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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Revealed May 2017
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-6
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony A550, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-5 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The TG-5 was introduced 7 years after the A550 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the TG-5 scores versus the A550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A550

 TG-5 A550 
AnnouncedMay 2017December 2009More modern by 91 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus TG-5

 A550 TG-5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A550

 TG-5 A550 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-5 enjoys exterior dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony A550 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-5 vs the A550.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and A550 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and A550.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-5 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A550 will show greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer TG-5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
39
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
no manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography highlights
Sony A550 Street photography highlights
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment proof
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (250 grams)
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
46
fast shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery (340 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-5
Travel photography with Sony A550
68
good battery (340 shots)
environment proof
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (250g)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery (480 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography information
Sony A550 Landscape photography information
57
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment proof
good battery (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
66
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (480 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-5
Vlogging with Sony A550
34
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (250 grams)
9
no video recording
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A550
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2017-05-17 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 12800
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 480 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $449 $749