Canon PowerShot D20 vs Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860: Which Rugged Compact Camera Deserves Your Wallet?

When it comes to rugged compact cameras built for the outdoorsy types - those who want to capture moments without worrying about water, dust, or accidental drops - Canon’s PowerShot D20 and Olympus’s Stylus Tough TG-860 are two solid contenders from the mid-2010s era. Both launched roughly two years apart and aimed at adventurers, beachgoers, and casual shooters looking for splashproof durability paired with decent image quality.

Having spent dozens of days both on and off trails testing weather-resistant compacts across several brands (including these two models), I’m excited to break down what these two cameras bring to the table. I’ll offer hands-on insights from ergonomic feel to image output, autofocus quirks to video capability, and ultimately help you decide which rugged compact best fits your photographic style and budget.

Getting Physical: Size, Ergonomics & Handling On the Move

Let's start with the basics - size and grip, because if you’re wielding a “tough” camera outdoors, comfort matters.

Canon D20 measures 112 x 71 x 28 mm and weighs about 228 g, packing a sturdy plastic body and obvious rubberized grip pads. Its thickness accommodates chunky controls, which feels reassuring in wet or gloved hands.

Olympus TG-860, in contrast, is a bit more compact at 110 x 64 x 28 mm and lighter at 224 g, boasting a sleeker ultracompact profile yet still feels tough. Its smaller footprint makes it easier to stow in tight pockets or pack light when hiking, but you sacrifice a bit of grip heft.

When I wrangled both in various outdoor situations - muddy trails, sandy beaches, even a rainy urban walkaround - I found the Canon’s buttons noticeably larger and more tactile, great for fumbling fingers. Meanwhile, the Olympus trades some button size for a sleeker chassis, which I appreciated when carrying light but occasionally felt a bit cramped.

Both cameras eschew a viewfinder and rely on their LCD displays, but Canon’s control layout leans toward simple and straightforward with clubs for thumbs on the back, while Olympus incorporates a tilting screen and more compact button array. The tilting screen helps the Olympus TG-860 shoot awkward angles - a big plus for those who want creative compositions without crawling on the ground.

Verdict: For grip and chunky controls, Canon wins hands down. But if portability and flexible framing appeal more, Olympus takes the edge.

Sensor and Image Quality: Pixels, Noise & Dynamic Range Tested

Both cameras share the same sensor size - 1/2.3" CMOS - which is relatively small by modern standards, roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm sensor dimensions. Here's a quick dive into their core specs:

The TG-860 offers a higher resolution sensor at 16 megapixels versus the Canon’s 12. That bump translates to finer detail capture at baseline, but with the caveat that smaller pixels on that sensor mean a tradeoff in low-light noise performance.

From my tests, both cameras perform acceptably in bright daylight - sharpness adequate for casual prints and social sharing, but neither matches what you’d expect from larger-sensor cameras. At ISO 100–400, the colors popped nicely on both, with Canon’s Digic 4 processor producing somewhat warmer skin tones, pleasing for portraits, while Olympus rendered slightly cooler palettes.

Pushing ISO beyond 800, the Canon's images become noticeably grainy but retain decent color rendering, whereas Olympus’s higher max ISO of 6400 sounds impressive on paper, but in real life, that high sensitivity dips quality into mush quickly. So I generally keep that ISO ceiling in mind for emergencies.

Dynamic Range - the ability to hold highlight and shadow details - is limited on both sensors, with Olympus pulling a hair better from my bracketed scenes thanks to its more advanced TruePic VII processor.

On color depth, both offer custom white balance - which I found essential since their automatic white balance sometimes drifted in tricky outdoor lighting, especially underwater or in shaded forest scenes.

Verdict: Olympus edges ahead slightly in resolution and dynamic range thanks to its sensor and processor combo, but Canon delivers more natural skin tones under daylight. Neither supports RAW, so you're at the mercy of JPEG output.

Screen and Interface: What You See is What You Get

Rugged cameras often compromise the user interface in favor of durability, but these two manage to keep things relatively user-friendly.

Canon D20’s screen is a fixed 3.0-inch PureColor II TFT LCD with 461k dots resolution - not the sharpest by today's standards, but clearly visible in most daylight conditions due to decent brightness.

Olympus TG-860 features a 3-inch tilting LCD with roughly equal resolution (460k dots). The tilting function provides flexibility for low or high-angle shots without contorting your wrists or the camera’s position awkwardly.

Neither camera offers touchscreen functionality, which isn’t surprising at this price and build class, but it does mean more button presses and menu digging, which can be frustrating while wearing gloves or underwater.

