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Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Canon SD940 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 120g - 89 x 55 x 20mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 120 IS
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-860
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Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon SD940 IS and Olympus TG-870, both Ultracompact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD940 IS (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD940 IS was launched 7 years earlier than the TG-870 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SD940 IS grades vs the TG-870 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD940 IS over the Olympus TG-870

 SD940 IS TG-870 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Canon SD940 IS

 TG-870 SD940 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2016August 2009More modern by 77 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD940 IS and Olympus TG-870

 SD940 IS TG-870 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SD940 IS has physical dimensions of 89mm x 55mm x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-870 has measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Canon SD940 IS and Olympus TG-870 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SD940 IS versus the TG-870.

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SD940 IS and TG-870 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The pic here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SD940 IS and TG-870.

To sum up, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus TG-870 to render more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SD940 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography info
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Street photography factors
Olympus TG-870 Street photography factors
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competitors in class (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Sports photography features
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
51
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Travel photography info
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography info
58
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
better than average battery life (300 CIPA)
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (21mm)
heavier than competitors in class (221 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Landscape photography info
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
32
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
50
really wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
better than average battery life (300 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Vlogging information
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging information
29
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
32
really wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (221g)
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Canon SD940 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD940 IS and Olympus TG-870
 Canon PowerShot SD940 ISOlympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SD940 IS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Also called Digital IXUS 120 IS -
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Launched 2009-08-19 2016-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lb) 221 gr (0.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 89 x 55 x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-4L Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $299 $280