Olympus TG-5 vs Sony RX1

The following is a extensive review of the Olympus TG-5 and Sony RX1, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) come with different sensor size.

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The TG-5 was released 4 years after the RX1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the TG-5 scores vs the RX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Tough TG-5 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-5 Gallery & Sony RX1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-5 comes with outer measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-5 and Sony RX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-5 and the RX1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-5 and RX1 is 90 and 79 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-5 and RX1.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-5 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony RX1 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent TG-5 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.