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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise 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
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-4
  • Updated by Olympus TG-6
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced April 2010
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A850, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) feature different sensor measurements.

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The TG-5 was unveiled 7 years later than the A850 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the TG-5 scores against the A850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A850

 TG-5 A850 
AnnouncedMay 2017April 2010Fresher by 87 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus TG-5

 A850 TG-5 
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A850

 TG-5 A850 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-5 offers outer 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) whilst the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-5 against the A850.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and A850 is 90 and 54 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by checking out specifications. The graphic here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-5 and A850.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-5 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A850 will produce greater detail having an extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The newer TG-5 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography factors
Sony A850 Portrait photography factors
39
manual focus
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
excellent resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography highlights
Sony A850 Street photography highlights
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (250 grams)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-5
Sports photography with Sony A850
46
high frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery (340 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-5
Travel photography with Sony A850
68
great battery (340 shots)
weather proof
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (250 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
55
weather sealing
excellent resolution (25MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
57
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
great battery (340 shots)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
no liveview
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than average (250g)
9
no video
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A850
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2017-05-17 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 895 gr (1.97 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 880 pictures
Battery format 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Dual
Price at launch $449 $0