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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Following is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus TG-860, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is pretty close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was launched 20 months before the TG-860 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PM2 matches up against the TG-860 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus TG-860

 E-PM2 TG-860 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-PM2

 TG-860 E-PM2 
LaunchedFebruary 2015May 2013More modern by 20 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus TG-860

 E-PM2 TG-860 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 has exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-860 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus TG-860 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM2 against the TG-860.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and TG-860 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and TG-860.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM2 comes with the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult. The more aged E-PM2 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
36
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Olympus TG-860 Street photography details
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography information
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
no phase detect AF
49
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography highlights
66
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
71
environment proof
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography info
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of Timelapse recording
48
pretty wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment proof
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging highlights
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging highlights
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
33
pretty wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2013-05-21 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
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
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
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)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
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 format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 224 gr (0.49 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 300 photographs
Style 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
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $448 $279