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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise 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 A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Sony A380
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The TG-870 was introduced 5 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the TG-870 matches up versus the A390 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony A390

 TG-870 A390 
RevealedJanuary 2016July 2010More recent by 67 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus TG-870

 A390 TG-870 
Manual focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A390

 TG-870 A390 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-870 comes with outer dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-870 and the A390.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and A390 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The photograph here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and A390.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-870 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Olympus TG-870 will provide extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger TG-870 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Sony A390
36
good MP (16MP)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-870
Street photography with Sony A390
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others in class (221g)
76
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography advice
Sony A390 Sports photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
good battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
terrible battery (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
Sony A390 Travel photography highlights
69
good battery life (300 CIPA)
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (21mm)
more heavy than others in class (221g)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
53
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
Sony A390 Landscape photography info
50
decently wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
weather proof
good battery life (300 CIPA)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging details
Sony A390 Vlogging details
32
decently wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
more heavy than others in class (221g)
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony A390
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2016-01-06 2010-07-28
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 221g (0.49 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life 300 photos 230 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $280 $500