Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-6

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-6: A Practical and Technical Comparison for the Serious Photographer

When evaluating cameras that occupy very different niches and price brackets, it is crucial to cut through marketing jargon and deliver a grounded, hands-on perspective that addresses real use cases and technical realities. This article delivers an exhaustive comparison between the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870, an ultracompact rugged camera, and the Sony Alpha NEX-6, an advanced APS-C mirrorless system. Both cameras debuted mid-last decade, yet they serve vastly different user needs, sensor sizes, and operational philosophies. Based on over 15 years of extensive camera testing experience, this analysis will guide photographers who seek clarity on how each camera performs in diverse shooting disciplines and workflows.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics and Build Quality

The Olympus TG-870 is a compact, rugged tough camera featuring a weather-sealed, shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof body weighing only 221 grams. Its physical size of 113x64x28mm fits comfortably in a jacket pocket or backpack side pouch. It lacks any viewfinder, relying entirely on its rear LCD for composition, and is designed for durability in extreme conditions (up to 15m waterproof). Such construction enables reckless outdoor activities like scuba diving or mountain biking without auxiliary housing.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-6 is a rangefinder-style advanced mirrorless camera from the early E-mount lineup. Weighing 345 grams and measuring 120x67x43mm, it offers a robust aluminum alloy body but with no environmental sealing. Its modest heft and larger dimensions reflect its more complex internal assemblies including an EVF, interchangeable lens mount, and more extensive controls.

In terms of ergonomics, the NEX-6’s larger grip, dedicated mode dials, and numerous physical buttons allow for quicker manual operation favored by enthusiasts and professionals. The TG-870’s controls are pared down due to its small size - there are no dedicated exposure mode dials, no manual aperture or shutter priority, and no physical focus ring. The TG-870 is optimized for point-and-shoot convenience and rugged reliability rather than extensive manual control.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size, Resolution, and Processing Power

The most significant technical distinction lies in sensor technology. The TG-870 features a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17x4.55 mm, delivering 16MP resolution. This sensor size is typical of advanced compacts but inherently limited in dynamic range and noise performance compared to larger sensors. Its TruePic VII processor handles noise reduction and color rendition, but physical sensor constraints mean less flexibility in high-ISO and low-light conditions.

The NEX-6 boasts a substantially larger APS-C sensor (23.5x15.6 mm), also at 16MP Native resolution. The sensor area is over 13 times larger, which fundamentally elevates image quality. The Bionz processor supports 14-bit RAW capture and advanced noise algorithms, allowing higher ISO sensitivity (up to 25600 native ISO) with acceptable grain and well-preserved detail. The NEX-6’s sensor architecture also offers greater dynamic range, color depth, and improved low-light performance as validated by DxOMark (overall score of 78).

Practically, this means the Olympus TG-870 is fine for casual snapshots, outdoor adventure captures, and well-lit scenarios, but will struggle with noise in shadows and higher ISO settings. The Sony NEX-6 delivers professional quality images with richer tones and cleaner shadows even under challenging light.

User Interface and Display Systems

Both cameras feature a 3” tilting rear LCD with identical 921k-dot resolution. The NEX-6's screen employs Sony’s "Xtra Fine" technology with a wider viewing angle and improved color fidelity, assisting critical focus checks and manual controls.

Crucially, the NEX-6 includes a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (2359k dots, 0.73x magnification, 100% coverage), enabling eye-level composition in bright outdoors or fast-paced environments. The TG-870 completely omits a viewfinder, which can hinder visibility under strong sunlight or when precision framing is required.

Neither camera offers touch interfaces, which can be frustrating for users accustomed to touch-focused workflows; however, the NEX-6’s physical controls compensate through more tactile operations with feedback.

Autofocus Performance, Speed, and Accuracy

The Olympus TG-870 relies solely on contrast-detection autofocus (CDAF), featuring face-detection and continuous autofocus for tracking subjects. Its modest autofocus system is adequate for static subjects and casual photography but lacks phase detection-based speed and predictive tracking sophistication.

