Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850: An Expert Comparison Across Photography Disciplines

Selecting a camera invariably requires a thorough evaluation that encompasses sensor technology, operational nuance, shooting style versatility, and ergonomic design. In this detailed comparison, I put the Olympus TG-310, a rugged compact waterproof model introduced in early 2011, head-to-head against the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850, a full-frame advanced DSLR from 2010. While these two cameras target vastly different user profiles and price points, side-by-side analysis reveals critical distinctions and insights invaluable to enthusiasts and professionals aiming to align technical capabilities with real-world photographic demands.

Drawing upon over 15 years of hands-on testing with diverse camera systems across genres from wildlife to astrophotography, this comparison probes feature sets, image quality metrics, and shooting ergonomics - anchored in practical usability and underlying technology. The discussion proceeds through sensor technology, autofocus, build and handling, specialized shooting scenarios, and overall value.

Size, Build, and Handling: Ergonomics for Your Photography Workflow

Ergonomics and physical design frame the photographer’s direct tactile experience and operational efficiency. Here, the two cameras present radically different philosophies. The Olympus TG-310 epitomizes truly compact durability virtues, while the Sony A850 aims for professional DSLR robustness and control.

• Olympus TG-310: Measuring a petite 96 x 63 x 23 mm and tipping the scales at 155 grams, this compact is a true grab-and-go model optimized for adventure and casual use. Its tough environmental sealing makes it waterproof (up to 3m), freezeproof, dustproof, and shockproof (though not crushproof). Its compact form limits manual controls - no manual focus or aperture/shutter priority modes - and relies on simplified menus and a fixed lens, yet ensures easy handling in risky environments.

• Sony A850: Significantly larger at 156 x 117 x 82 mm and 895 grams, this mid-size SLR commands a solid grip and heft consistent with professional DSLR standards. The magnesium alloy body offers full weather sealing but lacks waterproofing. This sizeable footprint accommodates a comprehensive button layout and dials, supporting manual focus, exposure controls, and dual card slots, facilitating a serious, workflow-tailored shooting experience.

Above all, precise control access and weather resistance suitability largely dictate target users: Olympus for rugged, casual, or travel shooters; Sony for professionals requiring customizability and system expandability.

Top Control Layout and Interface: Intuitive Operation vs Advanced Customizability

Physical control architecture influences real-time adjustment speed and shooting fluidity. The cameras deploy different interaction models that suit their intended complexity levels.

• Olympus TG-310: Offers a very minimalist control set - primarily a mode dial, shutter release button, zoom rocker, and a few function buttons. There is no top LCD display, no dedicated exposure compensation dial, or aperture/shutter priority modes. The interface is geared toward quick point-and-shoot operation with some exposure tweaking, but within automated constraints.

• Sony A850: Features a traditional DSLR control complement, including dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation, a top LCD panel, and multiple customizable buttons. The inclusion of an external flash hot shoe and extensive autofocus point selection underlines professional-grade control fidelity. This layout empowers rapid exposure mode switching, complex metering adjustments, and seamless manual intervention.

The Sony’s tactile environment supports deliberate composition and technical precision, contrasting with Olympus’s simplified adventure-oriented design emphasizing durability and ease.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Compact Constraints vs Full-Frame Excellence

The sensor profoundly impacts resolution, dynamic range, noise performance, and color fidelity. Here the gulf between a compact CCD sensor and a full-frame CMOS sensor is especially pronounced.

Sony’s full-frame CMOS offers several decisive advantages:

• Larger pixel size equates to enhanced low-light sensitivity and reduced noise. The A850 exhibits clean images at ISO 1600, whereas the TG-310 shows notable noise at ISO 400.
• Raw capture and 14-bit processing facilitate extensive post-processing latitude - a critical aspect for professional workflows.
• Dynamic range measured by DxO Mark software (79 overall score) is substantially superior to typical compacts, capturing finer shadow and highlight detail.

The TG-310’s CCD offers respectable color reproduction for casual use but is hampered by smaller sensor size and lack of raw output, limiting creative control and print flexibility.

Rear LCD and Viewfinder: Compositional Tools and Usability

The ability to compose, review, and navigate menus hinges on screen real estate and viewfinder options.

• Olympus TG-310: Equipped with a 2.7-inch TFT LCD offering 230k-dot resolution, which is serviceable but low-res by modern standards. The screen is fixed and non-touch, with no viewfinder. This limits versatility in bright conditions or precision framing.

• Sony A850: Sports a 3-inch fixed TFT Xtra Fine display with 922k dots, delivering noticeably sharper preview images and menus. Furthermore, it includes a bright optical pentaprism viewfinder with 98% coverage and 0.74x magnification, invaluable for precise, real-time manual composition, especially under sunlight or dynamic shoots.

In practice, the Sony’s interface supports more confident framing and image review, while the TG-310 caters mostly to casual framing via LCD with basic live view.

