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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
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
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Updated by Olympus TG-870
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both are created by Olympus. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and TG-860 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The PEN-F was revealed 12 months later than the TG-860 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the PEN-F grades vs the TG-860 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus TG-860

 PEN-F TG-860 
RevealedJanuary 2016February 2015More recent by 12 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus PEN-F

 TG-860 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus TG-860

 PEN-F TG-860 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F enjoys exterior dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus TG-860 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Examine the Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the PEN-F against the TG-860.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and TG-860 is 84 and 91 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The visual here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and TG-860.

Plainly, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus PEN-F will offer you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
75
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
36
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Street photography camera
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
69
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography highlights
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
not so great battery (330 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
Travel photography with Olympus TG-860
75
comes with touch focus
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
71
weather sealing
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (330 shots)
48
quite wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external microphone port
33
quite wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus PEN-FOlympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN-F Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Class Advanced Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2016-01-27 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII 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 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427g (0.94 lb) 224g (0.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 300 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $1,000 $279