Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-7

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony NEX-7, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The TG-850 iHS was introduced 2 years later than the NEX-7 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-850 iHS scores versus the NEX-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are available at Olympus TG-850 iHS Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-850 iHS features exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony NEX-7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-850 iHS versus the NEX-7.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-850 iHS and NEX-7 is 91 and 84 respectively.

Typically, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-850 iHS and NEX-7.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-850 iHS having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-7 will give greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The younger TG-850 iHS should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.