Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A550: An Expert’s Take on Two Very Different Cameras

Choosing the right camera often boils down to matching gear with your photographic ambitions, shooting style, and budget. Today, I’m digging deep into two very distinct models from yesteryear, yet both still worth considering depending on your needs: the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS - a rugged compact - and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550, an entry-level DSLR. They couldn’t be more different in design and purpose, but that’s exactly what makes this comparison fascinating.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, I’ll share practical insights grounded in hands-on experience. We’ll break down everything from body ergonomics to sensor performance, autofocus systems, and suitability across genres like wildlife, landscapes, street, and video. I’ll include plenty of real-world observations, backed by technical specs and image samples.

So buckle up - let’s crack open these cameras and see what each brings to the table!

Body and Ergonomics: Rugged Compact vs Robust DSLR

First impressions matter, and these two are quite the visual and tactile contrast.

Look at that size difference! The Olympus TG-850 iHS is tiny and grab-and-go, designed for durability with splash-, shock-, dust-, freeze-, and crush-proofing. It’s a compact that fits in your pocket or glove compartment, making it your best buddy on hikes, beach trips, and campsite adventures. Despite the rugged shell, I found the TG-850’s grip comfortable for casual shooting, though not something you’d want for long, heavy sessions due to its plastic-heavy build.

By contrast, the Sony A550 is a chunky classic DSLR - the body is larger, heavier (approximately triple the weight of the TG-850), and built from sturdier materials but without weather sealing. It has a deep grip, solid buttons and dials, and a heft that inspires confidence in handling heavy lenses. That weight helps steady shots, but lugging it around for extended periods demands bigger bags and more stamina.

From the top view, the Sony’s control layout shines with dedicated dials for mode selection, exposure compensation, and command wheels. Meant for rapid, manual adjustments, these controls make it a breeze to fine-tune settings mid-shoot - a must for professionals or enthusiasts craving control.

The Olympus is more stripped-down: no manual exposure modes, no shutter/aperture priority. You get basic playback controls and shooting modes operated via menus and buttons. If you want a straightforward, no-fuss experience with ruggedness as a priority, it’s ready to roll. But serious tweaking? Not quite.

Bottom line: If portability and durability top your list, the TG-850 wins. For ergonomic control and a professional feel, the Sony A550 is the clear winner.

Sensor and Image Quality: Tiny Sensor vs APS-C Powerhouse

When comparing sensors, size matters a lot more than just specifications on paper.

The Olympus TG-850 features a 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17x4.55 mm (28 mm² area), while the Sony A550 houses a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor of 23.4x15.6 mm (365 mm²) - over 13 times larger in surface area.

What does this mean in practice?

Firstly, Sony’s APS-C sensor enables larger pixels, translating to cleaner images with less noise at higher ISOs. This is paramount in low light and when pushing ISO beyond 800, where the TG-850’s image quality steadily declines with noticeable grain and less color fidelity.

Secondly, the Sony supports RAW output, giving you extensive flexibility in post-processing - critical for professionals and enthusiasts who want to extract maximum detail and dynamic range. The Olympus is locked to JPEG, which limits editing latitude.

Regarding resolution, both cameras sit around 14–16MP effective capture, but Sony’s sensor outperforms in dynamic range and color depth, according to DxOmark where it earned an overall score of 66 (not tested for Olympus, unfortunately). The TG-850’s smaller sensor yields decent JPGs in bright daylight but struggles with color gradations and shadow details.

In my side-by-side shooting of landscapes and portraits, the Sony images showed richer tonal range and more natural skin tones - more about the sensor and less about the lens at play here.

If image quality is your main priority, especially in diverse lighting conditions, the Sony A550’s sensor delivers superior performance.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Usability

Autofocus can make or break your shoot, so let’s compare these systems in detail.

The Sony A550 employs a 9-point phase-detection AF system with continuous and single AF modes, face detection, and multi-area focus. Not the latest by today’s standards, but in its time, quite competent. Phase detection lets it lock focus quickly, suitable for sports and wildlife shooting under challenging conditions. I tested continuous AF while photographing moving models, and tracking was accurate though not bulletproof - already showing its age compared to modern mirrorless systems.

Meanwhile, the Olympus TG-850 uses contrast-detection AF with face detection and tracking. There is continuous AF and a handful of modes, but no phase detection. Contrast detection is generally slower and more hunting prone, especially in low contrast or low light scenarios. The TG-850’s AF performed well enough for its purpose - not finely tuned for speed or artistry but reliable for casual snapshots and macro shots near a subject.

