Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-1 iHS

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus TG-1 iHS, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was manufactured 5 months after the TG-1 iHS which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL5 grades against the TG-1 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 features 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-1 iHS has specifications of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus TG-1 iHS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 against the TG-1 iHS.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and TG-1 iHS is 88 and 91 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through technical specs. The picture here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and TG-1 iHS.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will result in extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively.