Olympus E-M10 IV vs. Olympus TG-4: A Deep Dive for the Discerning Photographer

When it comes to choosing an Olympus camera, the options can feel as varied as the lenses in your bag. Today, we’re putting two very different models head-to-head: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV, a classic entry-level mirrorless camera, and the Olympus Tough TG-4, a rugged compact designed to brave the elements. These cameras cater to distinct user needs - a versatile enthusiast system camera vs. an all-weather pocketable shooter. But how do they truly compare beyond their marketing blurbs? Having spent considerable time testing both extensively in real-world scenarios, I’m here to offer you an expert, balanced, and practical breakdown.

Form and Feel: Handling the E-M10 IV and TG-4

First impressions matter. The Olympus E-M10 IV carries the signature SLR-style mirrorless body, with a firm grip, logical button layout, and a thoughtful blend of retro charm and modern ergonomics. At 122 x 84 x 49 mm and 383g, it fits comfortably in the hand, offering tactile dials and buttons that photographers appreciate for precision control. The camera’s tilting 3-inch touchscreen enhances user interaction and creative framing.

The TG-4 is a compact beast built for durability and portability. Measuring 112 x 66 x 31 mm and weighing a mere 247g, its rugged compact body fits neatly into a jacket pocket or backpack side compartment. You get large, rubberized buttons designed for gloved hands and wet conditions. While the compact size favors travel and adventure photography, the fixed-lens design and smaller sensor restrict some creative flexibility.

Ergonomically, I appreciate the E-M10 IV’s extensive controls allowing immediate access to shutter speed, exposure compensation, and ISO, essential for working quickly in the field or studio. The TG-4’s controls are minimalist - perfect when you want fuss-free operation, but not ideal for photographers who demand granular manual input.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds vs. 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS

Here’s where the cameras diverge most fundamentally. The E-M10 IV boasts a 20MP Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.4x13 mm, providing an imaging surface that’s nearly eight times larger than the TG-4’s 1/2.3” 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm).

From countless sensor tests, I know this size difference translates directly into image quality: better noise control, higher dynamic range, and richer color depth on the E-M10 IV. Olympus’s TruePic VIII image processor drives excellent detail capture with its anti-aliasing filter and supports ISO sensitivities ranging from 200–25600, allowing flexibility for low-light and daylight shooting. The TG-4, with its TruePic VII processor, covers 100–6400 ISO. While capable for daylight and macro scenarios, it struggles to hold detail in shadows or at higher ISOs under dim conditions.

Testing both cameras side-by-side under challenging indoor lighting and dusk scenarios confirms this. The E-M10 IV’s images show superior gradations, cleaner skin tones in portraits, and more nuanced landscapes. The TG-4 remains a competent shooter for casual use or documentation but sacrifices subtlety for convenience.

Autofocus and Focusing Performance: Precision vs. Practicality

The E-M10 IV uses a contrast-detection autofocus system with 121 focus points, which might sound modest compared to hybrid or phase-detection systems, yet in practice, it’s quite responsive for an entry-level mirrorless. It includes touch focus, face detection, and continuous AF, enabling confident capture of moving subjects in moderate action.

The TG-4’s autofocus is contrast-detection only, with just 25 focus points covering the frame. Given its fixed-lens setup and focus ranges inherent to the lens, it performs well in bright conditions and excels in macro focusing down to 1cm, perfect for close-up nature or product photography. But for fast-moving wildlife or sports shots, it lags behind its bigger sibling.

A personal test with birds in flight reaffirmed these impressions: the E-M10 IV can track and burst shoot at 8.7 fps, sufficient for enthusiast wildlife and sports photography, while the TG-4’s max burst rate of 5 fps and AF system couldn’t consistently lock or keep pace.

Viewing Experience: EVF and Screen Technologies

Viewing your subject properly is essential. The E-M10 IV features a bright 2.36 million-dot Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.62x magnification, offering a clear, lag-free live preview with exposure and focus confirmations. Whether in bright sunlight or in the studio, this EVF enables precise composition and manual focus accuracy.

The TG-4 lacks an integrated viewfinder altogether, relying solely on a fixed 3-inch 460k-dot LCD screen. In outdoor bright lighting, this screen can become challenging to see, limiting precise framing or manual focusing - particularly for photographers working under harsh sun or shooting action.

Conversely, the E-M10 IV provides a tilting touchscreen, giving a dynamic edge to low/high angle shooting and intuitive focus point selection. The TG-4’s fixed, non-touch LCD is less flexible but remains usable for casual snapshots or video.

Image Stabilization: Sensor-Shift Advantage on the E-M10 IV

Both cameras incorporate image stabilization, but the level of sophistication differs markedly. The E-M10 IV’s 5-axis sensor-based stabilization works wonders to compensate for shaky hands or longer shutter speeds, significantly improving handheld sharpness in low light or telephoto captures. In my field tests with long lenses and slow shutter speeds, I experienced a clear advantage here - fewer blurry shots, more keepers.

The TG-4 employs sensor-shift stabilization suitable for its smaller sensor and fixed wide-angle zoom lens. This assists macro and handheld video shots but isn’t nearly as effective as the 5-axis system on the mirrorless body.

Lens Ecosystem and Optical Flexibility

The E-M10 IV allows use of the massive Micro Four Thirds lens lineup, comprising over 100 lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to long telephotos, including excellent macro and fast-aperture portrait lenses. This system flexibility is invaluable as your skills or shooting needs evolve.

In contrast, the TG-4 uses a fixed 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 zoom lens, great for versatile travel, underwater, and casual photography, but limiting once you want to explore specific creative or technical photographic styles.

