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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 front
Portability
92
Imaging
51
Features
44
Overall
48

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
Sony QX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 179g - 63 x 63 x 56mm
  • Revealed September 2013
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus TG-870 and Sony QX100, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Lens-style by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the QX100 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and QX100 (1") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-870 was revealed 2 years later than the QX100 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony QX100 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the TG-870 scores vs the QX100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony QX100

 TG-870 QX100 
RevealedJanuary 2016September 2013More recent by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution921k0kSharper display (+921k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX100 over the Olympus TG-870

 QX100 TG-870 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony QX100

 TG-870 QX100 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-870 features exterior dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony QX100 has proportions of 63mm x 63mm x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2") having a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-870 and Sony QX100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-870 compared to the QX100.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and QX100 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and QX100.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-870 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony QX100 will produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger TG-870 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography highlights
Sony QX100 Portrait photography highlights
36
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
53
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-870
Street photography with Sony QX100
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition (221 grams)
71
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
comes with touch focus
screen is fixed
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
Sony QX100 Sports photography features
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (300 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Sony QX100
69
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
comes with touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery life (200 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography features
Sony QX100 Landscape photography features
50
fairly wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
better than average battery (300 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
54
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
screen is somewhat small ( inch)
lack of manual exposure
no RAW support
low battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging features
Sony QX100 Vlogging features
32
fairly wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition (221 grams)
38
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony QX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony QX100
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Category Ultracompact Lens-style
Introduced 2016-01-06 2013-09-05
Physical type Ultracompact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch -
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Depends on connected smartphone
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 pounds) 179 grams (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 63 x 63 x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $280 $268