Olympus TG-5 vs Sony WX300

Comparing the Olympus TG-5 and Sony WX300: An In-Depth Analysis for Serious Photographers

In the compact camera market, choices often boil down to balancing ruggedness, optical zoom range, image quality, and usability. The Olympus Tough TG-5 and Sony Cyber-shot WX300, while both compact models, manifest quite divergent design philosophies and feature sets. Evaluating their performance across varied photographic disciplines and operational contexts allows for an informed selection tailored to specific user needs. This comparison is grounded in extensive hands-on testing, sensor analysis, and ergonomics assessment, targeting photography enthusiasts and professionals seeking a compact yet capable camera.

Form Factor and Handling: Robust Dive Versus Compact Convenience

The Olympus TG-5 is built on a rugged platform engineered for extreme environments. Measuring 113 x 66 x 32 mm and weighing 250g, it is substantially larger and heavier than the Sony WX300, which measures 96 x 55 x 25 mm at 166g. This size difference notably affects portability and handling.

The TG-5's body includes environmental sealing rated for waterproof (up to 15 m / 50 ft), freezeproof (to -10°C), dustproof, shockproof (up to 2.1 m), and crushproof durability. The robust construction ensures reliability in outdoor, underwater, and harsh conditions where fragile compacts like the WX300 fail to deliver. Conversely, the WX300’s lightweight, pocketable chassis favors street, travel, and casual shooting but lacks any weather sealing.

Ergonomically, the TG-5’s textured grip and physical buttons enhance usability when operated with gloves or in wet conditions. The lack of a touchscreen in both cameras limits quick menu navigation, but TG-5’s button layout is more intuitive for action and adventure users.

Control Layout and User Interface: Tactical Versus Simplified Operation

Both cameras feature 3-inch fixed LCDs with 460k-dot resolution, a standard for compacts of their generation, but diverge markedly in control sophistication.

The TG-5 offers manual aperture priority mode, exposure compensation via dedicated controls, and focus bracketing/stacking functions - features tailored to advanced users who demand finer control and precision. Its TruePic VIII processor enables live view with continuous autofocus tracking and face detection, albeit without touchscreen AF.

The Sony WX300 lacks manual exposure options entirely, restricting operation to fully automatic modes. AF options are limited to single and tracking modes without continuous AF during burst shooting. The interface is simplified, emphasizing ease-of-use over customizability. This design suits casual users but may frustrate enthusiasts needing faster, predictable manual control.

Sensor and Image Quality: Resolution and Sensitivity Demystified

Both cameras utilize 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensors measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with an area of roughly 28 mm². However, the Sony WX300 employs an 18-megapixel sensor, whereas the Olympus TG-5 has a 12-megapixel sensor.

The WX300’s higher resolution delivers images up to 4896x3672 pixels, beneficial for cropping or large prints. However, pixel pitch reduction results in increased noise levels at elevated ISOs and diminished dynamic range compared to the TG-5.

Olympus’s lower resolution sensor, paired with its TruePic VIII processing engine, optimizes noise suppression and color fidelity, particularly in challenging high-contrast and low-light scenarios. Additionally, the TG-5 supports RAW capture, offering critical post-processing flexibility for professionals and enthusiasts. In contrast, the WX300 lacks RAW support, limiting image quality recovery options.

Both sensors incorporate an anti-aliasing filter, reducing moiré at the cost of marginal sharpness. The TG-5’s superior ISO sensitivity ceiling of 12800 surpasses the WX300’s 3200, though practical use above ISO 3200 in either model is constrained by sensor size.

Optics and Zoom: Trade-offs Between Reach and Aperture Speed

The lens focal ranges dramatically highlight their diverging use cases.

• Olympus TG-5: 25-100 mm equivalent (4x optical zoom), aperture F2.0–4.9
• Sony WX300: 25-500 mm equivalent (20x optical zoom), aperture F3.5–6.5

The WX300’s expansive telephoto reach suits wildlife and sports disciplines demanding distant framing. However, its narrower maximum aperture at telephoto lengths reduces light gathering, complicating low-light shooting and increasing reliance on stabilization.

The TG-5 sacrifices zoom length for bright apertures (F2.0 wide-angle) and robust macro capabilities, including a 1 cm macro focus range - exceptional for close-up nature or product photography. The specialized “microscope” mode and focus bracketing support further extend macro creative options, unattainable with the WX300.

Image stabilization on the TG-5 employs sensor-shift technology (five-axis hybrid for stills and video), which is highly effective in reducing blur from hand shake. The WX300 relies on optical stabilization embedded in the lens, effective but less versatile.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Versatility

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus systems, typical for compact sensors, but differ in capability.

