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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Announced May 2017
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-6
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Here is a thorough review of the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony A6500, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-5 was announced 8 months later than the A6500 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the TG-5 matches up versus the A6500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A6500

 TG-5 A6500 
ReleasedMay 2017October 2016Fresher by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus TG-5

 A6500 TG-5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A6500

 TG-5 A6500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-5 comes with outside 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) whilst the Sony A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-5 versus Sony A6500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-5 against the A6500.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and A6500 is 90 and 81 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and A6500.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-5 having a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony A6500 will result in more detail with its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer TG-5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A6500 Portrait photography advice
39
focusing manually
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
80
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography advice
Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
46
max frames per second high (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
good battery pack (340 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
77
silent mode (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Travel photography info
Sony A6500 Travel photography info
68
good battery pack (340 per charge)
environment sealing
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
weather proof
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-5
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
57
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
good battery pack (340 shots)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
79
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
39
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A6500
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Waterproof Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2017-05-17 2016-10-06
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 surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest boosted ISO 12800 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 425
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 453g (1.00 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 350 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $449 $1,298