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Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released July 2011
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus TG-860
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is relatively close and they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was introduced 5 years before the TG-870 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SZ-11 grades versus the TG-870 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus TG-870

 SZ-11 TG-870 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SZ-11

 TG-870 SZ-11 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016July 2011More recent by 54 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Olympus TG-870

 SZ-11 TG-870 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 features outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Olympus TG-870 has sizing of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-11 compared to the TG-870.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and TG-870 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through specifications. The visual underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-11 and TG-870.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus TG-870 to render greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older SZ-11 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-11
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
36
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography info
Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography highlights
43
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than others (226g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
69
better than average battery pack (300 per charge)
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (21mm)
more heavy than competition in class (221 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography highlights
40
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
50
really wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
better than average battery pack (300 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging info
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging info
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than others (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
32
really wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (221 grams)
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus SZ-11Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2011-07-27 2016-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 221 grams (0.49 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 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 200 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $253 $280