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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-870
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus TG-860 and Sony HX20V, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is relatively similar and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was launched 2 years later than the HX20V and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the TG-860 grades against the HX20V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony HX20V

 TG-860 HX20V 
IntroducedFebruary 2015July 2012Fresher by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus TG-860

 HX20V TG-860 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony HX20V

 TG-860 HX20V 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-860 provides outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

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Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-860 and the HX20V.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and HX20V is 91 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The visual below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-860 and HX20V.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony HX20V to offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The newer TG-860 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
35
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
45
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has face detection focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography factors
Sony HX20V Street photography factors
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography features
Sony HX20V Sports photography features
48
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather proof
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
71
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX20V Landscape photography factors
47
reasonably wide (21mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging details
Sony HX20V Vlogging details
33
reasonably wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic support
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no external mic jack
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2015-02-06 2012-07-20
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Yes BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 grams (0.49 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 320 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $279 $397