Clicky

Olympus TG-5

 
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Announced May 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-4
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-6
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43

Olympus TG-5 summary

Olympus TG-5 is Olympus's Waterproof digital camera originally announced on May of 2017. It comes with a 12 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4000 x 3000.

Olympus launched this model as a way to update the previous Olympus TG-4 (Read Full Comparison) and afterwards launched the updated Olympus TG-6 (Read Full Comparison) to replace this model.

The TG-5 comes in at #6 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras and over-all #574 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should try our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your personalized factors.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Here is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Olympus TG-5 history

The Olympus TG-5 is part of a family of products. You can see the detailed range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Tough-TG-6 front thumbnailOlympus TG-6
TG-5 vs TG-6
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2019
Olympus-Tough-TG-5 front thumbnailOlympus TG-525-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2017
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming
Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-4
TG-5 vs TG-4
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-860 front thumbnailOlympus TG-860
TG-5 vs TG-860
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Tough-TG-3 front thumbnailOlympus TG-3
TG-5 vs TG-3
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-850-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-850 iHS
TG-5 vs TG-850 iHS
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2014
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp
Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-2 iHS
TG-5 vs TG-2 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-630-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-630 iHS
TG-5 vs TG-630 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-830-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-830 iHS
TG-5 vs TG-830 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Tough-TG-1-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-1 iHS
TG-5 vs TG-1 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-820-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-820 iHS
TG-5 vs TG-820 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit
Olympus-TG-320 front thumbnailOlympus TG-320
TG-5 vs TG-320
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-810 front thumbnailOlympus TG-810
TG-5 vs TG-810
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-310 front thumbnailOlympus TG-310
TG-5 vs TG-310
28-102mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-610 front thumbnailOlympus TG-610
TG-5 vs TG-610
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-3000 front thumbnailOlympus Tough-3000
TG-5 vs Tough-3000
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
12MP1/2.3"2010

Olympus TG-5 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of good and bad points of the Olympus TG-5 based on aspects which are usually considered useful in a digital camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
environment proof
fast max aperture (f2.0)
good zoom range (25-100mm 4.0 x zoom)
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has manual focus
high frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
includes face detection focus
includes HDMI socket
includes tracking autofocus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
supports RAW files
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
can't use external flash
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of phase detect auto focus
low megapixels (12MP)
missing external microphone socket
missing headphone socket
more heavy than others (250 grams)
no manual control
no shutter priority
pixelated screen (460 k dots)
screen is fixed
screen isn't selfie friendly
sensor is small (1/2.3")
slow at tele end (f4.9)
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Olympus TG-5 Sensor info

The Olympus TG-5 features the TruePic VIII chip. The sensor measurement on the Olympus TG-5 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter may lead to cropping.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 12MP and gives a standard ISO range of 100 to 12800. This ISO can also be extended electronically to 100 to 12800. RAW files are supported therefore you have wider room to maneuver in post.

The image underneath displays the TG-5's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The TG-5 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is displayed in green.

Olympus Tough TG-5 sensor size TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus TG-5 dimensions

Olympus TG-5 has a weight of 0.55 lb (250 grams or 8.82 ounces) and the volume of the camera is 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3"). The weight of typical Waterproof camera is 195 grams and the Olympus TG-5 is more heavy in comparison with various competitors.

Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Here is a image of the Olympus TG-5 beside a soft drink so you can have a feel for its scale.

Olympus Tough TG-5 dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button arrangement on the TG-5.

Olympus Tough TG-5 topview buttons dials

Olympus TG-5 Lens info

The TG-5 is equipped with a built-in lens and it has a focal range of 25-100mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which is definitely not perfect nevertheless it will definitely be helpful in some cases.

At the widest 25mm, it offers an aperture of f2.0 and that's useful in low light situations and getting good bokeh. It would also enable you to go with a much lower ISO in order to get better images. At the tele end, 100mm comes to f4.9 making it fairly sluggish and you will need to use slower shutter speeds.

Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Olympus TG-5 Connectivity

The TG-5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to copy images and at times adjust settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.

Some applications even give a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external screen. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.

Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Olympus TG-5 Video info

The max video resolution on the Olympus TG-5 is 3840 x 2160 and it can shoot in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 2160p gives a fantastic resolution for video recording. You will be able to crop to 1080p to get improved results. Be mindful of the large file sizes and ensure you have got good SD cards that have fast write speeds. The camera does not have a mic and / or headphone socket which means that you get little control over your audio. It is probably best to buy another model if you need good audio in your videos.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Olympus TG-5 Weather Sealing

Olympus TG-5 has got environment proofing which makes it a great option to use for rough locations. This can be particularly handy in case you are unsure about the elements you might encounter for outdoor photography.

Olympus TG-5 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus TG-5 comes with a 3" fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 460k dots.

Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Olympus Tough TG-5 screen and viewfinder Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

The View Finder specifications regarding Olympus TG-5 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be rather beneficial for sunny outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to view.

Olympus TG-5 Shutter info

Olympus TG-5 continuous shooting rate is 20.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Olympus TG-5 Flash and Hot shoe info

Olympus TG-5 includes only integrated flash with missing external flash support.

Olympus TG-5 Autofocusing info

Olympus TG-5 includes just Contrast Detect Auto Focus and is missing Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker and exact in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detection which can be helpful for taking portraits of people.

The AF system comes with 25 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Auto Focus for subjects that move. Olympus TG-5 supports manual focus if needed for low light situations or you need more accurate control on focus.

AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Olympus TG-5 Battery life

The battery pack (LI-92B) for the Olympus TG-5 is fashioned to last for 340 photographs as per the CIPA requirements making it higher than the usual ın comparison with its class. The usual Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 features the maximum (380) battery life for this group of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Waterproof cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Olympus TG-5 for varying categories of photography

The following diagram displays a outline of the Olympus TG-5 for varying categories of photography. To look at more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-5

The Olympus TG-5 gets a score of 39 which is horrible, and means the camera is not good to use for portraits. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support plus the capability to work with external lighting.

Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest
has manual focus
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")

Olympus TG-5 Street photography information

With a above average points tally of 64, the Olympus TG-5 is a good option to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of picture quality and portability.

TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (250 grams)

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography factors

A reasonable sports photography points tally of 46 indicates the Olympus TG-5 is fairly acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera must have very good autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus

Olympus TG-5 Travel photography details

Portability is pretty important when buying a travel camera. In general, the Olympus TG-5 gets a nice 68 as a travelling camera which is a very decent pick to purchase for your journeys.

Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%
good battery life (340 CIPA)
weather proofing
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (250g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography details

If you are looking to buy a camera for landscape photographs, the biggest aspect will be image quality. The Olympus TG-5 with it's reasonable score of 57 for a landscape camera is relatively appropriate in the current market.

Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery pack (340 CIPA)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging details

A camera for vlogging ought to come with a articulating display, mic port and preferably image stabilization. Considering everything, the Olympus TG-5 is not good as a vlog camera as it comes to a horrible score of 34.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
heavier than others (250 grams)

Olympus TG-5 Alternatives

If you are interested in replacements to the TG-5, here is a collection of the highest placed cameras that fall under the family of Waterproof.

The line chart here shows you an overview of the TG-5 versus it's highest ranking rivals mentioned previously.

Here are a few more cameras you may regard as alternatives. To see a full comparison, visit the "compare" link.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Olympus
Model
Olympus Tough TG-5
Category
Waterproof
Announced
2017-05-17
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Powered by
TruePic VIII
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW photos
Highest native ISO
12800
Highest enhanced ISO
12800
Min native ISO
100
Min enhanced ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points
25
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture
f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
3"
Screen resolution
460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
4s
Max shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate
20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash modes
Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions
113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
340 pictures
Form of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
LI-92B
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots
One
Launch cost
$449