Both offer a continuous shooting rate of ~7FPS, which is respectable for their classes, but only the Sony’s burst is paired with a larger buffer and faster writing to cards.

[Note: The Sony’s A550 AF showed solid center-weighted focus, but lacked eye-AF and animal-focused modes that modern cameras offer. The TG-850 had face detection but basic tracking performance.]

In practical terms: Sports, action, or wildlife shooters will prefer the Sony’s autofocus system and faster continuous shooting with lens versatility backing it up. Casual shooters after hiking or outdoor adventure companions may find Olympus’ system sufficient.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

A camera’s native lens options dramatically impact its utility and creative breadth.

The Olympus TG-850 comes with a fixed 21-105 mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens at f/3.5-5.7 aperture - a classic “all-in-one” tough compact style. It gives a useful telephoto reach and decent wide-angle, plus optical image stabilization to help with handheld shooting. However, the fixed-lens design limits your framing flexibility and optical quality is bound by compact zoom constraints.

On the flip side, the Sony A550 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, compatible with well over 140 lenses including some superb primes, macro, teles, and fast glass options. This lens ecosystem enables you to tailor your gear for portraits (with creamy bokeh), wildlife telephoto, landscapes, or architectural precision. The sensor-based IS in the Sony works with any lens - a handy feature.

Choosing a DSLR opens avenues to grow your kit over time; Olympus’ fixed lens is a sealed package.

For disciplines like macro, wildlife telephoto, or portrait artistry, Sony’s system is significantly more versatile. If you want simple snapshots without swapping lenses, and ruggedness to boot, Olympus fits the bill.

Display and Viewfinding: Shooting Comfort and Compositional Precision

Both cameras have a 3-inch tilting screen, but there are differences in resolution and usability.

The Sony’s 922k-dot LCD is bright and detailed - making manual focusing and menu navigation easier. The optical pentamirror viewfinder offers a traditional SLR experience with about 95% frame coverage - clear, bright, and helpful for stable shooting in bright sunlight or when holding the camera up to your eye.

In contrast, the Olympus’ 460k-dot TFT LCD is less sharp and can be challenging in strong sunlight, and, lacking any viewfinder, you’re stuck with composing via the LCD only. The tilting screen helps though, especially for low or high-angle shots common in travel or macro photography. No touchscreen features on either camera, reflecting their era.

If you’re accustomed to optical viewfinders, the Sony provides more framing fidelity. Compact shooters used to phones may be fine relying on Olympus’ screen only.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Taking it Rough

This is where the Olympus TG-850 iHS shines - literally built for extreme conditions.

It is waterproof to 10 meters (about 30 feet), freezeproof down to -10°C, shockproof from a drop of 2.1 meters, crushproof to 100 kgf, and sealed against dust. For travel photographers who hike, dive, ski, or explore rugged terrain, the TG-850 doubles as a rugged companion.

The Sony A550 lacks any weather sealing or rugged design features. It’s a typical DSLR chassis that requires cautious handling and sometimes accessory weather covers outdoors. So for beach, rain, or mountain adventures where exposure to elements is common, Olympus has the edge.

Battery Life and Storage: Long Days and Memory

The Sony A550 outperforms the Olympus on battery longevity, offering about 480 shots per charge compared to the TG-850’s 330. DSLRs tend to be more power efficient with optical viewfinders versus compacts relying entirely on LCDs.

Storage-wise, both accept SD/SDHC cards, but Sony’s additional support for Memory Stick Pro Duo offers more flexibility if you have legacy cards. Olympus allows internal storage for emergency snaps - handy but limited in capacity.

For serious shooting days, pack extra batteries with Olympus for extended trips.

Video Capabilities: Is Moving Image a Factor?

If video matters to you, here Olympus offers a more modern experience despite its age.

The TG-850 shoots Full HD 1080p at 60fps and 30fps, plus 720p and VGA options. It records in common H.264 format with optical stabilization active during recording, producing smooth footage. The absence of microphone or headphone jacks limits audio customization, but for casual clip making, it’s solid.

The Sony A550, despite being a DSLR, offers no video recording capability. Back in 2009, video was optional or absent in many DSLRs. For videographers needing video plus stills, Olympus is the clear pick here.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Types

Let me summarize my hands-on assessment of how these cameras fare across some popular photography disciplines.

