Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W510: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Ultracompact Cameras for Photography Enthusiasts

When scouting for an ultracompact camera, the choices can be baffling. On the budget-friendly end, Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-W510 has long been a go-to for casual snappers; meanwhile, Olympus’ Stylus Tough TG-870 packs rugged features aimed at adventure seekers. Having spent years testing cameras from cheapskate compacts to professional gear, I’m here to dissect these two side-by-side and give you a grounded, practical perspective. Whether you're eyeing your next walk-around shooter or need a compact backup, this comparison covers everything - from technical specs to real-world performance.

Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Design & Controls

Right off the bat, size and handling matter - especially if you plan to carry your camera all day or tuck it into a jacket pocket.

The Olympus TG-870 is chunkier and heavier at 221g and measures 113 x 64 x 28 mm, reflecting its rugged, waterproof design. The TG-870’s body feels solid and reassuring in hand; its pronounced grip and rubberized textures scream “built for adventure.” This isn’t a dainty camera, but it’s designed for action and rough conditions - more clubs for your thumbs rather than a delicate jewel.

By contrast, the Sony W510 is noticeably smaller and lighter at 119g and 96 x 54 x 20 mm. It fits in a front pocket without issue, making it a great candidate for ultra-portability. However, this slim profile comes at the cost of grip comfort and durability; it’s your classic delicate ultracompact, best treated with kid gloves.

Ergonomically, the TG-870 gets bonus points for its tilting 3-inch screen and external control buttons, which feel tactile and intuitive for quick adjustments. The Sony’s 2.7-inch fixed screen feels cramped and less responsive, with a more basic button layout.

If you prize ruggedness and a camera that won’t quit mid-hike or pool party, Olympus is your pal. If you want the smallest possible bundle to slip in your pocket on city strolls or quick snaps, Sony fits that need neatly.

A Closer Look: Design & Control Layout

Moving past size, handling is all about button placement and control logic. The Olympus TG-870 impresses with clearly marked dials and mode selectors, giving you some semblance of control despite it missing fully manual modes (more on that later). You get access to ISO, exposure compensation tweaking, and easy toggling of image stabilization. The “clubs for thumbs” design philosophy shines here - Olympus knows you want reliability over wizardry in a tough compact.

The Sony W510, however, takes on a bare-minimum, no-frills approach that suits beginners or those who want to point-and-shoot with zero fuss. Buttons are small, closer together, and the mode dial feels flimsy. With no real manual exposure options or advanced autofocus controls, it’s a basic camera that won’t frustrate.

In short, the TG-870 serves the enthusiast looking for adventure-ready reliability, while the W510 leans towards the super casual user.

Sensors & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality hinges most on sensor technology and processing, so this is where things get interesting.

The Olympus TG-870 sports a relatively modern 16MP 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor, which benefits from back-side illumination (the "BSI" bit), meaning it can gather light more efficiently than older sensors. This sensor size is standard in ultracompacts but Olympus’ TruePic VII processor helps push image quality further by enhancing noise reduction and color reproduction.

In contrast, the Sony W510 uses a 12MP 1/2.3" CCD sensor - an older generation technology less sensitive to low light. CCDs notoriously generate more noise at higher ISOs and consume more power. You’ll notice Sony’s sensor struggles earlier with noise creeping above ISO 400 or 800, while Olympus can hold clean shots up to ISO 1600 or even 3200 with some noise reduction compromise.

Sony’s maximum ISO tops at 3200, Olympus punches through to 6400 native (with a boosted mode to 12800), but realistically, noise levels beyond ISO 1600 in the TG-870 become intrusive as well.

Resolution-wise, Olympus offers 4608 x 3456 pixels, giving you more room to crop or make large prints compared to Sony’s 4000 x 3000 max. For landscape or macro shooters hungry for detail, Olympus has a slight edge.

Both cameras have an anti-aliasing filter to combat moiré patterns but don't support RAW files. That’s notable - enthusiasts wanting full control over post-processing should look elsewhere.

Checking Out the Back: LCD Screens & Interface

A big practical difference between these two cameras is the rear screen usability.

The Olympus TG-870’s 3-inch tilting screen with 921k dots is a joy to compose with, especially from tricky angles - think overhead shots or low macro perspectives. This screen is bright, crisp, and responsive, easing framing and reviewing images in bright daylight.

