Olympus SP-610UZ vs TG-810: A Hands-On Comparison for Every Photography Enthusiast

When Olympus unveiled the SP-610UZ and the TG-810 in 2011, they targeted very different types of shooters with two distinct compact cameras. More than a decade later, these models remain interesting case studies in balancing zoom reach against durability, and conventional street-ready versatility against tough-weatherproof reliability. Having spent quite a few hours putting both cameras through practical shooting scenarios - from outdoor adventures and travel to casual portraiture and video clips - I'm ready to walk you through how these two stack up in real-world use.

Whether you want a superzoom pocket camera to dabble in wildlife photography or a rugged companion that won’t flinch on a hiking trail, this detailed side-by-side review will help you decide which Olympus fits your shooting style best.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Before diving into pixels and performance, size and ergonomics often make or break your day-to-day shooting experience, especially with compact models like these.

At first glance, the SP-610UZ sporting its chunky 107x73x73mm body feels a bit like an old-school bridge camera - solid but not exactly fitting in your pocket. Weighing in at 405 grams (battery included), it’s noticeably heavier and bulkier than the TG-810, which is about half the weight at 215 grams and a slim 100x65x26mm. I really appreciated how the TG-810 slipped easily into a jacket or travel bag pocket - no bulky bulk hanging off my belt or strap.

Ergonomically, the TG-810’s smaller profile houses a well-textured grip making it surprisingly stable despite its diminutive size. The SP-610UZ, meanwhile, uses its heft to deliver a sturdier feel overall - great if you tend to shoot with bigger lenses and want more balance in hand.

Design and Controls: Navigating Your Shooting Routine

Sometimes the difference between a “grab-and-go” camera and a fidgety, complicated one lies in the control layout and interface.

Olympus stuck to a functional, no-frills approach on both cameras, but the SP-610UZ’s controls feel more traditional - dedicated zoom lever, well-spaced shutter buttons, and dials where you’d expect. It lacks manual controls for aperture or shutter priority, which may disappoint advanced users, but the bigger buttons meant fewer missed shots in quick moments.

The TG-810’s top controls are minimalist, prioritizing simplicity for active users. Its buttons have a softer tactile feel, and despite fewer physical controls, it includes face-detection autofocus - a helpful addition for casual portraits.

I personally found the SP-610UZ offers more confidence in conventional photography styles because the control feedback is solid and deliberate. But the TG-810’s approach is ideal for outdoor travel photography, where ruggedness and quick access matter more.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Your Photos

Both cameras carry 14-megapixel CCD sensors sized at 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55mm), a staple of compact shooters in their era, but subtle differences impact image quality quite a bit.

The SP-610UZ uses the slightly older TruePic III processor paired with the CCD sensor, delivering reasonably sharp, natural colors, especially under daylight. Maximum native ISO tops at 3200, but you'll likely find noise creeping in beyond ISO 400. It incorporates an anti-aliasing filter which smooths edges effectively, but that sometimes slightly softens fine detail.

By contrast, the TG-810 adds a TruePic III+ processor which improves noise reduction and image processing algorithms. The maximum native ISO is lower at 1600, but noise control is more efficient, resulting in cleaner images at higher ISO settings.

In landscape shots I took during evening golden hours, the TG-810’s improved processing gave me cleaner shadows and preserved colors better, though neither camera offers the dynamic range that advanced APS-C and full-frame sensors deliver. Both struggle with underexposure in dimmer scenes without assistance.

Portrait shooters should note that the TG-810 includes face detection autofocus, improving focus accuracy on skin tones, whereas the SP-610UZ lacks this feature. However, neither is designed for detailed skin texture rendition or creamy bokeh given their small sensor sizes and relatively narrow maximum apertures (F3.3-5.7 on SP-610UZ, F3.9-5.9 on TG-810).

Live View and LCD Screen: Framing Your Shot

A camera’s LCD artscape can often be overlooked but it’s fundamental for the shooting experience.

The SP-610UZ sports a 3-inch, 230k-dot TFT LCD - a passable low-resolution screen by today’s standards. It’s bright outdoors but doesn’t excel for fine focus verification or menu navigation.

The TG-810 impresses here with a 3-inch HyperCrystal III TFT LCD boasting 920k dots, providing a vastly crisper, more color-accurate viewing window. Whether you’re checking focus tightness or reviewing images on the go, the TG-810’s screen is significantly more user-friendly.

