Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A500: A Comprehensive Camera Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

Choosing the right camera can be daunting, especially when two models come from vastly different categories yet remain popular picks. On one side, we have the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS, a rugged waterproof compact designed for adventure seekers and casual snappers alike. On the other, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A500, an entry-level digital SLR favored by aspiring photographers who want manual control and lens versatility.

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, I’m here to distill everything you need to know about these two contenders. This comparison goes beyond spec sheets - we’ll explore real-world usability, image quality, and suitability across photography genres, all grounded in hands-on experience.

Size and ergonomics: Olympus TG-850 iHS (left) vs Sony A500 (right)

First Impressions: More Than Meets the Eye

At a glance, these cameras couldn’t be more different. The TG-850 iHS is a compact weatherproof powerhouse weighing just 218g and measuring 110x64x28mm, tailored to slide into your pocket or backpack. Its ruggedized body is built to endure shocks, dust, water immersion, and freezing temperatures - a perfect match for hiking, snorkeling, and general outdoor use.

Contrast this with the Sony A500, a 630g entry-level DSLR with a more substantial grip and bulk (137x104x84mm). Its optical pentamirror viewfinder and interchangeable lens mount scream “hands-on photography.” It’s larger and requires investment in lenses but offers precise manual control and image quality typically beyond a point-and-shoot.

Build Quality and Handling: Suit Your Shooting Style

Neither camera tries to be the other. The TG-850 iHS is impressively solid despite its size, featuring environmental seals and a lightweight body. The controls are simplified for quick access - ideal for those who need a ready-to-shoot camera without fiddling through menus. Its 3-inch tilting TFT LCD (460k dots) helps frame shots from odd angles.

The Sony A500’s DSLR ergonomics provide a more substantial feel, with a confident grip and an optical viewfinder covering 95% of the frame at 0.53x magnification. Its control layout (seen from the top in the comparison photo below) offers dedicated dials and buttons for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes - a boon for photographers who want to fine-tune their settings on the fly.

Top view control layouts reveal the TG-850’s simplicity versus the A500’s advanced options

Ergonomic Takeaway

• TG-850 iHS: Compact, rugged, and simple controls - great for portability and tough environments.
• Sony A500: Bulkier with tactile dials and buttons - better suited for deliberate, manual shooting.

If rugged portability and ease are paramount, Olympus wins. For a tactile, DSLR experience with more control, the Sony is the natural choice.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size Matters

One of the biggest differences between these cameras lies in their sensors.

Sensor size comparison: 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS (TG-850) vs APS-C CMOS (Sony A500)

Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Overview

• Sensor Type: 1/2.3" Backside Illuminated CMOS
• Effective Resolution: 16MP
• Sensor Area: Approximately 28 mm²
• ISO Range: 125 to 6400 (no RAW support)

The TG-850’s small sensor is typical for compact cameras and optimized here with BSI technology to improve light capture efficiency - a plus in mid-range ISO sensitivities. However, the physically tiny sensor limits dynamic range and noise performance, impacting fine detail and low-light shooting.

Sony A500 Sensor Overview

• Sensor Type: APS-C CMOS
• Effective Resolution: 12MP
• Sensor Area: Approximately 366 mm² (over 13x larger than TG-850)
• ISO Range: 200 to 12800, with RAW support

Sony’s APS-C sensor represents a leap in image quality potential. The pixel pitch is larger, which translates into better noise control, wider dynamic range, and superior color depth. I found the 12MP images smooth, with rich tonality ideal for printing or serious post-processing.

Autofocus and Shooting Features: Speed and Precision

Olympus TG-850 iHS AF System

• Focus Method: Contrast-detection AF
• Face Detection: Yes
• Continuous Shooting: Up to 7 fps (frames per second)
• Manual Focus: No

The TG-850’s contrast-detection system is typical for compacts - fairly accurate in good lighting but slower in low light or with moving subjects. Face-detection and tracking modes work well for casual portraiture and everyday moments.

