Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A77 II: An Expert’s Hands-On Comparison From Ultracompact Rugged to Advanced DSLR

Choosing the right camera can often feel like walking into a candy store overwhelmed with options. But, trust me - I’ve been there, scouting gear for all kinds of shoots from muddy wildlife treks to studio portraits. Today I’m pitting two very different beasts head-to-head: Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 and Sony SLT-A77 II. Both have their charms but cater to radically different photography styles and budgets. After spending time testing these two thoroughly over a range of scenarios, here’s my candid rundown to help you navigate your next purchase with confidence.

Meet the Contenders: What You’re Holding in Your Hands

Right off the bat, the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A77 II are not trying to do the same things. The TG-870 is an ultracompact rugged point-and-shoot designed to survive your backpack and your adventures - waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof. It weighs a featherlight 221g and slips easily into any small pocket or glove compartment.

The Sony A77 II is a midsized advanced DSLR-style camera coming in at 647g - almost three times as heavy and with an obviously different blueprint: interchangeable lenses, a large APS-C sensor, and features geared toward more serious photographers. Its body screams “clubs for thumbs” with a solid grip and tons of physical controls.

Looking at both cameras side-by-side gives you an immediate sense of their design philosophies.

The Sony boasts a fuller control layout including dials for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and easy access to shooting modes. Olympus keeps it simple - fewer external controls, no manual aperture or shutter priority modes, and a fixed lens with a 21-105mm equivalent zoom range.

So if you’re a hands-on tinkerer who wants to pull focus, exposure, and aperture levers manually and enjoy lens swapping, Sony is already waving at you. But I wouldn’t dismiss Olympus’s appeal for portability and durability if you regularly shoot in rough conditions.

Understanding the Imaging Heads-Up: Sensor Tech and Image Quality

Sensor size is the cornerstone of image quality. Olympus TG-870 runs with a tiny 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor, 16MP resolution, whereas Sony A77 II packs a much bigger APS-C (23.5 x 15.6mm) CMOS sensor rated at 24MP.

That roughly 13x larger sensor area on the Sony is a massive advantage for image quality - better color depth, dynamic range, and noise performance. In my testing, landscapes and portraits taken by the Sony showed richer color gradation and preserved detail in shadows and highlights that the Olympus simply can’t match. The Olympus sensor’s dynamic range is limited, leading to quicker highlight clipping and noisier low light shots, especially past ISO 800.

Crucially, the Sony supports shooting in RAW format, enabling far greater latitude in post-processing adjustments. Olympus TG-870 shoots only jpegs - great for quick sharing, but a deal breaker if you want to sculpt your images afterward.

The Viewfinder and Screen Battle: How You Frame Your Shots

Neither camera has a traditional optical viewfinder, but Sony uses a high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,359K dots and 100% coverage, providing a bright and detailed view with eye sensor activation - an absolute godsend for bright daylight composing and manual focus precision.

Olympus TG-870 does away with a viewfinder altogether, instead relying on its 3” tilting LCD with 921K dots. This allows for flexible shooting angles but can struggle under direct sunlight.

Sony’s fully articulated 3” screen with more pixels also fares better in live view. Neither screen is touch-sensitive, which - honestly - is a bummer for quick focusing and menu navigation on both models. However, Sony’s interface offers more customization and physical buttons to compensate.

For street shoot stealth or macro low-angle shots, Olympus’s tilting screen is convenient, but I often found the Sony EVF easier on my eye for handheld shooting and precise framing.

Autofocus Systems Under the Microscope

AF can make or break a shoot, especially for wildlife, sports, or street photography.

Olympus TG-870 employs a contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and continuous AF in live view. It’s good enough for everyday snaps and macro shots, but nothing lightning-fast or track-happy. There’s no phase detection or animal eye AF, so fast-moving subjects will quickly outpace it.