If video recording or precise framing matter to you - especially in bright daylight conditions during travel or street photography - the TG-810’s superior screen is a clear advantage.

Autofocus Systems: Hunting and Locking Focus

Autofocus is one area where these two Olympus show their generational difference clearly.

The SP-610UZ uses contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points but no face detection or AF tracking capabilities. It performs adequately in good light on centered subjects but can frustrate sports or wildlife shooters with slower lock times and hunting under low contrast.

Contrast this with the TG-810’s hybrid approach - combining contrast detection with face detection and limited AF tracking for moving subjects. Multi-area AF improves focus accuracy in complex scenes, such as bustling street environments or group portraits.

While neither camera suits professional-level sports or wildlife photography, the TG-810’s focus algorithm gives it an edge for casual action and travelers needing quick, responsive focusing.

Zoom and Lens Characteristics: Reach vs Versatility

One of the most notable differences between the two is lens zoom range.

• SP-610UZ: 28-616mm equivalent (22x zoom), aperture F3.3-5.7
• TG-810: 28-140mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F3.9-5.9

That superzoom on the SP-610UZ is impressive for a compact; it extends far into telephoto territory. I managed to shoot distant wildlife and birding subjects reasonably well with it, though image quality at maximum zoom is understandably softer and prone to vibration blur without a tripod.

The TG-810’s lens is more of an all-rounder - moderate zoom but wider maximum aperture at the wide end, good for landscape and general travel shots. It’s optimized for durability and compactness, so the trade-off is less reach but more consistent sharpness.

If your photography often involves zooming into distant subjects - think backyard birds or city architecture - the SP-610UZ is the clear winner here. For everyday hiking, water sports, or street photography, the TG-810’s shorter zoom with sharper optics is preferable.

Macro Photography: Getting Close and Personal

Macro fans rejoice? Sort of.

While the SP-610UZ boasts a super-close focusing distance - just 1cm - with sensor-shift stabilization to assist, its fixed lens and small sensor limit depth-of-field control. Images are acceptably sharp but lack the extreme detail enthusiasts crave.

The TG-810 has a minimum focus distance of 3cm, decent for small subjects like flowers or insects. Its highly optimized stabilization and contrast-detection AF combined with face detection can help nail focused portraits of small objects, but neither camera replaces dedicated macro optics or mirrorless zoom lenses.

Still, if you want casual macro - especially in rugged outdoor conditions - the TG-810’s rugged build combined with satisfactory close-focus merits some consideration.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Performance: Steady Shots

Both cameras feature sensor-shift image stabilization, which helps mitigate camera shake across focal lengths.

In my hands-on testing, stabilization on the SP-610UZ was effective enough to allow handheld shooting at full zoom in bright conditions, but performance degraded quickly at slower shutter speeds.

TG-810’s stabilization felt slightly more sophisticated, especially paired with its faster processing, allowing sharper results in low light and during macro closeups.

Neither camera supports shutter priority, aperture priority, or manual exposure modes, limiting creative control. Shutter speeds range from 4 to 1/2000 second - a standard range for casual compact cameras but restrictive for creative low-light or sports shooting.

Video Capabilities: HD with Caveats

Neither camera was cutting edge video-wise even at launch, but both offer HD recording at 1280x720 @ 30fps.

The SP-610UZ outputs video in Motion JPEG format, which results in larger files and less efficient compression. Audio recording quality is basic, and there’s no external microphone input, limiting sound control.

The TG-810 has the advantage of MPEG-4/H.264 format, delivering better compression and smaller files without compromising quality. It also supports face detection during video, enhancing focus pull on subjects.

If video is a major interest, the TG-810 is the more solid, flexible option - though don’t expect DSLR-quality footage or advanced features.

Durability and Environmental Resistance: Built for Adventure?

One place the TG-810 truly shines is in its rugged, weatherproof design.

It is waterproof (up to 10 meters), dustproof, shockproof (survives drops from 2 meters), and freezeproof. This makes it perfect for hiking, skiing, diving, or beach outings. A GPS unit is built-in for geo-tagging shots - a boon for travel photographers who like organizing images by location.

