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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-870
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the TG-860 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) feature different sensor sizing.

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The TG-860 was manufactured 4 years after the A850 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the TG-860 matches up versus the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony A850

 TG-860 A850 
ReleasedFebruary 2015April 2010More modern by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus TG-860

 A850 TG-860 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A850

 TG-860 A850 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-860 provides physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-860 vs the A850.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and A850 is 91 and 54 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The pic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and A850.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-860 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A850 will give you extra detail due to its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern TG-860 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
Portrait photography with Sony A850
36
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
focusing manually
great MP (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Street photography camera
Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
69
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography factors
Sony A850 Travel photography factors
71
environment sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (21mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
55
environment sealing
great MP (25 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography features
Sony A850 Landscape photography features
48
decently wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
no liveview feature
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
33
decently wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony A850
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Released 2015-02-06 2010-04-15
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 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), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 224 grams (0.49 pounds) 895 grams (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 880 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One Dual
Launch cost $279 $0