The Sony W510’s fixed 2.7-inch screen with just 230k dots is a real letdown in 2024 terms. Viewing outdoors is a strain, and composing creatively (especially in low or bright light) becomes a guessing game. The lack of touch or tilt functionality limits user interaction.

If you shoot outdoors or like composing from odd angles often, the Olympus’ screen alone is worth the price premium.

AutoFocus & Shooting Speed: How Fast Can They Snap?

Autofocus and burst speeds can make or break certain shooting scenarios.

The Olympus TG-870 offers contrast-detection AF with face detection and continuous AF for action. It even supports touch-to-focus on the screen and has modes optimized for different subjects. Burst shooting hits a respectable 7 fps, meaningful if you want to capture kids or pets in motion.

The Sony W510, on the other hand, has a simpler contrast-detection AF with no face detection or continuous tracking. Burst shooting maxes out at a sluggish single frame per second, putting it out of the running for sports or wildlife.

Neither offer phase-detect AF which marginally impacts speed and tracking, but Olympus’ faster processor and modern AF system give it a clear practical benefit for dynamic shooting.

Durability & Outdoor Use: Built Tough vs Basic

Here’s where Olympus stands miles apart. TG-870 is waterproof up to 10 meters, shockproof from 2.1m falls, crushproof up to 100kg load, and freezeproof to -10°C. This camera laughs at outdoor abuse - cold lakes, rocky trails, beach sand - you name it.

Olympus TG 870 front Olympus TG 870 screen back Sony W510 front Sony W510 screen back

Sony W510 is a fragile butterfly. No weather sealing, no dust or freeze protection, no shock resistance. It’s a cautious companion best kept far from spills or rough handling.

If you’re an adventure photographer or outside-lite enthusiast, Olympus wears the crown here. Sony is for indoor family-picture taking or careful sightseeing.

Photography Genres: Real-World Suitability

Let’s break down how each camera handles popular types of photography, because specs alone don’t tell the whole story.

Portraits

• Olympus TG-870: Face detection AF works well for finding eyes, though lack of wide aperture lenses (F3.5-5.7) limits background blur (bokeh). Skin tones come out natural thanks to TruePic VII processing. Macro mode focuses as close as 1cm - great for detail shots and artistically blurring the background.
• Sony W510: No face detection, only center-weighted AF. Wider aperture at F2.8 on zoom’s wide end helps in low light but the noisy sensor and lack of fine control hamper flattering portraits.

Landscapes

• Olympus TG-870: Good dynamic range for a compact, helped by sensor processor combo. High resolution lets you crop without loss. Weather and freeze proof mean no worries about mountain or beach weather.
• Sony W510: Lower resolution and sensor tech struggles in varied lighting; fixed screen hampers composition. No durability for outdoors.

Wildlife & Sports

• Olympus TG-870: Burst mode (7 fps), continuous AF tracking, and decent telephoto reach (105 mm equiv.) are adequate for casual wildlife photos. No teleconverter or specialized lens, though.
• Sony W510: Burst mode non-existent and slow AF mean missing fast action shots. Telephoto reach is shorter.

Street & Travel

• Sony W510: As a street or travel companion, its small size wins points for discretion and portability.
• Olympus TG-870: Bulkier but rugged; better as an outdoor travel tool. Battery life is 300 shots - adequate but less than Sony (which Sony doesn’t officially specify, but its CCD camera often pushes longer). Built-in GPS on Olympus helps with geotagging travel shots.

Macro

• Olympus TG-870: Impressive close-focus (1cm) and optical image stabilization make it versatile at macro without external lenses.
• Sony W510: Macro limit at 4cm, and no stabilizer; requiring very steady hands.

Night/Astro

• Olympus TG-870: Higher ISO up to 6400, plus optical stabilization, make it moderately capable at night. It supports timelapse recording for star trails.
• Sony W510: Low ISO ceiling and lack of stabilization mean grainy, unusable night shots.

Video

• Olympus TG-870: Full HD 1080p at 60fps with H.264 codec, but no external mic input, limiting audio quality for serious filmmaking.
• Sony W510: Only 640x480 SD video at 30fps, too low-res for HD content.

Professional Use & Workflow Integration

Neither are designed as professional workhorses. Neither offers RAW capture or full manual controls, almost certainly removing them from pro workflows needing precise exposure or post processing.

