Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-5T

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony NEX-5T, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and NEX-5T (16MP) and the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-1 iHS was announced 15 months before the NEX-5T which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the TG-1 iHS grades vs the NEX-5T when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS and Sony Alpha NEX-5T. The whole galleries are available at Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery and Sony NEX-5T Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-1 iHS comes with physical measurements of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5T has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony NEX-5T in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the TG-1 iHS versus the NEX-5T.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and NEX-5T is 91 and 89 respectively.

Usually, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The pic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-1 iHS and NEX-5T.

All in all, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-1 iHS using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5T will result in more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged TG-1 iHS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.