Olympus E-M1X vs Olympus TG-810: A Duel of Titans from Two Worlds

When you think of Olympus cameras, your first thoughts probably swing towards their powerful OM-D line or the rugged Tough series. Today, I’m putting the Olympus E-M1X - a professional-grade Micro Four Thirds powerhouse - head to head with the Olympus TG-810, a versatile and ultra-durable waterproof compact from another era. These cameras could not be more different in design, purpose, and technology. Yet, I’m here to tell you where each shines, where they fall short, and who will benefit most from either choice.

Having spent years testing and photographing extensively with both rugged compacts and pro mirrorless bodies, I’ll share deep, hands-on insights here. Expect thorough technical breakdowns, real-life photographic examples, and honest evaluation that goes beyond specs tables. Whether you’re scouting for extreme adventure gear or a reliable pro workhorse, by the end of this you’ll understand exactly where each Olympus model fits in your kit.

Size and Ergonomics: Handling the Beast vs Embracing Portability

The Olympus E-M1X can feel like a small DSLR or a tank in your hands: robust, hefty, and commanding over half a kilo more than many mirrorless rivals. It sports a large, SLR-style body with a firm grip, dual control dials, and an extensively customizable button layout. Physically, it measures 144 x 147 x 75 mm and weighs approximately 997 grams.

In contrast, the TG-810 is tiny and light, designed to accompany you anywhere - even underwater or on a snowy mountain. At merely 100 x 65 x 26 mm and 215 grams, it disappears in your pocket or backpack. It's a compact tailored for spontaneous shooting in varied and harsh environments without fuss.

From a tactile perspective, I appreciate the E-M1X’s well-thought controls, especially the dual hand grips and the intuitive placement of dials, which made changing settings fast and precise during shoots, even while wearing gloves or in harsh weather. Conversely, the TG-810’s compact form factor is a double-edged sword: while great for travel and casual use, it lacks the physical control finesse that advanced shooters demand.

My tip: If you plan demanding projects or long shoots where handling comfort and fast access to controls matter, the E-M1X will feel right at home. For casual shooters or adventurers craving fun, compact gear, the TG-810’s size and durability are unbeatable.

Design Differences Seen from Above: Control Layout and Build

Looking down on the controls is a good way to get a feel for user experience design. The E-M1X features an extensive top plate with dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, and a handy secondary display for info. The two-button layout per thumb and forefinger allows for effortless exposure fine-tuning on the fly.

The TG-810, being a compact point-and-shoot style, has a minimalistic top design, with a simple shutter and zoom rocker button, a power button, and a flash toggle. There are no control dials - everything else is controlled through menus and a few dedicated buttons. The TG-810’s rugged construction means chunky buttons that can be accessed even when wet or with gloves.

The E-M1X’s weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis scored highly in my drop and dust tests, reliably resisting moisture and rigors of demanding fieldwork. The TG-810 takes this to another level with full waterproofing rated to 10 meters and shockproofing for accidental drops.

My observation: For users who value physical control and assured durability, the E-M1X’s design brings professional usability. The TG-810 prioritizes ruggedness and simplicity, perfect for carefree shooting in unpredictable environments.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds vs 1/2.3" CCD

The heart of every camera is its sensor. The Olympus E-M1X uses a Four Thirds-size (17.4 x 13 mm) CMOS sensor offering 20 megapixels. The much larger sensor area (226.2 mm²) equates to better light gathering, improved low-light performance, and richer dynamic range. It also features an anti-aliasing filter to balance sharpness and moiré control.

The TG-810’s sensor is a tiny 1/2.3" CCD unit measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm with 14 megapixels and a sensor area of only 28.07 mm². This type of sensor was common in compact cameras of its era but cannot compete with modern large sensors.

In my practical image tests, the E-M1X’s images exhibited outstanding clarity, natural skin tones, and impressively low noise even at ISO 3200 - a true testament to its modern sensor and dual TruePic VIII processors. The TG-810, while producing decent images in bright daylight, showed noticeable noise and softness at higher ISO settings beyond 400. Dynamic range was limited, with shadows quickly turning muddy in contrasty scenes.

Practical takeaway: If your work demands high-resolution images with clean detail, vibrant tones, and reliable high-ISO performance - say for portraits, landscapes, or professional assignments - the E-M1X is unquestionably superior. The TG-810 is better reserved for casual snapshots without strict image quality expectations.

Back Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Articulated Touch vs Fixed LCD

The E-M1X sports a fully articulated 3” touchscreen with 1,037k dots, perfect for composing from awkward angles and intuitive menu navigation. It also boasts a large 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage that provides detailed previews, essential for critical framing and focusing outdoors in bright light.

The TG-810 offers a fixed 3” TFT Hypercrystal LCD with 920k dots but no EVF. Composing can be tricky under harsh sunlight, and there’s no touchscreen interface. Given its compact nature, it relies heavily on LCD for all interaction.

From hands-on use, the E-M1X’s screen articulation allowed me to shoot low macro subjects and street candids more creatively. Its EVF was a game changer when tracking wildlife in variable light. Meanwhile, the TG-810’s fixed screen often required shielding with my hand in bright outdoor shoots.

Pro tip: Serious photographers should never compromise on a high-quality EVF combined with articulation and touch support - a combo only the E-M1X delivers here.

Shooting Realities: Burst Speed, Autofocus, and Image Stabilization

Burst shooting and autofocus performance define cameras for high-action genres like sports and wildlife. The E-M1X offers an astounding 60 fps continuous shooting at 20MP in RAW or JPEG with advanced AF tracking utilizing 121 contrast and phase detect points including face detection. Its 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization complements both handheld stills and video capture, reducing shake significantly.

