Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W320

Exploring the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony W320: Which Ultracompact Suits Your Photography Style?

When it comes to ultracompact cameras, the market brims with options that promise convenience over complexity. Today, we'll dive deep into two contenders - the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860, launched in early 2015, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320 from 2010. Both cameras target casual shooters craving portability, but their feature sets and design philosophies differ distinctly. Having tested countless ultracompact and rugged cameras over the years, I’m excited to walk you through a detailed hands-on comparison, covering everything from sensor technology to real-world usability across various photography disciplines.

Let’s start with a sense of scale and build because size and ergonomics directly influence how you use a camera daily.

Feel and Form: The Rugged Olympus vs. Slim Sony

Right off the bat, the Olympus TG-860 situates itself in the niche of rugged outdoor compacts. It weighs 224 grams with dimensions of roughly 110x64x28 mm - noticeably chunkier but unsurprisingly so for a weatherproof model. Its build screams durability: it’s waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. If you plan adventures where your camera might take some knocks or a splash of water, this is a huge plus. The Sony W320, on the other hand, is a slender 117 grams and measures 93x52x17 mm. Its sleek design suits pocket portability but omits any weather-sealing, so it’s best confined to everyday, gentle use scenarios or indoor snaps.

Ergonomically, Olympus prioritized grip and protection, offering pronounced buttons with decent tactile feedback, while the Sony embraces minimalism with a less aggressive control scheme - a quick side note that might appeal to beginners but could frustrate enthusiasts needing swift adjustments.

The top design reinforces these conclusions.

Olympus places its controls thoughtfully, with a zoom lever wrapping around the shutter button and a dedicated button for accessing shooting modes. Meanwhile, Sony keeps a simplified array - largely relying on menus accessed via the rear screen, which brings me to another pivotal point: user interface.

User Interface, LCD Quality, and Handling Experience

Let’s face it, a good viewing and control experience can save you many headaches, especially in bright outdoor environments or when shooting on the fly. The TG-860 wields a 3-inch tilting LCD screen with a 460K-dot resolution. The tilting feature is a subtle but smart addition for composing shots at high or low angles, vital for creative versatility in fields like macro or landscape photography.

Conversely, the Sony W320 sports a smaller fixed 2.7-inch screen at 230K dots. It’s less crisp and non-articulating, which can make framing dynamic shots cumbersome. Neither camera offers touch functionality, which feels dated today but was still common when both were launched.

I always recommend testing these interfaces in person when possible, yet from my trials, the Olympus screen significantly improves usability outdoors with its higher resolution and tilt mechanics.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality - A Tale of CMOS vs. CCD

Now, diving into image quality is where these two diverge quite considerably, influencing everything from portrait detail to low-light flexibility.

The Olympus TG-860 incorporates a 16MP 1/2.3" CMOS sensor alongside its TruePic VII processor. CMOS sensors generally outperform CCDs in speed and noise control; the TruePic VII chip further optimizes image processing, sharpening details and reducing artifacts. The camera’s maximum native ISO tops at 6400, allowing somewhat usable ISO400-800 shots in dim settings.

The Sony W320 employs a 14MP 1/2.3” CCD sensor, which, while known for producing pleasing color rendition in good light, tends to struggle more with noise beyond ISO400. It maxes out at ISO3200 but practical low-light usability is limited.

From my lab tests and real-world shooting, TG-860 images maintain cleaner shadows and more natural colors, particularly under varied lighting - helping immensely for disciplines like landscape and travel photography.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the sensors and their specs:

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Versatility

Autofocus can make or break shooting moments, especially for dynamic genres like wildlife or sports.

Olympus’s TG-860 uses contrast-detection AF with face detection and rudimentary tracking capabilities. It can sustain continuous AF at 7 fps burst shooting, a solid number in this category, which helps capture fleeting scenes.

The Sony W320 is more basic: it relies solely on single AF with nine focus points, but no face or tracking detection, and maxes out at 1 fps continuous shooting - quite limiting in action situations.

In wildlife or sports photography, this difference is profound. The TG-860’s system, although not flagship-level, gives you a reasonable chance of nailing fast-moving subjects. Sony’s AF is best suited for still subjects and leisurely snapping.

Lens, Zoom, and Close-up Capabilities

Both cameras come with fixed zoom lenses - no interchangeable lenses here, reflecting their compact approach.

Olympus TG-860 sports a 21-105mm equivalent with 5x optical zoom and aperture ranging from f/3.5 to f/5.7. The lens includes an impressive macro focus down to 1 cm, enabling striking close-ups - a real plus for macro or nature photographers who want detailed flower or insect shots without lugging extra gear. The optical image stabilization is a great companion, reducing blur in tricky handheld or low-light scenarios.

Sony’s W320 uses a 26-105mm equivalent 4x zoom lens with a brighter aperture ceiling at f/2.7 on the wide end, beneficial in subdued light but loses appeal quickly beyond that. Macro minimum focus is 4cm, less suitable for detailed close-ups.

If macro or telephoto flexibility is a priority, the TG-860’s lens versatility shines.

Durability and Environmental Protection: More than Skin Deep

If you’re considering outdoor photography - beaches, mountains, or pool parties - the ruggedness factor is critical.

Olympus’s robust environmental sealing includes waterproofing to 15m, shockproofing from 2.1m drops, freezeproofing to -10°C, and crushproofing under 100kgs of pressure. I’ve personally dropped my TG series cameras on rocks, subjected them to dust storms, and never lost a shot. This resilience is a considerable investment in peace of mind.

Sony’s W320 offers none of these protections. It’s a typical point-and-shoot best reserved for predictable indoor or urban environments.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity Options

The TG-860 is powered by a rechargeable Li-50B battery rated at roughly 300 shots per charge. While not extraordinary, it’s adequate for a day trip, especially if you carry a spare. The W320’s battery life isn’t officially rated, but reports and my experience indicate a lower endurance due to smaller battery capacity. Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Sony uniquely supports Memory Stick formats, potentially an inconvenience given the industry shift to SD cards.

Connectivity-wise, TG-860 features built-in wireless networking, which allows easy image transfer to a smartphone - a handy feature absent on the W320. Both cameras offer HDMI and USB 2.0 support for external display and data transfer.

Video Recording Features

Olympus edges out Sony here with Full HD 1080p video at 60fps, encoded in H.264. This enables smoother motion and acceptable video quality for casual use. The TG-860 also offers time-lapse functionality.

Sony W320 can only manage VGA resolution (640x480px) at 30fps with Motion JPEG - considered quite obsolete today. No HD or higher frame rate options make it unsuitable if video is an intended use.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports, limiting professional audio control.

Genre-specific Performance: Strengths and Setbacks

I know many of you choose cameras based on your photography focus, so let’s break down how these cameras stack in key disciplines.

Portraits: TG-860’s face detection and better color fidelity help create pleasing skin tones and gentle bokeh - though the fixed aperture limits shallow depth of field. Sony lacks face detection, which hampers sharp focus on eyes.

Landscape: Olympus offers higher resolution and superior dynamic range support (thanks to a better sensor and processor). Its weather sealing invites rugged use. Sony’s sensor and fixed screen size limit versatility here.

Wildlife: Olympus’s faster AF, burst rate, and longer zoom provide more chances at capturing action. Sony’s slow single shot and lack of tracking make it a shaky choice.

Sports: Again, Olympus is preferable, though neither matches dedicated sports cameras. The W320 is simply too slow.

Street: Sony’s slim, lightweight design is advantageous for stealth and comfort on the go. Olympus’s bulk and rugged build might stand out and weigh you down, but it offers superior image quality if you accept the tradeoff.

Macro: Olympus’s 1cm macro and stabilization greatly enhance this category. Sony’s minimum 4cm distance is less impressive.

Night / Astro: With higher max ISO and noise control, Olympus can handle dim scenarios better. Sony struggles due to sensor and stabilization absence.

Video: Olympus wins with 1080p/60fps recording. Sony’s VGA video is far behind.

Travel: Olympus balances ruggedness and zoom versatility for diverse travel scenarios, albeit with added weight. Sony’s pocketability is excellent but at a cost to all-weather reliability.

Professional Use: Neither supports RAW, limiting serious post-processing. Olympus’s faster AF and better build provide higher confidence in demanding situations but still fall short of pro-grade tools.

A Final Overview via Performance Ratings

To summarize performance across multiple dimensions:

Olympus TG-860 ranks consistently better on image quality, durability, autofocus, video, and macro ability. Sony W320’s strengths lie primarily in compactness and ease of casual use.

Wrapping Up: Which Compact Camera Should You Choose?

Both Olympus TG-860 and Sony W320 serve distinct user intentions:

• You want a tough, go-anywhere camera that can survive drops, rain, and freezing temps while delivering respectable stills and Full HD video? The Olympus TG-860 impresses with its rugged construction, superior sensor technology, versatile zoom/macro, and advanced AF system. It’s ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, travel photographers, and hobbyists seeking durability without sacrificing image quality.

• Your priority is lightweight, straightforward point-and-shoot convenience for everyday snapshots in controlled environments, and budget constraints loom large? The Sony W320 offers simplicity and sleek size at a lower price point but with compromises in image quality, AF, and video.

Both cameras engage as ultracompacts but reflect very different philosophies: tough readiness vs. casual portability.

If you like my approach and want more insights, feel free to dive into my detailed Olympus TG-860 field review video or Sony W320 shooting test (links above). Testing hundreds of cameras helps me appreciate what matters most - real use, not just specs.

Happy shooting, and choose the compact that matches your style best.

All data based on manufacturer specs and extensive hands-on testing in various conditions.