Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-5
86 Imaging
47 Features
43 Overall
45
90 Imaging
37 Features
51 Overall
42
Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
- Introduced November 2010
- Replaced the Olympus E-PL1
- Successor is Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 12800)
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 video
- 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
- 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
- Introduced May 2017
- Superseded the Olympus TG-4
- Later Model is Olympus TG-6
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Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus TG-5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the TG-5 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and TG-5 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe E-PL1s was introduced 7 years before the TG-5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera.
Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL1s grades vs the TG-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL1s & Olympus Tough TG-5. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL1s Gallery & Olympus TG-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus TG-5
| E-PL1s | TG-5 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus E-PL1s
| TG-5 | E-PL1s | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | May 2017 | November 2010 | More modern by 79 months | |
| Screen size | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 460k | 230k | Sharper screen (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus TG-5
| E-PL1s | TG-5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | Dial accurate focus | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Neither offers selfie screen | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Neither offers Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison
If you're looking to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s offers external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus TG-5 has proportions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus TG-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1s versus the TG-5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and TG-5 is 86 and 90 respectively.
Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The picture here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and TG-5.
Clearly, both of these cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL1s comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.
Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications
| Olympus PEN E-PL1s | Olympus Tough TG-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Olympus | Olympus |
| Model type | Olympus PEN E-PL1s | Olympus Tough TG-5 |
| Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Waterproof |
| Introduced | 2010-11-16 | 2017-05-17 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | 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 | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4000 x 3000 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
| Max boosted ISO | - | 12800 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW pictures | ||
| Minimum boosted ISO | - | 100 |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detection AF | ||
| Contract detection AF | ||
| Phase detection AF | ||
| Total focus points | 11 | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | - | 25-100mm (4.0x) |
| Maximal aperture | - | f/2.0-4.9 |
| Macro focusing distance | - | 1cm |
| Available lenses | 107 | - |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen diagonal | 2.7 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dot | 460 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch functionality | ||
| Screen technology | HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | None |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 4 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting speed | 3.0 frames/s | 20.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 10.00 m | - |
| 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 |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Highest flash sync | 1/160 seconds | - |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| 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 |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 3840x2160 |
| Video format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Mic input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| 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 seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 334 grams (0.74 lb) | 250 grams (0.55 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | not tested | not tested |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 290 images | 340 images |
| 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 feature | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Pricing at launch | $599 | $449 |