Clicky

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Samsung GX-20 front
Portability
58
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
Samsung GX-20
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 72mm
  • Launched January 2008
  • Superseded the Samsung GX-10
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the GX-20 (15MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and GX-20 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The TG-870 was brought out 8 years after the GX-20 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Samsung GX-20 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the TG-870 matches up versus the GX-20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Samsung GX-20

 TG-870 GX-20 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2008More modern by 97 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung GX-20 over the Olympus TG-870

 GX-20 TG-870 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Samsung GX-20

 TG-870 GX-20 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus TG-870 features exterior dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Samsung GX-20 has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 72mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the TG-870 compared to the GX-20.

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and GX-20 is 91 and 58 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The picture here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-870 and GX-20.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-870 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus TG-870 will show greater detail having its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern TG-870 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography factors
Samsung GX-20 Portrait photography factors
36
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Samsung GX-20 as a Street photography camera
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others (221g)
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Samsung GX-20
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography features
Samsung GX-20 Travel photography features
69
great battery power (300 per charge)
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (21mm)
more heavy than others (221g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
63
environment proof
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography factors
Samsung GX-20 Landscape photography factors
50
quite wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather proofing
great battery power (300 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging factors
Samsung GX-20 Vlogging factors
32
quite wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than others (221g)
9
no video shooting
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus TG-870 vs Samsung GX-20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Samsung GX-20
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Samsung GX-20
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Samsung GX-20
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2016-01-06 2008-01-24
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4688 x 3120
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 142 x 101 x 72mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 714
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $280 $850