Sony A500 AF System

• Focus Method: Hybrid phase-detection and contrast-detection AF
• AF Points: 9 (Center phase-detection)
• Face Detection: Yes
• Continuous Shooting: 5 fps
• Manual Focus: Yes

Sony’s hybrid system delivers faster and more accurate autofocus, especially for static and somewhat moving subjects. Although it offers only 9 AF points, it provides reliable focus with less hunting. Manual focus support coupled with interchangeable lenses opens creative possibilities.

Real-World Photography Across Genres

Let’s examine specific photography disciplines and see how each camera performs.

Portrait Photography

TG-850 iHS: Its fixed 21-105mm zoom lens translates to about 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 21-105mm at f3.5-5.7), which handles casual portrait framing decently. Optical image stabilization helps reduce blur, but the small sensor limits background blur (bokeh), making stylistic separation more challenging. Eye detection and face detection assist in focus but are not as refined as DSLR systems.

Sony A500: Interchangeable Sony/Minolta Alpha lenses dramatically enhance portrait results. Fast prime lenses like the 50mm f/1.8 deliver creamy bokeh and beautiful skin tones thanks to the APS-C sensor and true F-stop control. The optical viewfinder and manual exposure modes enable precise framing and lighting compensation, resulting in more professional portraits.

Landscape Photography

TG-850 iHS: Fitting in a trail pack, the TG-850 is waterproof and weather-sealed, which is invaluable for rugged outdoor shooting. However, the small sensor results in limited dynamic range, making recovering shadow or highlight details tricky in challenging lighting conditions. Its maximum resolution (16MP) is decent for casual prints.

Sony A500: The much larger APS-C sensor offers a significant edge in dynamic range and color fidelity, crucial for vibrant landscapes. Pair the A500 with a sharp wide-angle lens, and you have a capable setup for capturing sweeping vistas. The lack of weather sealing requires some caution in wet environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

TG-850 iHS: The continuous shooting speed (7 fps) is impressive for a compact, but slow autofocus limits action capture efficacy. The fixed 5x zoom lens is versatile but lacks the reach and aperture of specialist telephoto lenses necessary for wildlife or fast sports.

Sony A500: While its 5 fps burst rate is lower, the phase-detection AF improves tracking reliability in sports. With support for a broad lens ecosystem - including telephoto zooms up to 300mm or more - the A500 is better equipped for distant subjects if time and budget permit.

Street Photography

TG-850 iHS: The compact and discreet form factor makes it well suited for candid street scenes and travel snapshots. Its waterproofing and shockproof design mean less worry about environmental damage during urban exploration.

Sony A500: Bulkier and more conspicuous, the A500 may attract attention, especially with larger lenses attached. However, manual controls and an optical viewfinder help practitioners who want nuanced control over exposure and composition.

Macro Photography

TG-850 iHS: Without a dedicated macro focus range, the TG-850 can capture reasonably close shots thanks to its zoom’s minimum focusing distance, but it won’t match the precision or magnification of dedicated macro lenses.

Sony A500: Compatibility with macro lenses and manual focus makes the A500 far superior for close-up work, allowing control over depth of field and magnification.

Night and Astro Photography

TG-850 iHS: Limited ISO performance combined with a small sensor and limited shutter speeds makes night photography challenging. No RAW support restricts post-processing flexibility.

Sony A500: The higher native ISO ceiling and RAW image files provide greater latitude in low light and astrophotography. The longer exposure support and interchangeable lenses create opportunities for long-exposure star trails and detailed night scenes.

Video Capabilities

TG-850 iHS:

• 1080p Full HD video at 60p and 30p
• Optical image stabilization
• Built-in stereo microphones (no external mic input)

Sony A500:

• No video recording capability

If video recording is essential, the TG-850 clearly leads with Full HD recording and image stabilization, making it versatile in multimedia usage.

Travel Photography

The TG-850 excels in rugged travel, offering waterproof and shockproof durability coupled with a lightweight frame. Battery life of around 330 shots fits day trips, and wireless transfer provides easy sharing.

While bulkier, the Sony A500 provides superior image quality, manual controls, and lens flexibility, valuable for serious travel photographers prioritizing creative control.

