Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-P5 versus Olympus TG-1 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both are sold by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-P5 was unveiled 18 months later than the TG-1 iHS making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-P5 grades versus the TG-1 iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P5 and Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-P5 Gallery and Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P5 has external dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Olympus TG-1 iHS has specifications of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P5 versus Olympus TG-1 iHS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P5 vs the TG-1 iHS.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and TG-1 iHS is 85 and 91 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P5 and TG-1 iHS.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P5 using its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-P5 will give you more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-P5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.