Autofocus and Speed: Contrast Detection Simplicity vs Phase Detection Precision

Autofocus (AF) performance critically governs the camera’s responsiveness and ability to lock focus accurately - especially in action and wildlife scenarios.

• Olympus TG-310 relies on a contrast-detection AF system, adequate in bright environments and static subjects, but this system struggles with fast-moving subjects and in low light due to slower acquisition speed.

• Sony A850 employs a phase-detection AF with 9 focus points, recognized for rapid focus lock - important for sports, wildlife, and fast-action photography. Although it lacks sophisticated continuous AF tracking, the system reliably locks on subjects, and combined with the DSLR’s manual focus capabilities, it offers superior control over focus precision.

The modest burst rates limit both cameras in high-speed continuous shooting - the TG-310’s 1 fps is almost unusable for action, whereas the A850’s modest 3 fps offers limited rapid capture but remains better suited for semi-dynamic subjects.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Face Detection

Portraiture demands accurate skin color rendition, pleasing subject-background separation, and reliable face/eye autofocus.

• Olympus TG-310 provides face detection autofocus, which assists in composing portraits under automatic modes. However, its lens aperture range (f/3.9–5.9) and small sensor size limit background blur capabilities, producing less pronounced bokeh and shallow depth of field effects.

• Sony A850, with an array of compatible Alpha/Minolta lenses featuring wide apertures (e.g., f/1.4 primes), allows photographers to achieve significantly better subject isolation through natural bokeh. Despite the lack of modern eye-detection AF, skilled users can manually focus precisely thanks to focus aids in the optical viewfinder.

Color reproduction on the A850 is more neutral and malleable in post, suitable for professional portraiture workflows; the TG-310’s JPEG-focused output is serviceable for casual portraits but cannot rival Sony’s output quality or lens flexibility.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution for Detail Preservation

Landscape photography benefits from high resolution sensors, broad dynamic range, and robust weather sealing to shoot in challenging outdoor environments.

• The Sony A850 delivers 24.6 MP full-frame resolution combined with a 12.2 EV dynamic range, enabling capture of expansive tonal gradations. Its weather sealing protects against rain and dust, but care must be taken in harsh weather conditions given it is not waterproof.

• The Olympus TG-310’s 14 MP sensor and rugged weatherproof design allow shooting in wetter or dustier environments without auxiliary protection. However, the restricted dynamic range and resolution limit landscape image detail and tonal richness, a compromise for its ruggedness.

Lens selection further differentiates them; the Sony’s extensive system offers high-quality wide-angle and ultra-wide focal lengths essential for landscape imaging, while the fixed modest zoom of Olympus (28–102 mm equivalent) limits compositional flexibility.

Wildlife Photography: Autofocus Speed, Telephoto Reach, and Burst Performance

Wildlife demands rapid and accurate autofocus, substantial telephoto reach, and high shooting rates to capture fleeting action.

• The Olympus TG-310’s zoom maxes out at 102mm equivalent, which is frankly short for specialist wildlife work. Contrast-detection AF’s sluggishness compounds issues, and the single fps burst rate constrains action capture.

• Sony A850 paired with long focal length lenses (e.g., 300mm f/2.8) offers the telephoto reach professionals need, supported by phase-detection AF for quicker focus acquisition. Despite a modest 3 fps continuous shooting rate - relatively slow for modern action - the A850 remains far superior to the Olympus for wildlife despite lacking AF tracking.

In practice, neither camera excels for this niche, but the A850’s DSLR ecosystem and sensor capabilities place it closer to professional suitability.

Sports Photography: Tracking Accuracy and Low-Light Performance

Sports shooting entails rapid focus tracking, high frame rates, and effective low light sensitivity.

• The focusing system in Olympus TG-310 lacks continuous AF modes and quick burst speeds, making it unsuitable for sports photography beyond casual snapshots.

• Conversely, the Sony A850 features selectable AF modes and a capable shutter speed range (up to 1/8000s), but its 3 fps burst limits action sequence potential. Its higher ISO performance supports indoor or evening sports better, thanks to its CMOS sensor and larger pixels.

Nonetheless, modern semi-pro and pro sports photographers now gravitate toward cameras offering 8+ fps and advanced AF tracking, a gap in both these models.

Street Photography: Discreteness, Portability, and Responsiveness

Street shooters prize lightweight designs, quiet operation, and fast startup.

• The Olympus TG-310 shines here due to its compact size, quiet shutter, and waterproof/dustproof resilience, permitting candid shooting in unpredictable environments. However, the limited manual controls and slow AF will frustrate serious street photographers.

• The Sony A850, bulkier and louder, is less suited to discreet street shooting but offers superior image quality and manual control when discretion is less critical.

Both cameras lack in offering silent electronic shutters, a staple in modern street photography.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Focusing Precision

Close-up macro capture requires short minimum focus distances and precise focusing.

