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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Announced May 2017
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-4
  • Successor is Olympus TG-6
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony A390, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-5 (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The TG-5 was announced 6 years later than the A390 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the TG-5 grades versus the A390 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A390

 TG-5 A390 
LaunchedMay 2017July 2010More recent by 83 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus TG-5

 A390 TG-5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A390

 TG-5 A390 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-5 has got physical measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony A390 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-5 compared to the A390.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the TG-5 and A390 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-5 and A390.

All in all, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-5 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A390 will give you more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography information
Sony A390 Portrait photography information
39
has manual focus
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography advice
Sony A390 Street photography advice
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (250 grams)
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography factors
Sony A390 Sports photography factors
46
fast shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery life (340 CIPA)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
bad battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A390 as a Travel photography camera
68
great battery life (340 shots)
weather sealing
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (250 grams)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
53
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery (230 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony A390 Landscape photography factors
57
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery life (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A390 Vlogging highlights
34
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (250 grams)
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A390
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2017-05-17 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 230 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $449 $500