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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released May 2017
  • Earlier Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-6
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony a5000
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony a5100, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The TG-5 was revealed 2 years after the a5100 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the TG-5 matches up versus the a5100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony a5100

 TG-5 a5100 
RevealedMay 2017August 2014Newer by 34 months

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Olympus TG-5

 a5100 TG-5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony a5100

 TG-5 a5100 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-5 comes with physical dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony a5100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-5 and the a5100.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-5 and a5100 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The picture here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and a5100.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-5 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony a5100 will offer you more detail because of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-5 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-5
Portrait photography with Sony a5100
39
focusing manually
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (250g)
82
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography features
Sony a5100 Sports photography features
46
max fps high (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery power (340 CIPA)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
68
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Travel photography advice
Sony a5100 Travel photography advice
68
good battery power (340 shots)
environment proofing
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (250g)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
80
better than average battery pack (400 CIPA)
offers focus via touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography advice
Sony a5100 Landscape photography advice
57
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery power (340 shots)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-5
Vlogging with Sony a5100
34
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (250g)
34
has touchscreen
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing external mic socket
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony a5100
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha a5100
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2017-05-17 2014-08-17
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 179
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 283 grams (0.62 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 340 shots 400 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $449 $448