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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-860, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is fairly close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 years prior to the TG-860 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL5 grades versus the TG-860 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus TG-860

 E-PL5 TG-860 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-PL5

 TG-860 E-PL5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015September 2012Fresher by 29 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-860

 E-PL5 TG-860 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has got physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus TG-860 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-860 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 vs the TG-860.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and TG-860 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by looking through specifications. The visual underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and TG-860.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL5 offers the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field easier. The older E-PL5 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
36
good resolution (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Olympus TG-860 Street photography features
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography information
75
boasts touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
71
environment sealing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (21mm)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography highlights
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
48
decently wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
environment sealing
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
78
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic jack
33
decently wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2012-09-17 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 224 gr (0.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 300 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $400 $279