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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2014
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Sony A380
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A390, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The TG-850 iHS was unveiled 3 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the TG-850 iHS grades versus the A390 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Sony A390

 TG-850 iHS A390 
RevealedJanuary 2014July 2010More recent by 43 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 A390 TG-850 iHS 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A390

 TG-850 iHS A390 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS has physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A390 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the TG-850 iHS compared to the A390.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-850 iHS and A390 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-850 iHS and A390.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-850 iHS having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus TG-850 iHS will produce more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer TG-850 iHS is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A390 Portrait photography highlights
35
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography advice
Sony A390 Street photography advice
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography information
Sony A390 Sports photography information
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery (330 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low battery pack (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A390 as a Travel photography camera
72
good battery (330 per charge)
weather sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (21mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
53
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography info
Sony A390 Landscape photography info
50
rather wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather sealing
good battery (330 per charge)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery pack (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Vlogging with Sony A390
33
rather wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A390
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2014-01-29 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4616 x 3464 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 1/2 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Yes None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 gr (0.48 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 330 images 230 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $250 $500