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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Revealed May 2017
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-4
  • Successor is Olympus TG-6
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-5N, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The TG-5 was unveiled 5 years later than the NEX-5N and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the TG-5 grades against the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony NEX-5N

 TG-5 NEX-5N 
AnnouncedMay 2017October 2011Fresher by 69 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus TG-5

 NEX-5N TG-5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-5N

 TG-5 NEX-5N 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus TG-5 enjoys external dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the TG-5 against the NEX-5N.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and NEX-5N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The photograph below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-5 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-5 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-5N will give extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger TG-5 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography info
39
has manual focus
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5N Street photography information
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (250g)
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
46
high fps (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
great battery power (340 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
58
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
68
great battery power (340 shots)
environment proof
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average in class (250g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
70
great battery life (460 CIPA)
includes touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
57
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
great battery power (340 shots)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
71
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-5
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
34
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
heavier than average in class (250g)
33
built-in touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2017-05-17 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 340 shots 460 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $449 $550