Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A9

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A9, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the TG-870 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The TG-870 was brought out 15 months before the A9 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the TG-870 scores against the A9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 and Sony Alpha A9. The entire galleries are available at Olympus TG-870 Gallery and Sony A9 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 features exterior dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony A9 has sizing of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A9 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the TG-870 and the A9.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and A9 is 91 and 65 respectively.

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and A9.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-870 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A9 will give more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged TG-870 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.