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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS 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
  • Introduced September 2012
Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Released June 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-2 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and they are both built by Olympus. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was announced 9 months before the TG-2 iHS so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the TG-2 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-PL5 TG-2 iHS 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Olympus E-PL5

 TG-2 iHS E-PL5 
ReleasedJune 2013September 2012Fresher by 9 months
Display resolution610k460kClearer display (+150k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-PL5 TG-2 iHS 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 has outside measurements 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-2 iHS has proportions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-2 iHS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the TG-2 iHS.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and TG-2 iHS is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specifications. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and TG-2 iHS.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-PL5 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography information
Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
27
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography info
Olympus TG-2 iHS Street photography info
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery pack (350 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography highlights
75
provides focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse recording
68
great battery pack (350 per charge)
environment proofing
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
46
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external mic port
36
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-2 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-09-17 2013-06-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 610k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 230 gr (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" 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 photographs 350 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $400 $380