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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Olympus TG-310 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus TG-310 versus Sony NEX-5, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-310 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty close but the TG-310 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The TG-310 was announced 8 months later than the NEX-5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the TG-310 grades vs the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Sony NEX-5

 TG-310 NEX-5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011June 2010Fresher by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus TG-310

 NEX-5 TG-310 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-310 and Sony NEX-5

 TG-310 NEX-5 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus TG-310 enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-310 versus Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-310 and the NEX-5.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-310 and NEX-5 is 94 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-310 and NEX-5.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The TG-310 offers the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more recent TG-310 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5 Street photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than others in class (155 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-310
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (150 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography info
67
lighter than others in class (155 grams)
weather proofing
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery (150 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.9)
59
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography highlights
39
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery (150 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging information
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
lighter than others in class (155g)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone port
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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-310 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus TG-310Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-310 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-01-06 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Highest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.20 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155g (0.34 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 150 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $599