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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus TG-610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 190g - 96 x 65 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus TG-610 and Sony NEX-5, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly close but the TG-610 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-610 was introduced 8 months later than the NEX-5 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-610 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the TG-610 scores against the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony NEX-5

 TG-610 NEX-5 
RevealedJanuary 2011June 2010More recent by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus TG-610

 NEX-5 TG-610 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony NEX-5

 TG-610 NEX-5 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution920k920kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-610 offers physical measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-610 and Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-610 against the NEX-5.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-610 and NEX-5 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The visual here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-610 and NEX-5.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The TG-610 includes the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF tougher. The newer TG-610 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
72
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5 Street photography details
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography features
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography information
64
weather sealing
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (210 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
59
resolution is good (14MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-610
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
43
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
weather sealing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery (210 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging advice
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus TG-610Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-610 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 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 surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.20 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190g (0.42 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 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 210 photos 330 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $223 $599