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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 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
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Updated by Olympus TG-870
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony A500, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the TG-860 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The TG-860 was launched 5 years after the A500 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the TG-860 matches up against the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony A500

 TG-860 A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015August 2009More modern by 67 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-860

 A500 TG-860 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A500

 TG-860 A500 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-860 provides external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony A500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-860 against the A500.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and A500 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and A500.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-860 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus TG-860 will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-860 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
36
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-860
Street photography with Sony A500
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography advice
Sony A500 Sports photography advice
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-860
Travel photography with Sony A500
71
environment proof
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (21mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
43
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography advice
Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
48
really wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
environment proof
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging factors
Sony A500 Vlogging factors
33
really wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no external mic jack
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony A500
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-02-06 2009-08-27
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 224g (0.49 pounds) 630g (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 300 photos 520 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $279 $638