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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Olympus SP-600 UZ front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus SP-600 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-420mm (F3.5-5.4) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Launched February 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-590 UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-610UZ
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Olympus TG-860, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SP-600 UZ (12MP) and TG-860 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SP-600 UZ was revealed 6 years prior to the TG-860 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-600 UZ being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick view of how the SP-600 UZ grades versus the TG-860 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-600 UZ over the Olympus TG-860

 SP-600 UZ TG-860 
Focus manually More precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus SP-600 UZ

 TG-860 SP-600 UZ 
ReleasedFebruary 2015February 2010More recent by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Olympus TG-860

 SP-600 UZ TG-860 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SP-600 UZ enjoys external dimensions of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) and the Olympus TG-860 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Olympus TG-860 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SP-600 UZ against the TG-860.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-600 UZ and TG-860 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-600 UZ and TG-860.

As you can see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus TG-860 to offer extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older SP-600 UZ is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Portrait photography advice
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography advice
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
36
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Street photography features
Olympus TG-860 Street photography features
36
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Sports photography info
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography info
31
amazing zoom range (28-420mm 15.0 x zoom)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Travel photography details
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very long zoom (420mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
environment proof
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography information
29
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
48
relatively wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Vlogging details
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging details
20
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
33
relatively wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-600 UZ and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus SP-600 UZOlympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SP-600 UZ Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2010-02-02 2015-02-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 143 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-420mm (15.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.4 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/2 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.10 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 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 file format H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 455 grams (1.00 lb) 224 grams (0.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $189 $279