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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released May 2017
  • Earlier Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Updated by Olympus TG-6
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the TG-5 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and TG-5 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 8 years before the TG-5 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-P1 grades against the TG-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus TG-5

 E-P1 TG-5 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus E-P1

 TG-5 E-P1 
ReleasedMay 2017July 2009More recent by 94 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-5

 E-P1 TG-5 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 has got outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Olympus TG-5 has measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 and the TG-5.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and TG-5 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and TG-5.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor measurements. The E-P1 features the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The older E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
39
you can focus manually
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-5 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Olympus TG-5 Sports photography factors
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
46
max fps high (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-5 Travel photography features
43
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
68
better than average battery life (340 shots)
environment proof
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors in class (250g)
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-5
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
57
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (250g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-5
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus Tough TG-5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus Tough TG-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2009-07-29 2017-05-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V TruePic VIII
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 12MP
Anti alias 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 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 250 grams (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 340 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $182 $449