Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 II

Below is a in depth assessment of the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A99 II, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A99 II (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The TG-5 was announced 8 months later than the A99 II so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the TG-5 grades vs the A99 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Tough TG-5 and Sony Alpha A99 II. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-5 Gallery and Sony A99 II Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-5 provides exterior measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony A99 II has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") having a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A99 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-5 vs the A99 II.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and A99 II is 90 and 57 respectively.

Generally, its tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The graphic underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-5 and A99 II.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-5 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony A99 II will provide you with more detail with its extra 30MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent TG-5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.