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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL6 was announced 6 months before the TG-860 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL6 grades against the TG-860 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus TG-860

 E-PL6 TG-860 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-PL6

 TG-860 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus TG-860

 E-PL6 TG-860 
RevealedAugust 2014February 2015Similar age
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL6 features physical dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus TG-860 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL6 versus the TG-860.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL6 and TG-860 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL6 and TG-860.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL6 offers the larger sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF less difficult.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-860 Street photography advice
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL6
Sports photography with Olympus TG-860
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
49
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL6
Travel photography with Olympus TG-860
85
provides touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
71
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (21mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL6
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
48
pretty wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging information
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging information
79
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have microphone port
33
pretty wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2014-08-01 2015-02-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
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 8.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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 file format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG 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 Yes
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 224g (0.49 pounds)
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 All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 300 images
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $300 $279