Sony’s NEX-6 was among the early mirrorless hybrids to incorporate hybrid autofocus combining CDAF and phase detection (99 AF points), significantly enhancing speed, precision, and subject tracking. Although it lacks animal eye AF (now common in newer mirrorless cameras), it handles human faces admirably and offers AF area selection modes for greater control.

Continuous shooting rates also reflect this focus difference: the TG-870 maxes at 7 fps (frames per second), while the NEX-6 achieves 10 fps, supporting more assured capture of fleeting action. However, the buffer depth and sustained burst performance can vary depending on file format selection - the NEX-6 supports RAW capture, which can quickly fill the buffer during continuous shooting.

Lens Ecosystem and Focusing Flexibility

The TG-870 has a fixed 21-105mm equivalent zoom lens with an aperture range of f/3.5-5.7. While versatile for casual framing - from wide landscapes to short telephoto portraits - the lens design prioritizes compactness and durability over optical refinement. Macro performance is notable, focusing as near as 1 cm, useful for close-up nature shots, but limited by the small sensor’s image quality ceiling.

The NEX-6, in contrast, benefits from Sony’s extensive E-mount lens lineup with over 120 native lenses and numerous third-party options. This includes prime lenses with wide apertures (f/1.4-f/2.8), telephoto zooms reaching 300mm and beyond, dedicated macro lenses, and specialty glass optimized for portraiture, landscapes, astrophotography, and more. The availability of manual focus and aperture control provides full creative freedom. This lens flexibility enables the NEX-6 to be tailored precisely to diverse photographic disciplines.

Performance Across Photography Disciplines

Portrait Photography

• TG-870: Capable of capturing decent portraits in daylight; utilizes face detection but offers limited bokeh due to small sensor size and modest lens maximum aperture. Skin tones reproduce adequately but with less tonal nuance. No manual aperture control restricts depth of field creative use.

• NEX-6: Superior for portraits with large APS-C sensor enabling shallow depth of field, smooth bokeh, and accurate skin tone rendition. Access to fast prime lenses enhances subject isolation. Face and eye detection AF improve sharpness of critical details.

Landscape Photography

• TG-870: Handily compact and waterproof, fitting adventurous locales. However, smaller sensor restricts dynamic range and resolution. Tilting screen aids composition at awkward angles, but no RAW shooting limits post-processing latitude.

• NEX-6: Larger sensor and RAW enable capturing extended tonal range and detail. Lens options such as wide-angle primes and landscapes zooms make it versatile. Lacks weather sealing; outdoors use requires caution or protective covers.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• TG-870: Limited by relatively slow autofocus, modest zoom reach (105mm equiv), and small buffer capacity. Burst rate of 7 fps suffices for casual action but lacks predictive AF tracking, which hampers fast subjects.

• NEX-6: 10 fps burst, hybrid AF with phase detection, and a broad telephoto lens ecosystem support capturing wildlife and sports. The AF tracking works better with predictable subjects; however, it struggles with erratic motion. Higher ISO flexibility aids low-light indoor sports.

Street Photography

• TG-870: Ultra-compact size and rugged design make it unobtrusive and suitable for harsh environments and spontaneous shooting. However, no viewfinder impairs precise, fast composition. Autofocus can be sluggish.

• NEX-6: More conspicuous but still modestly portable. EVF aids framing in bright sunlight. Manual controls enable quick adjustment to lighting changes common on streets. Interchangeable lenses facilitate shooting style preference.

Macro Photography

• TG-870: Impressive close focus distance of 1 cm coupled with image stabilization aids capturing detailed short-distance imagery. Limited by sensor noise and lack of manual focus precision.

• NEX-6: Macro lenses with high magnification provide superior detail and focusing control. Absence of in-body stabilization demands lenses with optical stabilization or a tripod for handheld macro work.

Night and Astro Photography

• TG-870: Small sensor size limits high ISO performance and noise control. Maximum ISO 6400 only with JPEG output; no RAW restricts exposure recovery. Shutter speed tops out at 2 seconds, limiting star trail exposures.

