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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-860
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-870 was released 5 years after the A55 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the TG-870 scores vs the A55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony A55

 TG-870 A55 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016August 2010Newer by 66 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus TG-870

 A55 TG-870 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A55

 TG-870 A55 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution921k921kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-870 features outside measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-870 versus the A55.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and A55 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The picture underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and A55.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The TG-870 comes with the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more challenging. The younger TG-870 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Sony A55
36
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography factors
Sony A55 Street photography factors
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition (221g)
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery (300 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
69
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
weather proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (21mm)
more heavy than competition (221g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
50
rather wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather proofing
better than average battery (300 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
67
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (380 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
32
rather wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (221 grams)
78
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony A55
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony SLT-A55
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2016-01-06 2010-08-24
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221g (0.49 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 380 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $280 $800