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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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 HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was introduced 2 years later than the HX30V and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the TG-860 grades vs the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony HX30V

 TG-860 HX30V 
LaunchedFebruary 2015February 2012Fresher by 36 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus TG-860

 HX30V TG-860 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony HX30V

 TG-860 HX30V 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-860 has got outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V 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).

Look at the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view scale comparison of the TG-860 compared to the HX30V.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and HX30V is 91 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing only by checking a spec sheet. The visual here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and HX30V.

As you can see, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony HX30V to resolve extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The newer TG-860 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
45
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
includes face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography details
Sony HX30V Street photography details
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography info
Sony HX30V Sports photography info
48
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography details
Sony HX30V Travel photography details
71
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
good MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX30V Landscape photography advice
47
fairly wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather proof
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
50
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
33
fairly wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-02-06 2012-02-28
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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224g (0.49 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
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 All around 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 images 320 images
Type of battery 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $279 $420