Canon A495 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS: The Ultimate Compact Camera Showdown

When choosing a compact camera that balances portability, ease of use, and capable imaging, the options can quickly become overwhelming. Today, we take a deep dive into two intriguing models from the early 2010s that highlight different priorities and technologies: the Canon PowerShot A495 and the Olympus TG-820 iHS. These cameras represent two distinct classes - the A495, a budget-friendly classic compact, and the TG-820, a rugged, waterproof camera designed for adventurous shooters.

We’ll walk through every major aspect you need to know - from sensor and image quality to handling, durability, and specialized shooting scenarios like wildlife, macro, and night photography. If you’re considering either for your photography journey or just curious how these two stack up in their niche, this comprehensive exploration pulls from our extensive hands-on testing and years of camera evaluation.

Getting a Feel: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Picking up each camera instantly reveals their target audience and use case.

• Canon A495: With compact dimensions of 94 x 62 x 31 mm and a lightweight 175 g, the A495 is pocket-friendly and unobtrusive. Its body has the classic point-and-shoot feel - simple plastic build, no weather sealing, and fixed lens that suits casual excursions.

• Olympus TG-820 iHS: Slightly larger at 101 x 65 x 26 mm and weighing 206 g, the TG-820 integrates a tough exterior shell. It offers waterproofing, dustproofing, shockproofing, crushproofing, and freezeproofing, built to withstand all kinds of outdoor abuse. The sturdy but still surprisingly portable design offers peace of mind for travel or rugged use.

In handling tests, the Canon excels in sheer portability, while the Olympus offers enhanced durability and grip through rubberized textured surfaces and an intuitive layout tailored for outdoor use.

Control Layout: Both cameras rely on fixed lenses, limiting you to the built-in zoom ranges, but:

• The Canon’s minimalistic interface prioritizes simplicity, geared toward beginner users relying on automatic modes.
• The Olympus provides faster access to key features like ISO, macro, and shooting modes, supported by upgraded processing ensuring smooth operation.

If you value compactness and straightforward shooting, Canon shines; if you anticipate demanding shooting environments, Olympus’s ergonomic design wins favor.

Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality

The heart of any camera’s image quality lies in its sensor and processor setup.

Canon A495 uses a traditional CCD sensor common in 2010s compact cameras. CCDs offer pleasing color rendition and moderate dynamic range but often lag behind CMOS in low-light sensitivity and processing speed.

Olympus TG-820 upgrades to a CMOS sensor paired with the TruePic VI processor, resulting in better noise control at high ISO, faster image processing, and increased maximum ISO to 6400 (compared to 1600 on the Canon). The 12 MP resolution also allows for slightly larger prints or cropping flexibility.

Image Quality in Practice

• Color and Tonality: Canon’s CCD produces natural and warm skin tones with restrained saturation, good for portraits and casual snaps. Olympus offers punchier colors and a slightly higher contrast look, benefiting vibrant outdoor scenes.

• Dynamic Range: Both cameras have limited dynamic range due to small sensors, but Olympus’s sensor plus processing edge provides better shadow recovery. This matters when shooting landscapes with stark bright-darks contrast.

• Low Light & Noise: The TG-820’s ability to push ISO higher while keeping acceptable noise levels means more flexibility for evening or indoor shots, while the A495 is best kept at ISO 400 or below for cleaner images.

Viewing and Composing Your Shot

With no electronic viewfinder on either to save space and costs, your framing relies entirely on the LCD:

• Canon’s 2.5-inch LCD has a modest 115k dot resolution - adequate for casual framing but not bright or sharp enough for detailed review.
• Olympus offers a much clearer 3-inch HyperCrystal III LCD with over 1 million dots, providing excellent visibility even in bright sunlight and sharper image review.

If shooting in direct sun or composing finely exposed shots on the fly is important, Olympus clearly leads here.

Zoom Range and Macro Capabilities

The Canon’s 3.3x zoom lens covers a modest telephoto range beginning at 37 mm equivalent focal length - fine for casual snapshots but limited for wide angles.

Olympus’s 5x zoom begins wider at 28 mm, giving a stronger wide-angle field, and stretches further to 140 mm for more reach. This versatility is valuable for landscapes and general use.

Both support close focusing at 1 cm, allowing detailed macros. However, Olympus’s sensor-shift stabilization (discussed next) elevates sharpness at macro distances meaningfully.

Image Stabilization and Autofocus

Canon A495 lacks image stabilization, requiring steady hands or stabilizing aids for longer exposures or telephoto shots.

Olympus TG-820 iHS features sensor-shift image stabilization, which compensates for handshake in all directions. This is especially helpful in handheld shots at telephoto ranges or low shutter speeds.

In autofocus:

Olympus’s advanced AF system benefits action and portrait photography with face detection and tracking, improving focus reliability in dynamic scenes. Canon’s single-point contrast detection may result in slower focusing, especially in dim or complex lighting.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Olympus’s 5 fps burst rate opens possibilities for shooting moving subjects, such as wildlife or sports. Canon’s 1 fps burst is too slow for anything beyond casual use.

The shutter speed ranges are similar, though Olympus’s slightly shorter minimum shutter speed (4s versus Canon’s 15s) may limit some night photography unless you use Bulb modes (not available on either).

