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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand 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
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-6
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-5 was unveiled 4 years after the A99 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the TG-5 scores vs the A99 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony A99

 TG-5 A99 
AnnouncedMay 2017December 2012Newer by 54 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-5

 A99 TG-5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony A99

 TG-5 A99 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-5 has outer dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the TG-5 vs the A99.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-5 and A99 is 90 and 57 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The image here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-5 and A99.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-5 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will show more detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The newer TG-5 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography information
Sony A99 Portrait photography information
39
focusing manually
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
81
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-5
Street photography with Sony A99
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (250g)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
great ISO range (25,600)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
46
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery (340 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-5
Travel photography with Sony A99
68
great battery (340 per charge)
environment proofing
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (250 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
60
weather proofing
good resolution (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
57
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
terrible battery life (500 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging details
Sony A99 Vlogging details
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition (250g)
76
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony A99
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony SLT-A99
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2017-05-17 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 20.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 grams (0.55 lbs) 812 grams (1.79 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 340 shots 500 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Retail pricing $449 $1,998