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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony NEX-5T, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is relatively similar but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-870 was announced 2 years later than the NEX-5T and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the TG-870 matches up versus the NEX-5T with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony NEX-5T

 TG-870 NEX-5T 
LaunchedJanuary 2016August 2013Fresher by 29 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5T over the Olympus TG-870

 NEX-5T TG-870 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen resolution922k921kSharper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony NEX-5T

 TG-870 NEX-5T 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-870 comes with exterior measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5T has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony NEX-5T in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-870 compared to the NEX-5T.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and NEX-5T is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and NEX-5T.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The TG-870 uses the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier. The younger TG-870 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography highlights
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (221g)
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5T Sports photography info
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery (300 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
69
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5T
69
great battery (300 CIPA)
environment proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (21mm)
more heavy than competition in class (221g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
77
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography details
50
rather wide (21mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
environment proof
great battery (300 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging factors
32
rather wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (221g)
73
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
missing mic socket
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony NEX-5T
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2016-01-06 2013-08-27
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 99
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 gr (0.49 pounds) 276 gr (0.61 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1015
Other
Battery life 300 shots 330 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $280 $400