• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 21.00mm - 105.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Olympus TG-850 advantages over Canon EOS M5

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Thinner
    27 mm vs 60 mm
    Thinner
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Canon EOS M5 advantages over Olympus TG-850

  • 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
    ~ 3.72 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • 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
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1620k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.0 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
    9.2 fps vs 7.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    27 vs 6 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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

  • 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

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M5

Review Excerpt

  • Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Built-in electronic viewfinder; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.

  • High ISO image quality and dynamic range aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Native EF-M lens selection is still limited; Below average battery life.

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic TS5

Olympus TG-850
Panasonic TS5
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $249
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • NFC
Canon EOS M5
Panasonic TS5
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $249
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Olympus TG-860

Olympus TG-850
Olympus TG-860
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS
Canon EOS M5
Olympus TG-860
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Olympus TG-870

Olympus TG-850
Olympus TG-870
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS
Canon EOS M5
Olympus TG-870
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Olympus TG-850
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Canon EOS M5
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon EOS M50

Olympus TG-850
Canon EOS M50
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
Canon EOS M5
Canon EOS M50
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
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