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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase 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
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-860
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A550, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-870 was announced 6 years after the A550 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the TG-870 scores versus the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony A550

 TG-870 A550 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016December 2009More modern by 74 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus TG-870

 A550 TG-870 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display resolution922k921kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A550

 TG-870 A550 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 comes with physical measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-870 against the A550.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and A550 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-870 and A550.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-870 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus TG-870 will give you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer TG-870 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Sony A550
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (221g)
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
Sony A550 Sports photography info
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
69
better than average battery (300 per charge)
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
more heavy than competitors in class (221 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low battery (480 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography features
Sony A550 Landscape photography features
50
pretty wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low battery (480 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
32
pretty wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (221g)
9
can't record video
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony A550
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2016-01-06 2009-12-09
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m
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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 221g (0.49 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 480 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $280 $749