• TG-5: 25 AF points, face detection, continuous AF, tracking AF, center, multi-area, and spot modes.
• WX300: Unknown AF points, single AF, center and multi-area, face detection, no continuous AF during burst.

The TG-5’s more extensive AF point array and tracking improve focus retention on moving subjects, crucial in wildlife and sports environments. Continuous AF during shooting enhances keeper rates in fast action.

The WX300’s AF performance is sufficient for static scenes and casual snapshots but lags in speed and accuracy tracking unpredictable subjects. Its lack of continuous AF in burst mode can result in missed focus opportunities.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance: Capturing the Decisive Moment

The TG-5 impresses with a high continuous shooting rate of 20 fps, a notable figure among compact cameras, especially with continuous autofocus enabled. This facilitates action photography where capturing peak moments necessitates rapid frame succession.

The WX300’s 10 fps burst rate is respectable but paired with limited autofocus tracking, this benchmark is harder to capitalize on effectively.

Shutter speed ranges differ mildly: TG-5 minimum 4 seconds to 1/2000 sec maximum versus WX300’s 4 seconds to 1/1600 sec. The TG-5’s shorter maximum shutter speed provides better control over bright conditions and motion freezing.

Video Capability: Ultra HD Versus Full HD

Video performance is an increasingly integral facet for hybrid users.

• TG-5: 4K UHD at 30p with a high 102 Mbps bitrate, recording in MOV H.264 with linear PCM audio.
• WX300: Full HD 1080p at 60/50 fps in AVCHD format.

The TG-5’s 4K capture allows significant post-cropping and maintains excellent detail for video-focused workflows. The high bitrate supports superior color gradation and reduced compression artifacts. Unfortunately, neither camera offers microphone or headphone input, limiting audio recording flexibility.

The WX300’s Full HD video is competent but less futureproof. Its AVCHD codec is more compressed with lower bitrates, reducing grading latitude.

OIS on the TG-5 extends to video stabilization, significantly benefiting handheld recording. The WX300’s optical stabilization is less effective for video panning and complex movements.

Screen and Viewfinder: LCD Observations and Limitations

Both cameras eschew viewfinders in favor of rear LCD framing.

The TG-5 and WX300 share identical 3-inch, 460k-dot fixed screens; neither has a tilting mechanism or touch sensitivity. The TG-5’s LCD remains visible under water and bright sunlight, attributed to its optical coatings and brightness settings - vital for outdoor adventure shooting.

The absence of electronic viewfinders restricts eye-level composition and can hamper framing stability, especially in direct sunlight or fast-action scenarios.

Storage, Battery, and Connectivity: Practical Endurance and Workflow Integration

Both cameras utilize single SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slots compatible with UHS-I for rapid write speeds.

The TG-5’s battery, the proprietary LI-92B, yields approximately 340 shots per charge; a solid figure for a rugged compact, factoring in power consumption for GPS, sensor stabilization, and 4K video. The WX300 uses the NP-BX1 battery, with official figures lower and more variable due to the absence of rugged features and processor demand.

Connectivity-wise, both models feature built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps; however, neither supports Bluetooth or NFC. The TG-5 includes GPS logging, a significant advantage for travel and field documentation, while the WX300 lacks this feature.

USB 2.0 ports are standard on both, with TG-5 additionally offering a micro-HDMI output, absent on the WX300, favoring enhanced video workflow options.

Field Testing in Key Photography Disciplines

Portrait Photography

Skin tone rendition on the TG-5 benefits from TruePic VIII's nuanced color science, delivering natural hues with subtle saturation and accurate white balance adjustments. Its face detection autofocus and AF continuous tracking on eyes improve subject sharpness in dynamic portraits. The 25-100 mm lens covers wide environmental and short-telephoto portraits, with the bright F2.0 aperture aiding subject isolation. Notably, the rugged design limits bokeh compared to large-sensor cameras but remains respectable within its class.

The WX300’s more extended zoom is less beneficial for standard portraiture optics, and its slower lens combined with absence of manual aperture control hampers background blur control. Face detection works reliably under ample lighting but focus acquisition is slower. Color reproduction is slightly cooler, requiring post-processing tweaks.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prioritize sensor dynamic range, resolution, and weather resistance. The TG-5’s sensor and processing handle shadows and highlights well, offering richer tonal gradation despite lower megapixels. Its port sealing and freezeproof rating ensure usability in inclement weather, complementing the fairly wide 25 mm equivalent wide angle.

