• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Olympus TG-1 advantages over Sony A6500

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 1.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Thinner
    29 mm vs 53 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    231g vs 453g
    Lighter weight

Sony A6500 advantages over Olympus TG-1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.92 vs 1.55 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 610k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.18 vs 0.32 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    231 vs 25 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Quality, grippable design; Bright and fast f/2.0 lens; Speedy autofocus, startup and shot-to-shot times; Built-in manometer and GPS.

  • Wide-angle photos typically underexposed; Moderate pincushion and barrel distortion; Muted colors; OLED monitor clips highlights.

  • Comfortable, premium body with good controls; Touch-screen for subject selection; Hybrid image stabilization system; Excellent image quality; Better high ISO JPEGs than the A6300; Extremely fast 11.1 fps burst capture; Very deep buffers for raw and JPEG alike; 4K video capture with no pixel binning

  • Pricey for an APS-C camera; JPEG colors aren't the most accurate; Very slow buffer clearing; Laggy touch-pad AF function; Poorly-placed movie button; No headphone jack; Mediocre battery life

The Competition

Compared to Olympus TG-2

Olympus TG-1
Olympus TG-2
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS
Sony A6500
Olympus TG-2
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Slower slow-motion

Compared to Pentax WG-3

Olympus TG-1
Pentax WG-3
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Manual focus
Sony A6500
Pentax WG-3
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Thinner

Compared to Pentax WG-3 GPS

Olympus TG-1
Pentax WG-3 GPS
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS
Sony A6500
Pentax WG-3 GPS
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Olympus TG-1
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A6500
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Higher max flash sync
  • More dots on screen

Compared to Sony A6300

Olympus TG-1
Sony A6300
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A6500
Sony A6300
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
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