The Olympus’s ruggedness and advanced sensor (for a compact) could make it a secondary camera for quick field reference shots in tough environments where DSLRs can’t be risked.

Technical Rundown: Which Tech Triumphs?

Storage and Connectivity

The Olympus TG-870 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards plus internal memory, and crucially features built-in wireless connectivity and GPS for easy photo sharing and location tagging.

The Sony W510 accepts multiple formats like SD cards and Sony's Memory Stick, but offers no wireless or GPS capabilities. In the smartphone age, wireless transfer is increasingly essential.

Price vs Performance: What You Get for Your Bucks

Sticker shock can come when comparing cameras - especially ultracompacts. The Sony W510 retails at about $99, competing against the Olympus TG-870 at nearly triple that price.

What you gain is clear: superior sensor tech, weatherproof body, better video, faster shooting, and richer controls with Olympus. Sony’s price is attractive but its dated sensor and limited features make it a camera for true cheapskates or absolute beginners.

With that said, if your budget is tight and you want a simple camera for casual snapshots mainly in daylight, Sony is still no slouch.

Performance Across Photography Genres: How They Stack Up

Here's how the cameras perform in popular photography genres, rated relative to their class:

• Portraits: Olympus leads with better face detection and sensor detail.
• Landscape: Olympus’s higher resolution and ruggedness win hands-down.
• Wildlife: Olympus slightly ahead due to faster burst and AF.
• Sports: Olympus far better thanks to continuous AF and burst.
• Street: Sony’s size & discreetness have the edge.
• Macro: Olympus with better focusing and stabilization.
• Astro/Night: Olympus superior with higher ISO and timelapse.
• Video: Olympus by a mile.
• Travel: Depends - Sony for light travel, Olympus for rugged adventures.
• Professional Work: Neither suited, Olympus better for field as a backup.

A Glimpse at Sample Images

Olympus TG 870 front Olympus TG 870 screen back Sony W510 front Sony W510 screen back

In daylight landscapes, Olympus’ images are sharper, with better color accuracy and dynamic range. Skin tones in its portraits appear natural, while Sony images show lower detail and noisier shadows.

Night shots taken with Olympus show usable captures at ISO 1600, whereas Sony shots are noisy and less defined.

These samples illustrate how technological advancements over the five-year gap matter in practical picture quality.

Final Verdict: Which Ultracompact Should You Choose?

To wrap up, here’s my honest, real-world verdict tailored to your needs:

Choose the Olympus TG-870 if you:

• Need durability and weatherproofing for hiking, beach, snow, or poolside shots
• Desire better image quality in varied lighting, including nighttime
• Want faster shooting and more advanced autofocus for action shots
• Appreciate tiltable LCD for creative framing and selfies (if you’re willing to turn the camera around)
• Are willing to pay more for improved features and ruggedness
• Crave GPS tagging and wireless connectivity for easy workflow

Choose the Sony W510 if you:

• Are on a shoestring budget and want a simple, tiny pocket camera
• Shoot primarily in well-lit conditions - family gatherings, daylight strolls
• Value ultra-portability and discreetness in urban or travel shots
• Are happy with basic point-and-shoot operation with minimal controls
• Don’t care about video quality or advanced photographic features

Personal Thoughts and Testing Insights

Having spent hours shooting with both, I noted that the Olympus offers a much more confidence-inspiring experience. Ruggedness isn’t just a marketing buzzword here - it truly lets you focus on capturing moments rather than worrying about rain or drops.

While the Sony W510 feels quaint today, it still can serve a niche. I’d even keep one in the car’s glove compartment as an emergency backup or quick grab-and-go. That said, for even modest investment above $150, you can find far more capable cameras than the W510.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you cut through the specs and marketing talk to find the camera that really fits your photography pursuits. Ultracompacts aren’t flashy, but the Olympus TG-870 stands out as a hardworking little tool with meaningful strengths for serious enthusiasts on the go.

Happy shooting!

If you want to see me review other cameras or provide sample shooting tutorials with these compacts, let me know. I’m always up for sharing practical insights tested in the field.

Images integrated as per context:

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• Olympus TG 870 front Olympus TG 870 screen back Sony W510 front Sony W510 screen back