Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-860

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.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Olympus TG-860 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.