Sony A77 II is an autofocus beast, featuring a hybrid AF module with 79 phase detection points (15 cross-type) spread widely in the frame and sophisticated tracking algorithms. In my autofocus speed tests (including tracking birds in flight and children running around the park), the Sony blew Olympus out of the water. Continuous shooting speeds max out at 12 fps on Sony versus 7 fps on Olympus, making a clear difference for capturing fast action and peak moments.

Performance Snapshot in Action: Shutter, Burst, and Handling

Olympus TG-870 has a modest shutter speed range (4 sec to 1/2000 sec), inadequate for freezing some fast action or long exposures without noise control tricks. Sony offers a more versatile shutter speed range (30 sec to 1/8000 sec), critical for long exposure night shots or daytime sports photography with wider apertures.

Sony’s higher continuous burst capability paired with better AF tracking makes it a clear winner for sports and wildlife shooting.

From an operational standpoint, Olympus’s compact size sacrifices clutch control ergonomics, meaning rapid changes on the fly are clunkier. Sony’s beefier grip and physical dials enable smooth exposure tweaks without breaking concentration on the subject.

Rugged vs. Refined: Build, Weather Resistance and Durability

One major dividing line is weather sealing and ruggedness.

Olympus TG-870 is built for abuse and adventure. Its rated waterproof to 15 meters, shockproof from 2.1 meters drops, freezeproof to -10°C, and crushproof (100kgf). If you’re hiking, diving, skiing, or just dropping your gear often, this camera is a trooper.

Sony A77 II has environmental sealing but is not waterproof or shock-resistant. It’s more of a desktop and field studio warrior than a mountain goat.

If your photographic life involves mud, water, and rugged terrain, Olympus wins hands down. For city, studio, or controlled environment shooting, Sony offers a refined but less survivable package.

Lenses, Ecosystem, and Expandability

Sony flexes its strengths with compatibility for 143 Sony/Minolta Alpha mount lenses - from fast primes to super telephotos. The APS-C sensor combined with a vast lens range massively widens your creative toolbox.

Olympus TG-870 relies on a fixed lens covering 21-105mm equivalent (5x zoom) with an aperture range f/3.5-5.7. It’s versatile for casual snaps and close-up macro down to 1cm focus, but it’s a one-trick pony.

For serious enthusiasts considering future-proofing your investment, Sony’s lens ecosystem is a clear advantage. For casual or travel photographers who don't want to lug extra glass, Olympus’s single lens is a simple, effective choice.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Sony offers a robust battery life of 480 shots per charge, compared to Olympus’s modest 300 shots. For day-long shooting sessions or travel, the difference can be material.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Sony additionally supports Memory Stick Pro Duo format, an area likely irrelevant unless you have legacy cards lying around.

Connectivity-wise, Olympus includes built-in GPS for geotagging, ideally suited for outdoor adventurers wanting to log their locations. Sony lacks GPS but does include NFC for quick wireless pairing, while Olympus’s wireless is more limited (no Bluetooth or NFC).

Video: Practical Use and Limitations

Both cameras shoot Full HD 1080p video. Sony A77 II supports a broader range of frame rates (60p, 60i, 30p) and popular codecs like AVCHD and XAVC S, ideal for professional-grade video capture. It also offers a microphone port - a must for better audio input.

Olympus TG-870 maxes out at 1080p 60p with simpler codecs (MPEG-4, H.264) and no audio jack. Its 5x zoom can be handy for casual video, but it lacks advanced video features or external audio input support.

For serious video creators, Sony is the obvious pick. Olympus is fine for casual vloggers or holiday movies.

Photography Disciplines: Which Camera Performs Best Where?

Olympus TG 870 front Olympus TG 870 screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back

Let me break down real-world strengths by genre based on my extensive field tests.

Portraits

Sony shines with its large sensor capturing creamy skin tones and natural bokeh. Eye autofocus is fast and reliable, delivering tack-sharp portraits. Olympus's smaller sensor and fixed lens struggle with subject isolation and subtle skin textures, giving softer results.