The TG-810 is limited to single-shot shooting with basic contrast AF, face detection, and sensor-shift stabilization. Continuous shooting is not an option, which restricts its viability for capturing moving subjects.

In wildlife assignments, I tested the E-M1X extensively, switching between zoo, birding, and sports events. The autofocus speed and accuracy never faltered. Tracking a flighty sparrow or a sprinting runner was straightforward, even in mixed light conditions indoors. The TG-810, conversely, could only catch slow or stationary subjects, making it a casual pocket cam at best.

My experience: If bursts, tracking, and stabilization matter, the E-M1X’s tech is league ahead, catering to pro sports shooters and wildlife photographers alike.

Lens Ecosystem and Focal Length Flexibility

The E-M1X uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, providing access to over 107 lenses from Olympus and third-party manufacturers like Panasonic, Sigma, and Tamron. This expansive lens ecosystem offers everything from ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto zooms and dedicated macro optics, matching virtually any genre.

The TG-810 features a fixed 28-140mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.9-5.9 lens with 5x zoom - sufficient for day-to-day use and basic travel photography but lacks the flexibility to specialize.

Being able to choose fast primes such as the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 or the super-telephoto 300mm f/4 PRO lens made shooting portraits and wildlife with the E-M1X infinitely more satisfying. The TG-810’s lens couldn’t match the speed, sharpness, or bokeh control.

Battery Life and Storage Reliability in Field Conditions

Endurance is crucial for outdoor and professional workflows. The E-M1X’s built-in battery delivers a whopping 870 shots per charge per CIPA standards - impressive given its dual processors and high-res EVF. Dual SD card slots provide redundancy and ample storage.

The TG-810 runs on a removable battery pack rated for approximately 220 shots and has a single SD card slot. For rugged travel, its simplicity helps but needs spares to extend sessions.

For extended shoots, the E-M1X proved stellar during multi-day events; I never worried about running low or losing images. The TG-810, while reliable, may keep you tethered to chargers or backed-up memory cards more frequently.

Connectivity and Modern Features

The E-M1X includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB-C with Power Delivery for in-situ charging, and full microphone and headphone ports for video. These features facilitate tethered shooting, remote control, location tagging, and professional-grade multimedia workflows.

The TG-810’s connectivity is minimal: Eye-Fi compatible wireless (now obsolete), basic GPS, USB 2.0, and HDMI out. No audio ports or advanced wireless controls.

Performance Gallery: Seeing is Believing

To better illustrate differences, here are real-world images captured by both cameras in similar scenarios.

Olympus E M1X front Olympus E M1X screen back Olympus TG 810 front Olympus TG 810 screen back

The E-M1X photos show crisp detail, smooth tonal gradation, and pleasing bokeh in portraits. Landscapes retain highlight detail and shadow texture. Wildlife shots capture motion sharply.

The TG-810’s images are softer and noisier when zoomed in but carry a nostalgic charm. Colors are punchy but less nuanced.

How These Cameras Stack Up: My Scoring Summary

Here’s a consolidated performance assessment based on my evaluation of image quality, autofocus, build, handling, and features across genres:

As you can see, the E-M1X dominates in nearly every category suited for the enthusiast or professional. The TG-810 offers respectable performance for its class, especially in robust compact scenarios.

Genre-Specific Analysis: Expected Strengths and Weaknesses

Delving deeper by photographic discipline reveals each camera’s sweet spots.

• Portraits: E-M1X's skin tone rendition and eye detection excel. TG-810 has limited control and less pleasing background blur.
• Landscape: E-M1X’s dynamic range and resolution win hands-down. TG-810 performs adequately in daylight.
• Wildlife: Speedy AF and bursts on E-M1X vital, TG-810 unsuitable.
• Sports: E-M1X’s tracking and FPS rate are essential. TG-810 lacks speed.
• Street: TG-810’s pocketability is a plus, but E-M1X’s articulating screen and EVF aid creativity.
• Macro: E-M1X supports focus bracketing and high magnification lenses.
• Night/Astro: E-M1X’s low-light capability is a game-changer, TG-810 limited.
• Video: 4K @ 24p on E-M1X, with audio control. TG-810 capped at HD 720p.
• Travel: TG-810’s tough portability wins ease of carry; the E-M1X is heavier but more versatile.
• Pro work: E-M1X is fully professional with rugged sealing, workflow features. TG-810 is an ultra-resistant point-and-shoot.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which?

Having dissected both cameras, I now boil down practical advice:

• Choose the Olympus E-M1X:

  • If you value professional image quality and advanced autofocus.
  • Shoot demanding genres like wildlife, sports, portraiture, or landscapes.
  • Need pro video features and extensive lens options.
  • Require durable weather sealing and ergonomic handling.
  • Can invest in a high-end body with robust specs and battery life.

• Choose the Olympus TG-810:

  • If your priority is a rugged, waterproof, and ultra-portable camera.
  • Want a simple-to-use point-and-shoot for hiking, travel, or adventure sports.
  • Are on a budget but still want a reliable compact that withstands abuse.
  • Accept compromises in image quality for durability and convenience.

My Testing Methodology and Disclosure

My comparisons are based not only on spec analysis but on thousands of hours behind the camera body, including field testing in wildlife parks, urban environments, and studio shoots. I examine images under controlled lighting, real-world trails, and review shooting ergonomics extensively.

I have no affiliation with Olympus or related entities, and this article reflects purely professional and experiential judgments aimed at helping photographers make the best informed decision.

This contrast between the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the TG-810 highlights not just technical leaps but divergent approaches to customer needs. Whether you crave the pinnacle of mirrorless tech or a no-nonsense rugged companion, understanding how these cameras deliver on their promises can guide you to your perfect photographic partner. Happy shooting!