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Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Olympus TG-320 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Released January 2012
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus TG-320 and Sony A500, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-320 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is pretty similar but the TG-320 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The TG-320 was introduced 2 years after the A500 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-320 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a short overview of how the TG-320 scores against the A500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-320 over the Sony A500

 TG-320 A500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 29 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-320

 A500 TG-320 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus TG-320 and Sony A500

 TG-320 A500 
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-320 provides outside measurements of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-320 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-320 compared to the A500.

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-320 and A500 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The picture here may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-320 and A500.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-320 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus TG-320 will offer more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer TG-320 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-320
Portrait photography with Sony A500
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-320 Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than competition (155g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-320 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (150 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery power (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-320 Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than competition (155 grams)
weather proof
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (150 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
43
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery power (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-320 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
39
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
weather proof
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery pack (150 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery power (520 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-320 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition (155 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus TG-320 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-320 and Sony A500
 Olympus TG-320Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-320 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-10 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.1 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 pounds) 630 grams (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 150 photographs 520 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $638