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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released January 2013
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact and both are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is very comparable and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was brought out 4 years before the TG-870 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SH-50 grades against the TG-870 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus TG-870

 SH-50 TG-870 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SH-50

 TG-870 SH-50 
IntroducedJanuary 2016January 2013Newer by 36 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Olympus TG-870

 SH-50 TG-870 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-50 has outside measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-870 has measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SH-50 versus the TG-870.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and TG-870 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The image below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-50 and TG-870.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of files however you should really consider the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged SH-50 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography highlights
44
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
36
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography info
Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than competitors (269g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than average (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography info
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
48
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery pack (300 shots)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competitors (269 grams)
has focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
great battery pack (300 CIPA)
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (21mm)
heavier than average (221 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography information
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
50
decently wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging factors
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging factors
34
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (269 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
32
decently wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
heavier than average (221g)
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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus SH-50Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SH-50 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2013-01-08 2016-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 221 grams (0.49 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $300 $280