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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Launched May 2017
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-4
  • New Model is Olympus TG-6
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A35
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-5 was brought out 5 years after the A37 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the TG-5 scores vs the A37 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A37

 TG-5 A37 
RevealedMay 2017May 2012Newer by 61 months
Screen size3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Olympus TG-5

 A37 TG-5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A37

 TG-5 A37 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-5 has got exterior measurements 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 A37 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-5 and the A37.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and A37 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking specifications. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-5 and A37.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-5 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A37 will resolve greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer TG-5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A37 Portrait photography advice
39
manual focus
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography information
Sony A37 Street photography information
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors in class (250 grams)
77
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-5
Sports photography with Sony A37
46
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery (340 per charge)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Travel photography highlights
Sony A37 Travel photography highlights
68
good battery (340 per charge)
environment proofing
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors in class (250 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
54
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (500 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-5
Landscape photography with Sony A37
57
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery (340 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
64
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.6 inch)
terrible battery power (500 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging details
Sony A37 Vlogging details
34
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (250g)
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A37
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony SLT-A37
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2017-05-17 2012-05-16
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.6 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 20.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 250g (0.55 lb) 506g (1.12 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 799
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 500 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $449 $522