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Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Successor is Olympus TG-5
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Superseded the Samsung NX300
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Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the TG-4 (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The TG-4 was manufactured 3 months later than the NX500 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the TG-4 scores vs the NX500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Samsung NX500

 TG-4 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus TG-4

 NX500 TG-4 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1036k460kSharper screen (+576k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Samsung NX500

 TG-4 NX500 
AnnouncedApril 2015February 2015Same age
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-4 has got physical measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has proportions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-4 against the NX500.

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and NX500 is 90 and 87 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by researching specs. The visual below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-4 and NX500.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-4 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Samsung NX500 will render greater detail due to its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Portrait photography camera
47
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
80
manual focus
amazing megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Samsung NX500
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than average (247 grams)
81
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery pack (380 per charge)
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
amazing megapixels (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Samsung NX500
74
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
weather sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average (247 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
78
supports bluetooth
comes with touch focus
amazing megapixels (28 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Samsung NX500
62
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3")
amazing megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging highlights
Samsung NX500 Vlogging highlights
34
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than average (247g)
34
has touchscreen
features face detect focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus TG-4 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Samsung NX500
 Olympus Tough TG-4Samsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Samsung NX500
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-04-13 2015-02-06
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII DRIMe 5
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 28 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6480 x 4320
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 209
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 32
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1379
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 370 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $379 $800