The menus on both cameras are logically designed, with easy access to key toggles like ISO, white balance, and flash modes. Canon’s interface feels a touch slower but straightforward, while Olympus incorporates small icon animations to make navigating slightly more intuitive.

Verdict: Olympus gains points for its versatile swivel screen, beneficial during all kinds of outdoor shoots. Canon’s fixed screen is perfectly serviceable but less flexible for creative angles.

Autofocus Battle: Can These Toughies Keep Up?

Autofocus often makes or breaks the usability of an outdoor compact, especially if you want to shoot action or wildlife.

Canon’s nine-point AF array and contrast detection system proved accurate for static subjects and straightforward landscapes. It also offers face detection which works reasonably well outdoors. However, I noticed it lagged on moving subjects - no support for tracking means if your subject moves quickly, focus hunting sets in.

Olympus’s AF seemed quicker on its feet, aided by continuous AF and importantly, autofocus tracking (a rare feature in rugged compacts). This means the TG-860 maintained focus better on moving targets like kids running or birds fluttering - important if you crave consistent sharp shots from dynamic scenes.

Both cameras boast focus as close as 1 cm macro shooting, which worked great for close-ups of flora and insects with decent detail, though the Olympus macro was slightly crisper.

Verdict: Olympus wins the autofocus race for outdoor and action photography thanks to its tracking capability, while Canon handles general shooting adequately.

Shutter Speeds, Burst Rates & Video: Capturing Movement and Motion

Knowing how well these cameras handle motion in both stills and video can influence your choice if you’re into sports or active travel.

The Canon D20 disappoints with no burst shooting mode, meaning fast-moving subjects are tricky since you only get single frames. The max shutter speed of 1/1600 suffices for most daylight outdoor scenes, but action photographers might feel limited.

Olympus’s 7 fps burst is a definite advantage when shooting sports, kids, or wildlife in motion. Also, its slightly faster max shutter speed (1/2000) can help freeze faster action.

Video recording details: Canon supports Full HD 1080p at 24fps and some slow-motion at lower resolutions. Olympus provides 1080p at a smooth 60fps, which yields more fluid motion - very welcome in sports or travel videos.

No microphone ports or advanced audio features exist here, so audio quality relies on internal mics only, which is average but usable for casual recording.

Verdict: Olympus is the clear choice if you want better motion capture and smoother video; Canon suits simpler static shooting and casual video.

Environmental Sealing and Durability: Which One Survives the Harshest Adventures?

The core appeal of both these cameras is their ruggedness - and that’s where the rubber meets the road.

Here the Olympus TG-860 boasts a slight edge: a 15m waterproof rating versus Canon’s 10m, plus being crushproof - allowing heavy pressure without damage. The Canon is dustproof while Olympus is not, albeit Olympus has shockproofing from a slightly higher drop and same freezing tolerance.

In practice, I took both cameras snorkeling, rock climbing, and hiking in wet or dusty conditions. Both survived without a hiccup. However, Olympus’s crushproof body gives extra peace of mind if you’re packing heavy gear or prone to sitting on your camera by accident.

GPS on both means geotagging your adventures is a breeze for tracking memories later on.

Verdict: Olympus TG-860 offers slightly tougher specs for the hardcore adventurer, but Canon D20’s dustproofing makes it a better desert or dusty trail companion.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility for Different Scenes

Although neither camera supports interchangeable lenses, their built-in zoom ranges vary:

• Canon D20: 28–140mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F3.9–4.8
• Olympus TG-860: 21–105mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F3.5–5.7

Canon’s 28mm wide isn’t as wide as Olympus’s 21mm, which means the Olympus can capture wider landscapes and group shots better - great news for travel and street photography.

However, Canon zooms further on the telephoto end to 140mm equivalent, better for distant shots like wildlife or candid street scenes.

Aperture ranges are similar, though Olympus’s slightly faster wide end (F3.5) can help a bit in low light.

Verdict: Olympus offers wider-angle versatility for landscapes and interiors, Canon pushes bigger reach for telephoto needs.

Battery Life and Storage: Ready For the Long Haul?

Battery life is sometimes overlooked until you’re hiking miles from a charger.

Canon D20 uses NB-6L batteries; Olympus uses the Li-50B pack. Olympus claims about 300 shots per charge, and Canon doesn't officially publish exact counts, but roughly similar.

In field use, I found Olympus’s battery life to hold a bit better - likely due to newer tech and efficient processor. Both have single SD/SDHC/SDXC slots. Olympus also offers internal memory buffer for a few shots if your card maxes out.

Charging times are comparable.

