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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Revealed May 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus TG-1 iHS, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both are built by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was introduced about the same time to the TG-1 iHS which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 grades versus the TG-1 iHS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 E-M5 TG-1 iHS 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Olympus E-M5

 TG-1 iHS E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus TG-1 iHS

 E-M5 TG-1 iHS 
RevealedApril 2012May 2012Same generation
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution610k610kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has got external dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus TG-1 iHS has proportions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus TG-1 iHS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 versus the TG-1 iHS.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and TG-1 iHS is 81 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The picture underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and TG-1 iHS.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M5 will produce greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
27
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography highlights
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has touch focus
weather proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
no phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
good battery life (350 per charge)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography highlights
66
weather proofing
has touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
68
good battery life (350 per charge)
environment proof
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
lack of Timelapse function
46
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
good battery life (350 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Vlogging camera
34
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
36
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus TG-1 iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS
Type Advanced Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-04-30 2012-05-08
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 610k dot 610k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 230 gr (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 350 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 and 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $799 $399