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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus TG-6
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 253g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released May 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-5
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus TG-6 and Sony NEX-5, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-6 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very close but the TG-6 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The TG-6 was revealed 9 years later than the NEX-5 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-6 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the TG-6 matches up against the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-6 over the Sony NEX-5

 TG-6 NEX-5 
ReleasedMay 2019June 2010Fresher by 110 months
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus TG-6

 NEX-5 TG-6 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-6 and Sony NEX-5

 TG-6 NEX-5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-6 enjoys outside dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 253 grams (0.56 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-6 and Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the TG-6 and the NEX-5.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the TG-6 and NEX-5 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by looking through specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-6 and NEX-5.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-6 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-5 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The fresher TG-6 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
40
focusing manually
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (253g)
76
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
47
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery life (340 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-6
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
68
good battery life (340 per charge)
weather sealing
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (253g)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
good resolution (14MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography info
57
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good battery life (340 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging info
34
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic support
heavier than competition in class (253 grams)
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic port
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-6 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus Tough TG-6Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-6 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2019-05-22 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 20.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill- in, Manual, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 253 gr (0.56 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life 340 images 330 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $449 $599