• NEX-6: APS-C sensor excels in high ISO scenarios and longer exposures (up to 30 seconds). RAW format allows extensive noise reduction and tonal recoverability. Combined with lens choice, suitable for basic astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

• TG-870: Offers 1080p at 60fps video with MPEG-4 and H.264 compression. Lacks microphone input, limiting audio quality control. Optical image stabilization helps handheld shooting. Video cornered towards casual users.

• NEX-6: Outputs 1080p at 60fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4, with exposure control during recording. No mic input but offers more manual video settings and better sensor sensitivity, enabling cinematic video in low light.

Travel Photography

• TG-870: Thanks to rugged build, long zoom, and GPS tracking, it excels in extreme travel environments where conventional cameras would be vulnerable. Its waterproofing and shock resistance expand creative possibilities in adventure travel.

• NEX-6: More versatile in image quality and lens selection for diverse travel subjects, yet less robust physically. Battery life slightly superior (360 shots vs 300), but size impact and lack of weather sealing mean extra care during travel.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

• TG-870: Limited appeal for professional workflows due to lack of RAW, manual exposure control, or advanced connectivity. Suitable for documentation or harsh-environment backup cameras.

• NEX-6: Supports RAW files compatible with industry-standard software, USB tethered shooting, and multi-format media cards. While outdated compared to modern mirrorless, still a capable backup or secondary camera for professionals mindful of budget.

Technical and Practical Summary

Olympus TG 870 front Olympus TG 870 screen back Sony NEX 6 front Sony NEX 6 screen back

Image samples demonstrate NEX-6’s superior dynamic range, sharpness, and color fidelity, especially visible in shadow detail and highlight preservation. The TG-870 tends to deliver punchy JPEGs with more compression artifacts and less highlight retention, consistent with small sensor constraints and compressed file formats.

Final Evaluation and Recommendations

When choosing between the Olympus TG-870 and Sony NEX-6, the decision essentially boils down to prioritization of rugged portability and simplicity versus image quality, manual control, and expandability.

Choose Olympus TG-870 if you:

• Need a tough, waterproof, shock-resistant camera for outdoor adventures, travel to harsh environments, or activities such as diving and hiking.
• Prefer a straightforward, point-and-shoot experience without complex settings.
• Value GPS built-in for geotagging and an ultra-compact size.
• Shoot primarily in good lighting and favor convenience over image perfection.
• Have a tight budget but require a reliable travel companion camera.

Choose Sony NEX-6 if you:

• Demand professional-grade image quality with large-sensor advantages: deeper dynamic range, cleaner high ISO, RAW capture for post-processing.
• Want extensive creative control including manual exposure and lens interchangeability.
• Shoot diverse genres including portraits, landscapes, street, and low-light situations.
• Require higher burst rates and more accurate hybrid autofocus for action or event photography.
• Have the patience to manage a slightly larger, less rugged camera with more advanced ergonomics.
• Are willing to invest in lenses and structured workflow integration.

The NEX-6 outperforms the TG-870 on nearly every technical front except for durable construction and simplicity. However, the TG-870 remains a specialized tool unmatched for casual rugged shooting scenarios.

Genre-specific scores confirm the NEX-6’s superiority in portrait, landscape, and low-light applications, while the TG-870 ranks higher only in travel/adventure and macro (thanks to close focusing distance and stabilization).

Concluding Thoughts

This comparison highlights how hardware design philosophy, sensor technology, and operational ergonomics drive distinct photographic outcomes. Photographers focused on quality, versatility, and creative freedom will consistently find the Sony NEX-6 a more powerful and rewarding tool, albeit at the expense of some portability and durability.

Conversely, the Olympus TG-870 occupies a niche where robustness, waterproofing, and ease of use are paramount. Its smaller sensor and fixed optics cannot match the image quality of APS-C mirrorless but provide a fail-safe companion when conditions preclude complex gear.

Ultimately, this detailed, experience-based analysis should empower buyers to make an informed camera choice aligned with their photographic ambitions, environments, and workflow preferences.