Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-5

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-5, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very well matched but the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-850 iHS was revealed 3 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the TG-850 iHS matches up against the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus TG-850 iHS Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS has external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-850 iHS compared to the NEX-5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-850 iHS and NEX-5 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Normally, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading through specs. The visual here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-850 iHS and NEX-5.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-850 iHS with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus TG-850 iHS will resolve greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern TG-850 iHS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.