Built for the Outdoors: Weather Sealing and Durability

The TG-820 opens a whole new user segment with extensive environmental sealing:

• Waterproof to 10 meters
• Shockproof from drops up to 2 meters
• Crushproof under 100 kgf pressure
• Freezeproof to -10°C
• Dustproof

By contrast, the Canon A495 has no weather sealing or rugged protections.

This ruggedness makes Olympus a standout choice for hiking, beach, snow, and adventure sports photography, where your camera faces real-world hazards.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The Canon’s use of disposable AA batteries can be convenient if you prefer to carry spares or shoot in remote places without recharging. However, performance varies widely with battery brand and condition.

Olympus uses a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery providing more consistent power for longer shooting sessions. It also offers HDMI output for direct video playback on TVs, a useful added feature for casual reviewing.

Video Shooting Quality

Olympus’s Full HD 1080p recording at 30 fps is a major upgrade over Canon’s basic VGA video. For casual videography, family moments, or travel vlogging, Olympus delivers noticeably better resolution and file compression.

The lack of microphone input on both keeps them out of professional video creation territory.

Photography Genres Showdown: Strengths and Weaknesses

Canon A495 front Canon A495 screen back Olympus TG 820 iHS front Olympus TG 820 iHS screen back

Portrait Photography

• Canon A495: Good natural skin tones but limited features - no face detection autofocus, no manual exposure controls, and no shallow depth of field due to small sensor. Great for quick snapshots.
• Olympus TG-820 iHS: Face detection autofocus helps in achieving sharper portraits. Slightly better color and low light handling contribute to more polished images.

Landscape Photography

• Canon A495: Modest resolution and no manual controls limit creative landscape shots.
• Olympus TG-820 iHS: Wider zoom range and better dynamic range from CMOS make it a better choice for landscapes, especially in wild conditions due to weather-sealing.

Wildlife Photography

• Canon A495: Limited zoom and slow autofocus hamper wildlife shooting.
• Olympus TG-820 iHS: Faster burst rates, AF tracking, and telephoto reach excel for casual wildlife photography in rugged terrain.

Sports Photography

• Canon A495: 1 fps burst and fixed lens make it impractical for sports.
• Olympus TG-820 iHS: 5 fps bursts and better AF make it more viable for casual sports shots.

Street Photography

• Canon A495: Smaller, lighter, and less conspicuous - potentially better for everyday street snaps.
• Olympus TG-820 iHS: Slightly bulkier but still compact; ruggedness could be an advantage in unpredictable urban environments.

Macro Photography

Both offer 1 cm close focus; Olympus’s image stabilization and more precise AF assist in sharper macro shots.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither camera offers long exposures beyond 15 and 4 seconds respectively, no Bulb modes, and no RAW to maximize post-processing. Olympus’s higher ISO ceiling provides better low light options.

Video Capabilities

Olympus wins with full HD quality and better compression; Canon stuck at VGA limits creative video.

Travel Photography

• Canon A495: Lightweight and pocket-friendly, ideal for casual travel.
• Olympus TG-820 iHS: Versatile zoom, ruggedness, and video capabilities justify slightly bigger size and price for outdoor travelers.

Professional Use

Neither camera supports RAW files, manual exposure beyond limited options, or professional workflow features. Both serve enthusiasts and casual shooters rather than professionals.

Technical Summary & Scores

Genre-Specific Performance Insights

• Casual Users / Everyday Photography: Canon A495 can handle simple snapshots on a budget.
• Outdoor Enthusiasts / Adventure Travelers: Olympus TG-820’s ruggedness and zoom flexibility give it the clear edge.
• Vloggers & Casual Video Creators: TG-820’s Full HD video is a huge bonus.
• Macro & Nature Hobbyists: TG-820’s stabilization and closer AF make macro shoots more rewarding.

Making Your Choice: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Canon PowerShot A495 if:

• You want a super affordable, pocket-sized camera for simple family photos and quick travel snaps.
• Battery convenience matters (uses AA batteries).
• You don’t need video beyond basic clips.
• Weight and size are your highest priorities.

Choose the Olympus TG-820 iHS if:

• You require a camera that survives rough handling, water, and dust.
• You want better image quality, especially in varied lighting, plus superior video.
• You shoot outdoors, wildlife, sports, or landscapes and want faster autofocus and burst shooting.
• Portability is important but you can tolerate slightly larger size and weight.
• You want a device that adapts to diverse environments and shooting conditions.

Final Thoughts

While separated by a couple years and targeting distinct uses, the Canon A495 and Olympus TG-820 iHS illustrate how camera design philosophies differ greatly even within the compact category. The Canon offers simple, budget-friendly, do-it-all straightforwardness, perfect for beginners or very casual photographers. The Olympus invests in advanced stabilization, superior imaging technology, and ruggedness appealing to active adventurers needing durability and versatility.

Try to evaluate your photography style and upcoming needs before deciding. If possible, handle both cameras in store or rent to personally experience their strengths and quirks. Each can excel given the right use case.

No matter which you choose, both cameras serve as reminders that great photographic creativity doesn’t always demand the latest or most expensive gear - just the right tool for your story.

Happy shooting and keep exploring new perspectives!

If you want to dig deeper into affordable cameras or rugged compacts, check out our detailed guides and hands-on reviews of the latest equipment tailored for your creative journey.