The WX300’s higher pixel count improves fine detail rendition in optimal lighting but struggles with dynamic range compression, often losing highlight and shadow details. The lack of weather sealing restricts use in challenging environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The WX300’s 20x zoom and moderate burst rate theoretically cater to distant subjects but autofocus delays and tracking weaknesses reduce keeper rates. Low-light performance deteriorates quickly at telephoto, impacting early morning or late afternoon sessions.

Conversely, the TG-5’s 4x zoom limits subject framing distance but compensates with brisk 20 fps burst and competent AF tracking. Its ruggedness suits unpredictable wildlife environments but necessitates raising ISO or cropping for reach substitutes.

Sports photography benefits from the TG-5’s shutter speed ceiling and burst performance despite limited lens reach. The WX300’s slower autofocus and shorter shutter speed max constrain action freeze capability.

Street and Travel Photography

Compact size and discretion are critical in street photography. The WX300’s smaller profile offers ease of concealment and spontaneous shooting, whereas the TG-5’s bulk is obstructive.

Travel photographers face a tradeoff: TG-5 assures reliability in adverse conditions and offers GPS metadata, crucial for fieldwork; however, its shorter zoom may necessitate multiple lenses or post crop. The WX300’s extensive zoom and compactness suit general travel snapshots, although vulnerability to elements is a concern.

Battery longevity favors the TG-5 marginally, meaning fewer interruptions in the field, while the WX300 may require additional batteries for all-day excursions.

Macro and Night Photography

The TG-5 excels in macro capabilities, with a minimum focus distance down to 1 cm, enabling highly detailed close-ups unavailable on the WX300. Focus bracketing further refines depth of field, advancing creative control.

Night and astrophotography are challenging for both due to the small sensor size; nonetheless, the TG-5’s higher native ISO limit and longer shutter speeds with sensor shift stabilization provide better noise control and image clarity in low light.

Durability versus Optical Versatility: Choosing Based on Use-Case

Olympus TG 5 front Olympus TG 5 screen back Sony WX300 front Sony WX300 screen back

In practical field comparisons under controlled tests, TG-5 images demonstrated superior clarity in macro and underwater environments, while WX300 images showed higher resolution but more noise under dim conditions.

Performance Ratings and Value Considerations

The Olympus TG-5 rates highly in adventure, macro, night, and video categories owing to its ruggedness and advanced imaging features. The Sony WX300 scores better in zoom flexibility and street photography convenience.

Pricing-wise, TG-5’s $449 MSRP contrasts with the WX300’s $330, commensurate with their differing capabilities and market positioning. For budget-focused users requiring a versatile zoom compact, the WX300 remains viable. Olympus’s investment is justifiable for those requiring durability and superior manual operation.

Summary Recommendations

• Choose the Olympus TG-5 if:

  • You require a rugged, weatherproof camera for adventure, underwater, or extreme field conditions.
  • Macro photography and manual controls are priorities.
  • Video recording in 4K and image stabilization are essential.
  • You desire RAW capture for professional workflow integration.
  • GPS metadata is important for travel documentation.

• Choose the Sony WX300 if:

  • You need a lightweight, pocketable camera with extensive zoom range for casual wildlife or distant subjects.
  • You prioritize convenience and simplicity over advanced manual controls.
  • Your budget is limited, and 4K video or RAW support is non-essential.
  • You mostly shoot in good lighting and do not require weather resistance.

Final Technical Notes and Expert Opinions

The Olympus TG-5 demonstrates how rugged compact cameras can integrate advanced imaging functionality within a durable form factor without excessive bulk. Its TruePic VIII processor coupled with sensor stabilization sets a benchmark for image fidelity in its class. However, its limited zoom range confines telephoto applications absent lens interchangeability.

Sony’s WX300 emphasizes reach and portability but pays for it with narrower apertures, absence of manual exposure modes, and lack of environmental protection. The decision rests on evaluating whether zoom reach or rugged operational reliability aligns better with your photographic discipline and environmental demands.

Ultimately, extensive hands-on trials reveal the TG-5 excels in specialized use cases (macro, underwater, adventure sports), whereas the WX300 serves as a practical superzoom travel companion with modest aspirations for manual control or robustness.

This evaluation incorporates direct experiential testing protocols including resolution charts, autofocus tracking in motion, low-light sensor comparisons, and ergonomics assessments to ensure objective insights beyond manufacturer claims. Selecting between these two markedly different cameras should therefore consider not only specifications but also the core shooting scenarios you anticipate encountering.