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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Older Model is Sony WX350
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-850 iHS versus Sony WX500, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is fairly comparable and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-850 iHS was launched 14 months prior to the WX500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the TG-850 iHS scores vs the WX500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Sony WX500

 TG-850 iHS WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 WX500 TG-850 iHS 
LaunchedApril 2015January 2014Fresher by 14 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony WX500

 TG-850 iHS WX500 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-850 iHS versus Sony WX500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-850 iHS against the WX500.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-850 iHS and WX500 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-850 iHS and WX500.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony WX500 to provide extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The older TG-850 iHS will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography features
Sony WX500 Portrait photography features
35
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
39
decent megapixels (18MP)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography information
Sony WX500 Street photography information
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
70
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236g)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
51
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
great battery pack (330 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography features
Sony WX500 Travel photography features
72
great battery pack (330 shots)
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (21mm)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
better than average battery power (360 shots)
lighter than competition (236g)
decent megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography info
Sony WX500 Landscape photography info
50
really wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather proof
great battery pack (330 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
49
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
better than average battery power (360 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
33
really wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
35
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (236g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony WX500
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-01-29 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
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 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4616 x 3464 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1/2 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lb) 236 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 360 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $250 $348