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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Launched July 2006
  • Older Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Refreshed by Sony A550
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony A100, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and A100 (10MP) and the TG-870 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The TG-870 was introduced 9 years later than the A100 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the TG-870 scores against the A100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony A100

 TG-870 A100 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2006Fresher by 115 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus TG-870

 A100 TG-870 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A100

 TG-870 A100 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-870 has got outer dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A100 has measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony A100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the TG-870 compared to the A100.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and A100 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and A100.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-870 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus TG-870 will provide greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The newer TG-870 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography features
Sony A100 Portrait photography features
36
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
52
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Sony A100 as a Street photography camera
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than competition (221 grams)
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Sony A100
51
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (300 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography info
Sony A100 Travel photography info
69
better than average battery pack (300 per charge)
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
more heavy than competition (221g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
Landscape photography with Sony A100
50
pretty wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (300 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
53
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging features
Sony A100 Vlogging features
32
pretty wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (221g)
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony A100
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2016-01-06 2006-07-31
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) -
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 638 grams (1.41 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 476
Other
Battery life 300 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $280 $1,000