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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99

Portability
91 Imaging
40 Features
44 Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57 Imaging
69 Features
88 Overall
76

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 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
  • Introduced January 2014
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A99, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-850 iHS was unveiled 14 months after the A99 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the TG-850 iHS matches up versus the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Sony A99

		

		

			
 TG-850 iHS A99 
ReleasedJanuary 2014December 2012More modern by 14 months
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

		

		

			
 A99 TG-850 iHS 
Focus manually  More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen  Take selfies
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A99

		

		

			
 TG-850 iHS A99 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch friendly display  No Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS comes with outer 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) whilst the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).
See the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A99 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-850 iHS compared to the A99.
Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 size comparison
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-850 iHS and A99 is 91 and 57 respectively.
Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Sometimes, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-850 iHS and A99.
All in all, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-850 iHS using its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony A99 will show extra detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern TG-850 iHS will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.
	
			Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
 Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
35
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 provides face detection focus
 lack of manual focus
 manual mode not available
 cannot use external flash
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
81
 you can focus manually
 sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 has face detect autofocus
 exports RAW files
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Street Comparison
 Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Street photography camera
 Sony A99 as a Street photography camera
69
 screen tilts up and down
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 weather proofing
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
75
 screen can move to multiple angles
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 exports RAW files
 weather sealing
 good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison
Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography information
Sony A99 Sports photography information
51
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 provides tracking autofocus
 weather proofing
 better than average battery life (330 shots)
 no shutter priority mode
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect auto focus
78
 maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 has tracking focus
 weather sealing
 supports phase detect autofocus
 not so great battery power (500 per charge)
Photography Glossary
Travel Comparison
Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography advice
Sony A99 Travel photography advice
72
 better than average battery life (330 per charge)
 weather proofing
 MP count decent (16MP)
 flash built-in
 reasonably wide (21mm)
 does not contain selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
 weather sealing
 sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
 screen is selfie friendly
 no Time Lapse mode
 not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography details
Sony A99 Landscape photography details
50
 reasonably wide (21mm)
 screen is a decent size (3")
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 weather proofing
 better than average battery life (330 shots)
 lack of manual focus
 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
74
 you can focus manually
 swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
 screen is a decent size (3")
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 good ISO range (25,600)
 exports RAW files
 weather sealing
 has dual storage slots
 not so great battery power (500 per charge)
 no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Vlogging with Sony A99
33
 reasonably wide (21mm)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 provides face detection focus
 great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
 does not contain selfie friendly screen
 does not have external microphone port
76
 screen is selfie friendly
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 has face detect autofocus
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 comes with mic jack
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony A99 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony A99
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSSony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Sony SLT-A99
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-01-29 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and  16:9
Full resolution 4616 x 3464 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch focus    
AF continuous    
Single AF    
Tracking AF    
AF selectice    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
Live view AF    
Face detection focusing    
Contract detection focusing    
Phase detection focusing    
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1/2s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Highest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Yes None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 218 gr (0.48 lbs) 812 gr (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 330 shots 500 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
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)
Time lapse recording    
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Price at launch $250 $1,998