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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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 W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony W550, both Ultracompact cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was announced 4 years after the W550 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the TG-870 grades against the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony W550

 TG-870 W550 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2011More modern by 55 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus TG-870

 W550 TG-870 

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony W550

 TG-870 W550 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 has got outside 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 W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-870 compared to the W550.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The picture here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-870 and W550.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus TG-870 to show greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher TG-870 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Sony W550
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than average (221 grams)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography factors
Sony W550 Sports photography factors
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Sony W550
69
great battery life (300 CIPA)
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
more heavy than average (221g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
65
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
50
pretty wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery life (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
42
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging highlights
Sony W550 Vlogging highlights
32
pretty wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
more heavy than average (221g)
29
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony W550
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2016-01-06 2011-07-24
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221g (0.49 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Retail price $280 $119