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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Revealed May 2017
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-4
  • New Model is Olympus TG-6
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus TG-5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and they are both created by Olympus. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and TG-5 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and TG-5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was released 5 years prior to the TG-5 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the TG-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus TG-5

 E-PM2 TG-5 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 TG-5 E-PM2 
RevealedMay 2017May 2013Newer by 48 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus TG-5

 E-PM2 TG-5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 has got outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Olympus TG-5 has dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus TG-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM2 versus the TG-5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and TG-5 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking technical specs. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and TG-5.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
39
focusing manually
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Street photography camera
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography advice
Olympus TG-5 Sports photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
46
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery pack (340 per charge)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-5 Travel photography factors
66
supports focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
68
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
weather sealing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (250 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography information
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
57
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (250g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus TG-5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus Tough TG-5
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus Tough TG-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2013-05-21 2017-05-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VIII
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 250 gr (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 340 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $448 $449