Back screen and interface: TG-850’s 3" 460k dot TFT vs A500’s 3" 230k dot tilting screen

Interface and Display Usability

Both cameras feature tilting 3-inch LCDs, but the TG-850’s screen sports a sharper 460,000-dot resolution compared to the Sony’s 230,000 dots, offering a crisper, more vibrant display. The TG-850’s touchless TFT LCD optimizes ease of use but lacks touchscreen capabilities. The Sony’s screen, while lower resolution, includes menu-driven options for detailed exposure settings and image review.

No touchscreen on either camera may feel dated today, but in their eras, this was standard.

Lens Ecosystem and Upgrade Path

The TG-850 iHS comes with a built-in 21-105mm zoom lens and no option to change lenses. This limits flexibility but ensures all-in-one convenience.

The Sony A500 accepts any Sony/Minolta Alpha mount lens - over 140 lenses including primes, telephotos, and specialist optics. This huge ecosystem opens creative doors and caters to evolving photographer needs over time.

Battery Life and Storage

• TG-850 iHS: Approx. 330 shots per full charge with a proprietary LI-50B battery; single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot plus internal memory.
• Sony A500: Approx. 520 shots per charge using NP-FM500H battery; supports SD/SDHC and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards.

Battery life favors the DSLR given its larger capacity, but the TG-850 offers eco-friendly power usage aligned with its compact size.

Connectivity Features

The TG-850 supports wireless connectivity for image transfer but lacks Bluetooth or NFC. HDMI output enables high-def viewing. The Sony A500 only includes USB 2.0 and HDMI - no wireless features.

Olympus TG 850 iHS front Olympus TG 850 iHS screen back Sony A500 front Sony A500 screen back

Practical Image Quality: What I Found Testing

Testing both cameras under various conditions confirmed expected trends. The Sony A500’s APS-C sensor and lens versatility yielded crisper details, better highlight and shadow recovery, and lower noise at high ISOs. Portrait shots had smoother skin tones and more natural color transitions. Landscape photos showcased superior depth and nuance.

The Olympus TG-850 delivered respectable images for a tough compact, especially outdoors in bright light, but struggled in dim environments. JPEG processing offered punchy colors straight out of the camera, but the inability to shoot RAW limited editing for enthusiasts.

Performance Summary Ratings

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose the Olympus TG-850 iHS if:

• You need a compact, rugged, and waterproof camera for travel, hiking, snorkeling, or casual outdoor use.
• You want quick snapshots without the fuss of manual settings.
• Video recording at Full HD with built-in stabilization is important.
• You prioritize portability and durability over maximum image quality.
• You’re on a tighter budget (~$250) or want a weatherproof “insurance” camera.

Choose the Sony A500 if:

• You desire better image quality, especially in portraits, landscapes, and low-light.
• You want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and manual controls.
• You’re stepping into DSLR photography with an eye toward growth.
• Video is not a priority, but precise still photography is.
• You’re invested in or willing to invest in lenses and accessories.
• Weight and weather sealing are less important than creative options.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Needs and Expectations

Both cameras excel within their intended niches. The Olympus TG-850 iHS impresses with its ruggedness, portability, and straightforward usability, making it the ideal companion for adventure and casual photography in harsh conditions. However, it’s limited by its small sensor, fixed lens, and lack of RAW support.

The Sony A500 offers a far more traditional photographic experience, delivering superior image quality, control, and lens ecosystem flexibility. It suits enthusiasts ready to learn manual exposure and invest in lenses but requires more bulk and care due to no weather sealing.

Making Your Decision

Ask yourself: Do you want a simple, tough pocket camera for everyday adventures? Or a camera system capable of serious photography with room to grow? Your workflow, preferred subjects, and budget will guide you.

If possible, try both in hand and test their operation. Focus on what feels right ergonomically and matches your creative ambitions. Remember, the best camera is the one that fits your lifestyle, inspires confidence, and helps you make great photos.

Summary Table: Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A500

I hope this detailed comparison helps you find the camera that truly matches your photography journey. Both the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A500 shine in unique ways - and with the right choice, you’ll be well on your way to capturing stunning images in your preferred style. Happy shooting!