Olympus TG 850 iHS front Olympus TG 850 iHS screen back Sony A550 front Sony A550 screen back

Portrait Photography

The Sony A550, with larger sensor and better optics, yields portraits with smoother skin tones and shallower depth of field options. Its 9-point AF and face detection help in keeping subjects sharp. Olympus’ smaller sensor and fixed lens produce decent jpeg-ready portraits, but background blur is limited due to smaller sensor size and slower lens aperture.

Landscape Photography

Sony’s dynamic range and RAW support help capture sweeping landscapes with rich detail across shadows and highlights. You can tweak compositions with manual focus, polarizers, and various wide primes. Olympus provides convenience and ruggedness; its STM lens covers wide to telephoto in one unit, but small sensor limits tonal gradation.

Wildlife Photography

The Sony’s phase detection AF and fast burst rate enable better tracking of moving animals. The capability to mount long telephoto lenses is a major advantage. The TG-850’s compact form is handy on hikes, but AF and zoom reach are limited for distant wildlife.

Sports Photography

Sony offers shutter/aperture priority modes and manual exposure for well-controlled fast-action shooting, plus higher max shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s). Olympus lacks these modes, limiting control over exposure in bright or fast scenes.

Street Photography

Olympus, with low weight, discrete profile, and waterproof design, is great for candid street snaps in all weather. The Sony big body is less inconspicuous, but better image quality and manual controls appeal to street photographers prioritizing creative control.

Macro Photography

Neither camera is a dedicated macro shooter, but Olympus features decent close-focusing with optical IS, ideal for casual macro adventures. Sony’s wide lens selection includes specialty macros for more detailed results.

Night/Astro Photography

Sony’s larger sensor offers superior low light performance with less noise and more flexibility shooting long exposures manually. Olympus has limited ISO range and no manual exposure mode, which restricts night photography creativity.

Video Recording

As noted, only Olympus shoots video with Full HD resolution and steady stabilization.

Travel Photography

This is the TG-850’s sweet spot - compact, shockproof, waterproof, ready for rough handling and packing tight. Sony requires more gear and care, but rewards with better photographic quality when you have the time and opportunity.

Professional Work

Sony’s RAW support, manual controls, and lens ecosystem make it suitable for professional and advanced amateur use. Olympus is more of a rugged point-and-shoot companion than a professional tool.

Connectivity, Extras, and Price-to-Performance

The Olympus TG-850 comes with built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer - a handy feature for today’s instant sharing culture. Sony A550 has no wireless connectivity but does offer HDMI and USB ports for tethering and data transfer.

Neither supports touchscreen LCDs or smartphone integrations like newer models, but the Olympus’ ruggedness and Wi-Fi balance that somewhat.

Price-wise, the TG-850 is extremely affordable (around $250 at launch), compared to Sony A550’s original $749 price tag. For budget-conscious buyers wanting a tough compact, Olympus is a steal. For photographers seeking quality and flexibility, Sony’s higher cost reflects its DSLR capabilities.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Ultimately, these cameras serve two very different audiences.

If you want a compact, rugged camera for travel, outdoor adventure, and convenient snapping with video capability, the Olympus TG-850 iHS is a capable, affordable choice. It excels in portability, durability, and ease of use, but compromises image quality, lens flexibility, and manual control.

If your priority is image quality, creative control, versatility through interchangeable lenses, and solid DSLR ergonomics, the Sony A550 holds up well as an entry-level DSLR despite its age. It produces better portraits, landscapes, and action shots, and supports deep post-processing workflows. Downsides are its bulkier body, lack of weather sealing, no video capability, and higher price.

For photographers starting out who can adapt to a bulkier system, the Sony is my recommendation. For casual users, travelers, or those needing an indestructible point-and-shoot that handles basic video and snapshots in harsh conditions, Olympus wins out.

My Personal Take

I’ve tested the Olympus TG-850 on multiple treks and found its waterproofing and shockproofing genuinely liberating. No worries about splashes or drops - that’s priceless for travel photography when unpredictability reigns supreme.

Meanwhile, the Sony A550 was my daily shooter for a time, and I cherished the control and image quality. It’s not cutting-edge today, but image results still hold their own if you pair them with good lenses.

Choosing between these two is really about what you shoot and how you shoot. I encourage you to evaluate your priorities and shooting environments before making a call.

If you found this comparison helpful or want me to dive deeper into any specific use-case or test procedures I used, leave a comment or reach out. Happy shooting!

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5. Olympus TG 850 iHS front Olympus TG 850 iHS screen back Sony A550 front Sony A550 screen back