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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released May 2017
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-4
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-6
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Olympus TG-5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are created by Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and TG-5 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was introduced 5 years before the TG-5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-16 iHS scores vs the TG-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus TG-5

 SZ-16 iHS TG-5 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 TG-5 SZ-16 iHS 
ReleasedMay 2017January 2013More recent by 53 months
Manual focus More precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus TG-5

 SZ-16 iHS TG-5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-5 has measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Olympus TG-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the TG-5.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and TG-5 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The visual below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and TG-5.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to provide extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older SZ-16 iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Portrait photography camera
35
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
39
focusing manually
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
no manual control
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
Olympus TG-5 Sports photography info
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
46
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery life (340 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography info
Olympus TG-5 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
good battery life (340 per charge)
weather proof
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than others in class (250 grams)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography information
41
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
57
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good battery life (340 per charge)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Olympus TG-5
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
34
fairly wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (250 grams)
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus TG-5
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSOlympus Tough TG-5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Olympus Tough TG-5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2013-01-08 2017-05-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 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 220 pictures 340 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots One One
Cost at release $230 $449