Landscapes

Sony’s dynamic range and resolution enable breathtaking landscapes with preserved shadow detail and crispness across the frame. Olympus’s dynamic range limits post-processing flexibility, and its narrow aperture range restricts depth of field control. That said, Olympus’s ruggedness means you can take it places where Sony might be safer at home.

Wildlife

Sony, with its rapid continuous autofocus and 12 fps burst, works well in tracking birds and animals on the move. Olympus’s slower AF and fewer focus points limit its usefulness here, though the compact size is a plus for casual wildlife snappers.

Sports

Sony’s fast shutter, burst mode, and AF tracking are built to deliver on sports action; Olympus’s limitations make it better suited for static shots or casual events.

Street

Olympus’s discreet size and ruggedness make it ideal for candid street photography without attracting much attention. Sony, while portable for a DSLR, is more noticeable but offers better image quality for those willing to carry it.

Macro

The TG-870 excels with a close 1cm macro focus, ideal for nature and close-up enthusiasts. Sony can do macro with dedicated lenses but adds weight and cost.

Night/Astro

Sony’s high ISO capability (native up to 25600) and longer shutter speeds outperform Olympus’s noisy high ISO and limited exposure ranges.

Travel

If size, weight, and ruggedness are priorities, Olympus wins the travel shoot hands down. Sony offers more versatility but requires packing lenses and care.

Professional Work

Sony’s RAW support, high resolution, extensive lens ecosystem, and overall reliability make it the only choice for professionals needing file flexibility and top-tier image quality.

Scores at a Glance: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

These scores reflect my detailed analysis and testing, balancing technical specs and field performance.

Pros and Cons Summary

Olympus TG-870

Pros:

• Rugged (waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof)
• Ultralight and pocketable
• Sharp 5x zoom lens with excellent macro capabilities
• Built-in GPS for geotagging outdoor shots
• Affordable price (around $280 new)
• Simple operation perfect for beginners and adventurers

Cons:

• Small sensor limits image quality and dynamic range
• No RAW shooting
• Limited manual controls and slow AF for action
• No viewfinder or touchscreen
• Modest battery life and video features

Sony A77 II

Pros:

• Large APS-C sensor with superior image quality
• Fast and accurate hybrid autofocus with 79 points
• High continuous shooting rate (12 fps)
• Fully articulated, high-res screen and EVF
• Extensive lens compatibility
• RAW shooting and robust manual controls
• Better battery life
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for connectivity
• Microphone input for video

Cons:

• Larger, heavier, less portable
• No weatherproofing, fragile compared to Olympus
• Higher price point (~$1,200 new)
• No touchscreen interface

Who Should Buy Which?

If you’re a travel photographer, weekend hiker, or just want an affordable, durable camera that’ll survive almost any environment and is easy enough to operate without fuss - Olympus TG-870 is your buddy. It’s not going to deliver studio-grade images, but it will let you capture memories from scuba dives to snow treks with decent image quality and zero fear for accidental damage.

On the flip side, if you’re serious about image quality, need a versatile system for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or sports, and don’t mind carrying a bigger rig with lenses, Sony A77 II will serve you beautifully. It holds its ground even against many newer APS-C models and DSLR competitors, thanks to its excellent autofocus and robust feature set.

Final Thoughts: Bridging the Gap Between Adventure and Artistry

Both cameras excel in their niches. Olympus TG-870 embodies the rugged spirit and simplicity for active lifestyles, while Sony A77 II embodies advanced craftsmanship, control, and creative freedom.

If you want a splash-proof companion that never complains about tough conditions - go Olympus TG-870. But if your priority is image quality, focusing speed, and versatility under controlled or professional scenarios - Sony A77 II is worth the extra muscle and cash.

Choosing between these two boils down to your photography style, environment, and budget. Luckily, neither will disappoint in the right hands.

Happy shooting!

For those interested, I’ve included a detailed gallery comparing sample images and handling notes across disciplines to further illustrate these points.

Olympus TG 870 front Olympus TG 870 screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back