
If you are intending to carry around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 offers exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus TG-4 has proportions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).
See the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-4 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 vs the TG-4.
Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison
Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and TG-4 is 71 and 90 respectively.
Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Usually, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through a spec sheet. The image underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and TG-4.
As you can see, both of those cameras have the same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-M1 provides the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult. The more aged E-M1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

            Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-4
71
 manual focus
 above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
 decent megapixels (16MP)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 offers face detection focusing
 exports RAW files
46
 has manual focus
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 has face detect focusing
 supports RAW files
 manual exposure not possible
 external flash not possible
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Olympus TG-4
77
 screen tilts
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW files
 features focus via touch
 weather proof
 lighter than others in class (497g)
 very good ISO range (25,600)
65
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 supports RAW files
 environment proofing
 no moving screen
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-M1 Sports photography information
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography information
69
 max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent megapixels (16MP)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 offers tracking autofocus
 weather proof
 supports phase detect AF
 low battery power (350 per charge)
47
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 has tracking focus
 environment proofing
 great battery pack (380 CIPA)
 very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
 no shutter priority
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Olympus TG-4 Travel photography info
65
 lighter than others in class (497 grams)
 weather proof
 features focus via touch
 decent megapixels (16MP)
 low battery power (350 per charge)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
74
 great battery pack (380 shots)
 environment proofing
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 built-in flash
 relatively wide (25mm)
 good max aperture (f2.0)
 heavier than competition in class (247g)
 display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
72
 manual focus
 change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 pretty good screen size (3")
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 very good ISO range (25,600)
 exports RAW files
 weather proof
 low battery power (350 per charge)
62
 has manual focus
 relatively wide (25mm)
 good max aperture (f2.0)
 pretty good screen size (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 supports RAW files
 environment proofing
 great battery pack (380 per charge)
 cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
 manual exposure not possible
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison
 Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
 Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
36
 built-in touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 offers face detection focusing
 high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 comes with external microphone port
 lighter than others in class (497g)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
34
 relatively wide (25mm)
 good max aperture (f2.0)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 has face detect focusing
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 lack of mic jack
 heavier than competition in class (247g)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus Tough TG-4
Type Pro Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2013-10-28 2015-04-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch to focus    
Continuous AF    
Single AF    
AF tracking    
AF selectice    
AF center weighted    
AF multi area    
Live view AF    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch operation    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range no built-in flash 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings 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-in, off, LED
External flash    
Auto exposure bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Max flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lb) 247 grams (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 380 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording    
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $379