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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Newer Model is OM System OM-5
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Successor is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-M5 III versus Olympus TG-860, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both sold by Olympus. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and TG-860 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was announced 4 years after the TG-860 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-M5 III grades versus the TG-860 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Olympus TG-860

 E-M5 III TG-860 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2015Newer by 58 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 TG-860 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus TG-860

 E-M5 III TG-860 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III has got outside dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-860 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 III versus Olympus TG-860 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 III and the TG-860.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and TG-860 is 80 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The image below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and TG-860.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will produce more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Portrait photography camera
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
36
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Street photography with Olympus TG-860
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Olympus TG-860
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery (310 per charge)
49
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography advice
77
weather proof
has bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
low battery (310 shots)
71
environment proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography details
Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography details
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
low battery (310 CIPA)
48
fairly wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
environment proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging information
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging information
84
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone port
33
fairly wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type Advanced Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2019-10-17 2015-02-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII TruePic VII
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 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
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lb) 224 grams (0.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 shots 300 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,199 $279