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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
58
Features
76
Overall
65

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 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
  • Launched February 2015
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-870
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Announced March 2013
  • Replacement is Sony A6000
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony NEX-6, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is pretty similar but the TG-860 (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-860 was brought out 23 months after the NEX-6 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a short view of how the TG-860 grades vs the NEX-6 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony NEX-6

 TG-860 NEX-6 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015March 2013Newer by 23 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus TG-860

 NEX-6 TG-860 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-6

 TG-860 NEX-6 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-860 provides outer 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) and the Sony NEX-6 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony NEX-6 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the TG-860 against the NEX-6.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-860 and NEX-6 is 91 and 85 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The image below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and NEX-6.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The TG-860 provides the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The newer TG-860 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Portrait photography camera
36
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography details
Sony NEX-6 Street photography details
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
78
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-860
Travel photography with Sony NEX-6
71
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (21mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
75
lighter than competition in class (345g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Landscape photography camera
48
quite wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather sealing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
Vlogging with Sony NEX-6
33
quite wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no mic socket
32
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-6
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Class Waterproof Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2015-02-06 2013-03-25
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 99
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224g (0.49 lb) 345g (0.76 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1018
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $279 $365