Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A500

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus TG-610 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus TG-610 Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.