Clicky

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Launched September 2012
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-860
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-PL5 was released 4 years prior to the TG-870 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL5 matches up against the TG-870 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus TG-870

 E-PL5 TG-870 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-PL5

 TG-870 E-PL5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016September 2012Fresher by 40 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-870

 E-PL5 TG-870 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 offers physical dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus TG-870 has measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the TG-870.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and TG-870 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and TG-870.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 has the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The older E-PL5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
36
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Olympus TG-870
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than average (221 grams)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography features
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (300 CIPA)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
75
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
69
better than average battery power (300 per charge)
environment proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (21mm)
more heavy than average (221g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
50
decently wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
better than average battery power (300 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing microphone support
32
decently wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than average (221 grams)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2012-09-17 2016-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options 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
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 221 gr (0.49 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 300 photos
Battery format 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $280