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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced May 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-4
  • New Model is Olympus TG-6
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Overview

Here is a detailed review of the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The TG-5 was announced 6 years later than the A55 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the TG-5 scores against the A55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A55

 TG-5 A55 
ReleasedMay 2017August 2010Fresher by 82 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus TG-5

 A55 TG-5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A55

 TG-5 A55 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-5 offers outer dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-5 compared to the A55.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and A55 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specs. The photograph below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and A55.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-5 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A55 will offer extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger TG-5 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A55 Portrait photography highlights
39
has manual focus
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
73
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography details
Sony A55 Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
46
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (340 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-5
Travel photography with Sony A55
68
better than average battery life (340 shots)
environment proof
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
62
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography details
Sony A55 Landscape photography details
57
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
67
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
not so great battery life (380 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
78
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone socket
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A55
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony SLT-A55
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2017-05-17 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 20.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 500 gr (1.10 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 Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 340 photos 380 photos
Style 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)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $449 $800