Verdict: For extended outings, Olympus’s slightly superior battery stamina and internal memory buffer tip the scales.

Connectivity and Extra Features: Sharing Made Easy?

Both cameras come with standard USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs.

Canon supports Eye-Fi wireless card connectivity for wireless image transfer, an innovative (if limited) feature for its time.

Olympus TG-860 has built-in Wi-Fi for direct transfers to smartphones without extra cards, more convenient for today’s on-the-go sharing needs.

Neither offers Bluetooth or NFC.

Verdict: Olympus’s built-in wireless networking feels more modern and hassle-free for quick sharing - ideal if you often post on social media.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s apply what we’ve uncovered to specific photography niches. Here’s how these cameras stack up in the field, scored subjectively but grounded in my extensive hands-on tests.

Portraiture

Canon’s warmer color science is friendlier for natural skin tones. Face detection works well but lacks subject tracking, so for stationary portraits Canon is a fine choice. Olympus improves with autofocus tracking but can produce cooler tones, which may need post-processing correction.

Landscape

Olympus’s wider 21mm angle and higher resolution sensor bring more detail and framing freedom. Dynamic range is modest but Olympus pulls ahead thanks to processing. Olympus lacks dust sealing, which can be a concern in dusty environments.

Wildlife

Faster burst rates and AF tracking on Olympus give it a clear advantage when shooting birds or fast animals. Canon’s slower performance means more missed shots.

Sports

Olympus dominates with 7fps burst shooting and 1080p/60fps video recording, plus better autofocus for tracking. Canon can’t compete.

Street

Canon’s chunkier build feels less discreet but offers ruggedness. Olympus’s smaller size and quieter operation help it blend in better.

Macro

Both cameras offer 1cm macro focus, but Olympus’s sharper lens edge gives slightly crisper close-ups.

Night / Astro

Neither excels here. Small sensors limit low-light capabilities. Canon’s lower max ISO helps prevent noise, but neither has long-exposure or bulb mode.

Video

Olympus delivers smoother 60fps 1080p footage, appealing to casual videographers. Canon’s 24fps and lower slow-motion resampled output feel less polished.

Travel

Olympus’s lighter, smaller size, wide-angle lens, and Wi-Fi make it a more versatile travel companion.

Professional Use

Neither camera supports RAW, manual exposure modes, or advanced controls essential to pros, limiting their use to strictly casual work.

Overall Performance Scores: A Quick Snapshot

Both cameras earn respectable marks as rugged compact shooters, but the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 stands out for overall responsiveness, autofocus, and versatility, while the Canon PowerShot D20 holds its own with a more substantial grip and slightly better skin tone reproduction.

Pros and Cons Snapshot

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Canon PowerShot D20 if:

• You want a rugged compacts with solid grip and dustproofing.
• Portraits and natural colors rank high in your priorities.
• You mostly shoot landscapes and static subjects.
• You don’t care about Wi-Fi and can compromise on video smoothness.
• You prefer a slightly longer telephoto reach.

Buy the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 if:

• You need better performance for fast action - burst shooting & AF tracking.
• Travel versatility with a wider field of view and Wi-Fi sharing matters.
• Durability specs like crushproof and deeper waterproofing appeal.
• You want smoother 1080p60 video for casual filmmaking.
• You prefer a smaller, lighter camera that still delivers ruggedness.

Final Thoughts: Choosing Your Outdoor Adventure Buddy

Both the Canon D20 and Olympus TG-860 are thoughtful waterproof compacts designed for people who want to document active, sometimes rough outdoor lifestyles without fussing over delicate gear. They fit the bill as trustworthy “go anywhere” cameras that don’t require guru-level technical know-how.

If you lean towards a more robust feel with excellent dust sealing and warmer tones for portraits, Canon D20 delivers. But if your focus is on action, wider landscapes, and video, Olympus TG-860 is the sharper tool for the job, despite being a bit less dustproof.

At their respective prices - around $280-300 secondhand or discounted today - both represent cheeky, affordable options for a compact waterproof shooter, but my personal money would lean toward the Olympus TG-860 for its balanced all-around capabilities - especially if rapid shooting and video matter in your outings.

Whichever you choose, embrace the spirit of adventure, let dust and rain be no hindrance, and get ready to capture memories on every wild path.

Canon D20 front Canon D20 screen back Olympus TG 860 front Olympus TG 860 screen back

I hope you found this in-depth comparison helpful. Feel free to drop any questions or experiences with these cameras in the comments - I’m here to share more insights from years of hands-on testing and help you find the best kit to fit your photo journeys!