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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Olympus TG-310 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Released January 2011
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-310 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the TG-310 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The TG-310 was released 9 months later than the A850 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the TG-310 matches up against the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Sony A850

 TG-310 A850 
ReleasedJanuary 2011April 2010More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus TG-310

 A850 TG-310 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-310 and Sony A850

 TG-310 A850 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-310 offers exterior measurements of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-310 and the A850.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-310 and A850 is 94 and 54 respectively.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The photograph here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-310 and A850.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-310 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A850 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 11MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-310 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography details
Sony A850 Portrait photography details
33
good megapixels (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
72
focusing manually
fantastic megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-310 as a Street photography camera
Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than competitors (155 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-310
Sports photography with Sony A850
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (150 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Travel photography advice
Sony A850 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than competitors (155g)
weather proofing
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (150 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
55
environment proof
fantastic megapixels (25 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A850 Landscape photography highlights
39
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
weather proofing
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery life (150 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
no liveview feature
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-310
Vlogging with Sony A850
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (155 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-310 and Sony A850
 Olympus TG-310Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-310 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-01-06 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.20 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155 grams (0.34 lb) 895 grams (1.97 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 150 images 880 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 2
Retail pricing $0 $0