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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 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 QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Introduced September 2014
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony QX1, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the QX1 (20MP) is pretty close but the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and QX1 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-850 iHS was unveiled 7 months before the QX1 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the TG-850 iHS matches up against the QX1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Sony QX1

 TG-850 iHS QX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 QX1 TG-850 iHS 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2014Newer by 7 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony QX1

 TG-850 iHS QX1 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-850 iHS offers external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Sony QX1 has sizing of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") with a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony QX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-850 iHS vs the QX1.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-850 iHS and QX1 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The image below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-850 iHS and QX1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-850 iHS having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony QX1 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged TG-850 iHS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography details
Sony QX1 Portrait photography details
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography factors
Sony QX1 Street photography factors
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
69
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (216 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography advice
Sony QX1 Sports photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
great battery (330 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
56
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (440 CIPA)
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography information
Sony QX1 Travel photography information
72
great battery (330 shots)
weather proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
good battery power (440 CIPA)
provides focus via touch
resolution is good (20MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (216 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography info
Sony QX1 Landscape photography info
50
relatively wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
64
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (440 shots)
small screen ( inch)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging factors
Sony QX1 Vlogging factors
33
relatively wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
32
built-in touchscreen
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (216g)
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony QX1
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSSony Alpha QX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Sony Alpha QX1
Category Waterproof Lens-style
Introduced 2014-01-29 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4616 x 3464 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Crop factor 5.8 1.6
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch -
Resolution of display 460k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1/2 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Yes Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lb) 216 grams (0.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 440 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $250 $500