Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A550

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A550, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The TG-850 iHS was revealed 4 years after the A550 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the TG-850 iHS grades against the A550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-850 iHS Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS provides external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-850 iHS and the A550.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the TG-850 iHS and A550 is 91 and 63 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-850 iHS and A550.

Clearly, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-850 iHS having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus TG-850 iHS will give extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more modern TG-850 iHS provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.