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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R 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
  • Announced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-3
  • Successor is Olympus TG-5
Sony NEX-5R
(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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus TG-4 versus Sony NEX-5R, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is pretty well matched but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-4 was released 2 years after the NEX-5R which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the TG-4 scores versus the NEX-5R with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony NEX-5R

 TG-4 NEX-5R 
RevealedApril 2015August 2012Newer by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Olympus TG-4

 NEX-5R TG-4 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony NEX-5R

 TG-4 NEX-5R 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-4 has outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5R has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-4 versus Sony NEX-5R in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the TG-4 against the NEX-5R.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and NEX-5R is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specs. The picture here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and NEX-5R.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The TG-4 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF more difficult. The more modern TG-4 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Portrait photography camera
47
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Sony NEX-5R
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
environment proof
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (247 grams)
80
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-4
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5R
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
68
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography highlights
74
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (247 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
73
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
62
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
exports RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging features
34
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competition (247g)
31
touchscreen capability
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic support
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-04-13 2012-08-29
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 99
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 pounds) 276 gr (0.61 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life 380 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $379 $750