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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2013
Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Launched May 2017
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-6
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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SH-50 versus Olympus TG-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof and both are designed by Olympus. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and TG-5 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was introduced 5 years before the TG-5 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SH-50 matches up vs the TG-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus TG-5

 SH-50 TG-5 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus SH-50

 TG-5 SH-50 
LaunchedMay 2017January 2013Fresher by 53 months

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Olympus TG-5

 SH-50 TG-5 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 comes with physical dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-5 has specifications of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-50 versus Olympus TG-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SH-50 against the TG-5.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and TG-5 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The graphic here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and TG-5.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SH-50 to give more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older SH-50 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Portrait photography camera
44
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
39
you can focus manually
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-5 Street photography highlights
64
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
lighter than competition in class (269g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography info
Olympus TG-5 Sports photography info
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
46
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery life (340 shots)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-5 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition in class (269g)
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
great battery life (340 shots)
environment proofing
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors (250g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-5
49
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
57
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great battery life (340 shots)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-50
Vlogging with Olympus TG-5
34
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
34
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
heavier than competitors (250 grams)
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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Olympus TG-5
 Olympus SH-50Olympus Tough TG-5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SH-50 Olympus Tough TG-5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2013-01-08 2017-05-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI TruePic VIII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 340 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible)
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $449