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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 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
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-870
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-860 was revealed 6 years after the S980 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the TG-860 scores against the S980 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony S980

 TG-860 S980 
RevealedFebruary 2015February 2009Newer by 73 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Olympus TG-860

 S980 TG-860 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony S980

 TG-860 S980 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-860 enjoys exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-860 against the S980.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The image below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and S980.

All in all, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Olympus TG-860 to render extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher TG-860 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
focusing manually
no manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography info
Sony S980 Sports photography info
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
17
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
71
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography info
Sony S980 Landscape photography info
48
reasonably wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
focusing manually
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
Vlogging with Sony S980
33
reasonably wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony S980
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2015-02-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 224 gr (0.49 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $279 $300