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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 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
  • Launched January 2014
Sony TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus TG-850 iHS versus Sony TX20, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the TX20 (16MP) is relatively close and they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The TG-850 iHS was announced 24 months later than the TX20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the TG-850 iHS matches up vs the TX20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Sony TX20

 TG-850 iHS TX20 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014February 2012More recent by 24 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 TX20 TG-850 iHS 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony TX20

 TG-850 iHS TX20 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS offers outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Sony TX20 has dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-850 iHS versus Sony TX20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-850 iHS against the TX20.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-850 iHS and TX20 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-850 iHS and TX20.

Clearly, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of pictures but you have to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The more modern TG-850 iHS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony TX20 Portrait photography highlights
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
40
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Street photography camera
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony TX20 Sports photography highlights
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (330 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
50
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery pack (250 shots)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography information
Sony TX20 Travel photography information
72
good battery life (330 shots)
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
72
great battery pack (250 shots)
weather sealing
comes with focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Landscape photography camera
50
fairly wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery life (330 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
52
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
weather sealing
great battery pack (250 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging details
Sony TX20 Vlogging details
33
fairly wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony TX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony TX20
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Launched 2014-01-29 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4616 x 3464 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus range - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 1/2 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.70 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Yes Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218g (0.48 lb) 133g (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 250 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $250 $330