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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 190g - 96 x 65 x 26mm
  • Released January 2011
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
  • Released August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a extensive comparison of the Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively close but the TG-610 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The TG-610 was manufactured 17 months later than the A500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-610 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the TG-610 grades against the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony A500

 TG-610 A500 
ReleasedJanuary 2011August 2009Fresher by 17 months
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-610

 A500 TG-610 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony A500

 TG-610 A500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-610 has got external measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-610 compared to the A500.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-610 and A500 is 93 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by researching technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-610 and A500.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-610 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus TG-610 will result in more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent TG-610 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Portrait photography information
Sony A500 Portrait photography information
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Travel photography info
Sony A500 Travel photography info
64
environment sealing
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (210 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
43
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
43
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
environment sealing
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (210 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
30
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
9
no video shooting
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony A500
 Olympus TG-610Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-610 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-06 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
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 detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.20 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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 format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 gr (0.42 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 210 shots 520 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $223 $638