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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 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
  • Successor is Olympus TG-870
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Launched December 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A900
  • Refreshed by Sony A99 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A99, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-860 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-860 was brought out 2 years later than the A99 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the TG-860 matches up against the A99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony A99

 TG-860 A99 
LaunchedFebruary 2015December 2012Fresher by 27 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-860

 A99 TG-860 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A99

 TG-860 A99 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-860 offers outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-860 compared to the A99.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and A99 is 91 and 57 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and A99.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-860 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will show more detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent TG-860 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
82
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography details
Sony A99 Street photography details
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography advice
Sony A99 Sports photography advice
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography info
Sony A99 Travel photography info
71
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (21mm)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
48
pretty wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
low battery pack (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging information
Sony A99 Vlogging information
33
pretty wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
76
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony A99
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony SLT-A99
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-02-06 2012-12-12
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 lbs) 812g (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 300 shots 500 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Launch cost $279 $1,998