• The TG-310 enables focusing as close as 3 cm in Macro mode, coupled with sensor-based image stabilization, supporting handheld macro snapshots reasonably well.

• The A850 lacks specific macro settings but, with appropriate macro lenses, delivers superior image quality and focusing precision. The support for manual focus and focus aids in the optical viewfinder greatly assist macro veterans.

Therefore, Olympus targets casual macro shooting, Sony facilitates serious macro photography for those with investment in dedicated glass.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Long Exposure Adaptability

Long exposures and high ISO handling determine camera suitability for astrophotography and low-light night scenes.

• The Olympus TG-310 can expose up to 2 seconds but tops out at ISO 1600 with degraded image quality and no raw file support, limiting post-processing flexibility.

• The Sony A850 supports 30-second shutter speeds, extended ISO to 3200 (expandable to 6400), and crucially, raw capture with high dynamic range. This creates a strong foundation for astrophotographers and nightscape shooters.

Built-in noise reduction and stability features support cleaner final results, favoring the A850 as the more serious night photography tool.

Video Capabilities: Recording Specifications and Usability

Video recording in stills-centric cameras remains an essential feature for many users.

• Olympus TG-310 shoots up to 720p HD video at 30 fps using Motion JPEG format, which is outdated, producing larger files with limited editing latitude. Lack of a microphone port constrains audio quality externalization.

• Sony A850 offers no video recording capabilities, reflecting its primary role as a dedicated stills DSLR.

For casual HD video, the TG-310 suffices; professionals will seek dedicated camcorders or hybrid mirrorless bodies for video work.

Travel Photography: Balancing Versatility, Battery Life, and Portability

Travel shooters require cameras combining reliability, lightweight design, battery stamina, and adaptability.

• TG-310’s rugged compact form factor, environmental robustness, and small weight make it ideal for active, unpredictable trips. However, the short battery life rating (~150 shots) requires spares or recharging opportunities.

• Sony A850 delivers exceptional battery life (~880 shots) and system versatility, albeit with increased size and weight. Its dual card slots add security for bulk image storage, crucial on extended trips.

Therefore, choice depends on travel style: Olympus for adventure-oriented photographers valuing durability, Sony for itinerants needing high-quality stills and manual control.

Professional Workflows: File Formats, Reliability, and System Integration

For demanding commercial or artistic workstreams, sensor fidelity, file type flexibility, and system ecosystem criticality cannot be overstated.

• Sony A850 is a serious professional tool with full raw support, comprehensive exposure modes (shutter/aperture priority, manual), and compatibility with a large selection of Sony/Minolta Alpha lenses (143 lenses available at release). The combination guarantees image quality, workflow flexibility, and reliable, weather-sealed durability.

• The Olympus TG-310 only produces JPEGs, lacks manual exposure modes, and features a fixed lens, inherently limiting professional use, especially where post-processing latitude or creative control over optics is necessary.

The Sony’s compatibility with industry-standard tethering and workflow software also favours professional applications.

Connectivity, Storage, and Power: Modern Convenience vs Rugged Minimalism

• The TG-310 supports Eye-Fi wireless SD card connectivity, USB 2.0, and HDMI output, sufficient for casual image transmission, but lacks Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS navigation.

• The Sony A850 incorporates USB 2.0 and HDMI but no wireless capabilities. Dual card slots hold CompactFlash and MemoryStick Duo cards for enhanced storage and backup.

Battery types differ - with TG-310 using a smaller lithium-ion pack (LI-42B) and Sony employing a larger, longer-lasting NP-FM500H pack.

Sample Image Quality and Overall Performance Ratings

A comparative gallery demonstrating real-world image output substantiates technical claims.

Olympus TG 310 front Olympus TG 310 screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

While the Sony A850 images display superior detail, dynamic range, and color gradation, the TG-310’s samples serve well for low-demand scenarios.

Charts reveal the Sony outperforms the Olympus in nearly all photographic disciplines, barring rugged durability and portability.

Summary Recommendations: Matching Cameras to User Needs

Final Considerations

The Olympus TG-310 stands out as an extremely rugged, user-friendly point-and-shoot for casual adventurers, extreme environment hobbyists, and travelers prioritizing size and durability over image quality. Its limitations in sensor size, manual control, and autofocus restrict creative use and professional adaptation.

In stark contrast, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 caters to advanced enthusiasts and professionals who demand stellar image quality, manual flexibility, and compatibility with a robust lens ecosystem. Its size and weight, along with absence of video features, make it less versatile for casual or travel use but ideal for deliberate photographic endeavors requiring control and image reproduction excellence.

Prospective buyers should assess where their photography priorities lie: convenience and ruggedness or ultimate image fidelity and control - noting these two cameras serve fundamentally divergent niches within the photographic landscape.

With this analysis, photographers can align technical and operational realities with their artistic ambitions, ensuring informed purchasing decisions backed by hands-on expertise and rigorous feature benchmarking.