Olympus TG-870 vs Sony HX30V

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony HX30V, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The TG-870 was released 3 years after the HX30V which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the TG-870 grades versus the HX30V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-870 Gallery and Sony HX30V Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-870 comes with external measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony HX30V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the TG-870 against the HX30V.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and HX30V is 91 and 90 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing a spec sheet. The image below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and HX30V.

As you can see, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony HX30V to show greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The newer TG-870 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.