The SP-610UZ offers no weather sealing, no dust or shock protection, and relies on bulky AA batteries rather than a rechargeable pack - less convenient and heavier for extended trips.

If you’re an outdoor adventurous type or professional who needs durability, the TG-810’s rugged build is worth the price premium.

Battery Life and Storage: Practicality Matters

Here is a critical everyday use metric where the SP-610UZ’s AA battery design offers pros and cons.

AA batteries are widely available worldwide, and you can spare yourself the worry of running out of juice in remote locations by carrying a couple of packs. However, they add bulk and weight, and the 340-shot claimed life feels optimistic based on my testing, especially with the bright but modest LCD.

The TG-810’s dedicated lithium-ion battery pack delivers about 220 shots per charge - not remarkable but enough for light travel use. You will, however, need to carry a charger or backup battery.

Both cameras take SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and have a single card slot, standard for compacts.

Connectivity and Extras: How Connected Are You?

Both cameras support Eye-Fi wireless card integration for image transfer, USB 2.0, and have HDMI outputs for TV viewing.

However, only the TG-810 features built-in GPS, a useful addition for travel photographers who want embedded geo-data for their images.

Neither camera has Bluetooth or NFC, reflecting their era and market segments.

Price and Value: Which Offers More Bang for Your Buck?

As of their release and subsequent pricing history, the SP-610UZ generally commands a price around $300, while the TG-810 is typically closer to $425.

Given the TG-810’s ruggedness, better processing, higher-res screen, and GPS, that extra cost makes sense - though it comes with trade-offs in zoom reach and battery life.

If you prioritize extensive zoom to try varied focal lengths for wildlife or detailed subjects, the SP-610UZ delivers better value.

For outdoor enthusiasts or travel photographers wanting durability and overall image quality, the TG-810 justifies the price differential.

Putting It All Together: Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Suitability

Let’s look at an overall and genre-specific performance summary to assist quick decisions.

• Portraits: The TG-810’s face detection AF and cleaner high-ISO images provide an edge. Both cameras struggle with background blur due to sensor size.
• Landscape: Both offer 14MP resolution, but the TG-810’s better screen and processing deliver sharper images. Weather sealing is a big plus for rough outdoor shooting.
• Wildlife: The SP-610UZ’s massive 22x zoom wins. AF speed is slow on both, but longer reach matters more here.
• Sports: Neither camera is built for sports, but TG-810’s AF tracking is slightly better.
• Street: TG-810’s compactness, discreet design, and weatherproofing shine for street shooters.
• Macro: Modest macro capabilities on both; TG-810’s improved stabilization helps.
• Night/Astro: Both have limited performance due to small CCD sensors and no manual modes.
• Video: TG-810 better due to H.264 support and face detect video AF.
• Travel: TG-810’s durability, GPS, and compact size tip scales.
• Professional work: Neither camera fits here - lack raw, manual modes, and advanced processing.

Final Thoughts: Which Olympus Should You Choose?

This comparison comes down to what you prioritize most:

• If zoom range and versatility in a budget-friendly, conventional compact superzoom matter most to you (and you don’t need ruggedness), the Olympus SP-610UZ remains a capable option, especially for casual wildlife and telephoto shooting.

• For active outdoor users, travelers, and adventure photographers who value durability, easy portability, better autofocus, and overall handling, the Olympus TG-810 is worth the extra investment.

While both models are now technically dated by today’s mirrorless and smartphone standards, they still each carve out unique niches. In fact, the SP-610UZ is a solid introduction to flexible focal lengths, whereas the TG-810 is a dependable partner for rough environments and quick, reliable shooting.

A Closing Visual Tour: Real-World Gallery Comparisons

To end, here’s a quick visual comparison from my shooting sessions - portraits, landscapes, telephoto crops, macro attempts, and street snapshots that let you judge image output quality firsthand.

Olympus SP 610UZ front Olympus SP 610UZ screen back Olympus TG 810 front Olympus TG 810 screen back

I invite you to examine these to see if either camera’s color rendering, sharpness, or noise profiles align with your style.

If you’re interested in detailed hands-on shooting tips or want to see these cameras in action, I share my full walkthrough and image reviews in my accompanying video review - coming soon!

Dear Olympus, how about a modern waterproof superzoom hybrid now? That’s a dream combo for many. Until then, these two remain fascinating choices for niche users.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera feel just right in your hands!