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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Olympus TG-860
(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
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-870
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Renewed by Sony A9 II
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A9, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the TG-860 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) feature different sensor measurements.

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The TG-860 was revealed 3 years prior to the A9 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the TG-860 scores versus the A9 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony A9

 TG-860 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus TG-860

 A9 TG-860 
AnnouncedApril 2017February 2015More recent by 26 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution1440k460kCrisper display (+980k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A9

 TG-860 A9 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-860 comes with physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A9 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-860 vs the A9.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and A9 is 91 and 65 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at specifications. The photograph here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and A9.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-860 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A9 will give you extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older TG-860 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography details
Sony A9 Portrait photography details
36
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
83
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography info
Sony A9 Street photography info
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
environment proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
86
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery power (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
71
environment proof
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (21mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
73
great battery power (650 per charge)
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (24MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography information
Sony A9 Landscape photography information
48
decently wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
85
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proof
great battery power (650 shots)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging factors
Sony A9 Vlogging factors
33
decently wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no mic socket
36
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony A9
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Alpha A9
Class Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2017-04-19
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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
Number of focus points - 693
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Yes None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 gr (0.49 lbs) 673 gr (1.48 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 300 photos 650 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Two
Pricing at launch $279 $4,498