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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P2
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact and both are produced by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 7 years before the TG-870 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-P1 matches up vs the TG-870 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus TG-870

 E-P1 TG-870 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-P1

 TG-870 E-P1 
ReleasedJanuary 2016July 2009More recent by 78 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-870

 E-P1 TG-870 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 offers external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus TG-870 has proportions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 compared to the TG-870.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and TG-870 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and TG-870.

Plainly, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus TG-870 will result in more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
36
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
65
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competitors (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography factors
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (300 shots)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
43
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
69
better than average battery pack (300 shots)
weather sealing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
heavier than competitors (221g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
50
relatively wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (300 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
32
relatively wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external mic port
heavier than competitors (221g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2009-07-29 2016-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V 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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 221 gr (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 300 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $182 $280