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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 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
  • Announced January 2011
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus TG-610 and Sony S980, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-610 was launched 23 months after the S980 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the TG-610 matches up against the S980 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony S980

 TG-610 S980 
ReleasedJanuary 2011February 2009Newer by 23 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Olympus TG-610

 S980 TG-610 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony S980

 TG-610 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-610 enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-610 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the TG-610 against the S980.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-610 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The image below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-610 and S980.

Clearly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus TG-610 to give extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer TG-610 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
17
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
64
environment proof
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (210 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Landscape photography features
Sony S980 Landscape photography features
43
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
environment proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging information
Sony S980 Vlogging information
30
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony S980
 Olympus TG-610Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-610 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-01-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.9-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.20 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 gr (0.42 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $223 $300