Weather Resistance and Durability: The TG-4 Excels Here

The TG-4 stands out with full environmental sealing and rugged construction: waterproof down to 15m, dustproof, shockproof (up to 2.1m drops), crushproof, and freezeproof to -10°C. Its robust build invites adventurers and outdoors photographers into harsh conditions without fear.

The E-M10 IV lacks weather sealing. It’s a sleek, lightweight machine designed more for controlled environments, studio use, and urban outings. If your photography takes you into wet, coarse, or extreme environments frequently, the TG-4’s toughness is a compelling reason to consider it.

Video Recording: Versatility vs. Practicality

Video on the E-M10 IV is a step up in quality and flexibility. It records 4K UHD video at 30p/25p/24p with a respectable bitrate of 102 Mbps using MPEG-4/H.264, enabling filmmakers and vloggers high-res footage. Though lacking microphone and headphone ports, the system stabilization aids steady handheld clips.

In contrast, the TG-4 maxes out at Full HD 1080p, 30 fps, with basic video codecs (H.264 and Motion JPEG). Audio inputs are absent as well. The TG-4 suits casual video capture but wouldn’t satisfy content creators or professionals.

Battery Life and Connectivity

You get similar endurance from both cameras - around 360-380 shots per charge - which is decent for their classes. The E-M10 IV uses the BLS-50 battery, while the TG-4 uses the LI-92B.

Connectivity-wise, the E-M10 IV includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, facilitating easy image transfer and remote camera control through Olympus's app. The TG-4, released earlier, has Wi-Fi but no Bluetooth, and packs built-in GPS, giving geotagging convenience that the E-M10 IV relies on phone GPS for.

Price and Value Considerations

At launch and current pricing, the TG-4 is positioned as an affordable, rugged compact at around $379, while the E-M10 IV sits comfortably in the entry-level mirrorless arena at $699.

Olympus E M10 IV front Olympus E M10 IV screen back Olympus TG 4 front Olympus TG 4 screen back

Given the price gaps and feature sets, the choice boils down to intended use. The E-M10 IV delivers more capabilities, creativity, and image quality for the money, but the TG-4’s ruggedness justifies its value in specific niches.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Let’s look separately at popular photography types and assess how each camera fares.

Portraits

• E-M10 IV shines with improved skin tone reproduction, bokeh control using fast lenses, face and eye detection autofocus.
• TG-4 is limited by fixed lens and sensor size; portraits can appear sharp but flatter, with less background separation.

Landscapes

• The E-M10 IV’s dynamic range and higher resolution capture fine textures and shadows effectively.
• The TG-4, while usable for casual landscapes, lacks the sensor capabilities to render detailed highlights and shadows.

Wildlife

• The E-M10 IV’s fast burst, effective AF, and lens adaptability make it a better option.
• The TG-4, designed for durability, cannot keep up autofocus-wise or with long telephoto reach.

Sports

• The mirrorless E-M10 IV’s tracking and frame rate give an advantage for fast action.
• The TG-4, though waterproof, falls short with slower focus and burst modes.

Street

• TG-4’s small size, environmental ruggedness, and optical zoom favor discreet street shooting.
• E-M10 IV, while bulkier, offers creative control and high image quality but can draw more attention.

Macro

• Surprisingly, the TG-4 offers close focusing down to 1cm with excellent results.
• E-M10 IV supports interchangeable macro lenses but requires additional investment.

Night and Astro

• E-M10 IV’s higher ISOs and sensor size enable better low-light and night shooting.
• TG-4 struggles beyond well-lit scenes due to noise and lower dynamic range.

Video

• E-M10 IV offers 4K resolution and superior bitrate for quality video.
• TG-4 limited to 1080p at modest frame rates and file sizes.

Travel

• TG-4’s rugged compact form excels for adventurous travel.
• E-M10 IV suits travelers wanting creative flexibility.

Professional Work

• The E-M10 IV supports RAW capture, advanced exposure modes, and integration into pro workflows.
• TG-4, more casual and compact, is less suited for demanding professional assignments.

Technical Scorecard and Final Verdict

Summarizing the complex equation of features, usability, and image quality, the Olympus E-M10 IV emerges as the more versatile, capable camera for serious enthusiasts and semi-professionals. The TG-4, while exceptional in ruggedness and practicality for adventure shots, is fundamentally a compact camera for documentation and casual use.

If you need robustness in tough conditions, pocketability, and workable image quality without fuss, the TG-4 is a solid companion. But if your goal is to learn, experiment, and produce high-quality images and video with creative control, the E-M10 IV is a better investment.

In Closing: Match Your Camera To Your Needs

The E-M10 IV and TG-4 exemplify Olympus’s diverse approach - one camera built for image quality and photographic growth, the other for reliable performance in challenging environments.

Both cameras deserve respect on their own terms; knowing your shooting style and priorities will guide you to the right choice. If you find yourself torn, remember: image quality, artistic flexibility, and video ability all strongly favor the E-M10 IV. Meanwhile, durability, ease of use, and ruggedness are the TG-4’s strong suits.

That’s my candid take after thorough, hands-on testing and side-by-side comparisons. Whichever camera you pick, Olympus’s thoughtful engineering means you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

Happy shooting!

Technical Specifications Summary

I hope this extensive comparison helps you make an informed decision tailored to your photography ambitions and adventures. Remember, the best camera is ultimately the one that feels right for your eyes, hands, and creative goals.

Feel free to reach out if you need help matching lenses or accessories, or want more field-tested tips for either Olympus model.