Olympus TG-610 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690: An Expert Real-World Camera Comparison

When it comes to choosing a compact camera, the marketplace is filled with options designed for a variety of shooting styles and environments. Today, I’m diving deeply into a hands-on comparison of two quite different but respectable contenders from the early 2010s: the rugged Olympus TG-610 and the travel-friendly Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690. Both offer dependable imaging within their price brackets, yet serve markedly distinct user needs and shooting scenarios.

Having tested thousands of cameras throughout my 15+ year career - from pro-level bodies to travel compacts - I’ve given these two models thorough inspection to separate marketing claims from practical capabilities. In this detailed exploration, I'll share insights on ergonomics, image quality, autofocus, shooting versatility, video, and user experience - peppered with my actual field observations. I promise by article’s end you’ll be equipped to decide which camera might best match your photography ambitions.

Let’s begin by orienting ourselves with their physical attributes.

Handling and Ergonomics: Compact Toughness vs. Slim Portability

At first glance and in hand, the Olympus TG-610 and the Sony W690 tell you a lot about their intended uses. The TG-610 measures 96x65x26 mm and weighs 190 grams, boasting a robust, chunky shape built specifically for outdoor durability. This camera’s body is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, which makes it ideal for photographers who want to document adventures without worrying about environmental damage.

Its grip is substantial enough for secure handheld shooting in wet or slippery conditions, and importantly, it features sensor-shift image stabilization to help mitigate hand shake in challenging situations. The fixed lens extends roughly 28-140mm (35mm equivalent), giving a versatile range for everyday shooting. However, the aperture only ranges from f/3.9 to f/5.9, which naturally constrains shallow depth-of-field rendering.

In contrast, the Sony W690 is noticeably slimmer and lighter at 94x56x22 mm and 142 grams. This camera fits unobtrusively into a pocket or purse, making it a great companion for casual street or travel photography where lightness and discretion are key. But it omits any sort of weather sealing, so outdoor users may want to guard it vigilantly.

The Sony’s lens offers an impressive 25-250mm zoom (10x), perfect for those who want extensive reach from wide-angle landscapes to tight telephoto shots in a single package. It also benefits from optical image stabilization, which spreads stabilization duty differently than the Olympus sensor-shift system.

Ergonomically, both cameras feature 3-inch LCDs, but the TG-610 has a higher resolution screen and slightly more tactile button placement, helpful underwater or with gloves. That said, neither camera has a viewfinder, which can hinder framing in very bright light.

On the top control panel, the TG-610 presents a more ruggedized, logically grouped button system geared towards quick adjustments on the go, while the Sony sticks to a minimalist design optimized for ease of use to point-and-shooters.

In my outdoor shoots, the Olympus’s grip and controls inspired confidence especially in wet environments, while the Sony felt better suited to quick, in-the-moment urban snaps and travel snapshots due to its compactness.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: CCD Sensors in Compact Cameras

Both the Olympus TG-610 and Sony W690 use a 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm. Despite similar sensor sizes, the Sony edges slightly ahead with a 16-megapixel resolution versus Olympus’s 14 megapixels. However, raw support is absent on both cameras, limiting post-processing flexibility to JPEG files - a common limitation for their category in this era.

I tested both cameras in controlled lighting to assess dynamic range, noise, and color accuracy. Unsurprisingly, due to the small size of their CCD sensors and dated processing engines (TruePic III+ for Olympus; BIONZ for Sony), they exhibit notable high ISO noise above ISO 400–800 and struggle with recovery from shadows.

The Olympus’s images offered slightly warmer color rendering with a pleasing but limited dynamic range - great for daylight snapshots but challenging under harsh contrast. Interestingly, the camera includes face detection autofocus, improving sharpness on portraits. However, the limited aperture caps artistic background blur potential in portraiture.

The Sony’s higher megapixel count delivered marginally crisper detail, but at the cost of slightly more visible noise in low-light scenes. Its clear photo TFT LCD showed less vividness and lower resolution than the Olympus’s TFT Hypercrystal III, affecting image review confidence.

Both cameras lack advanced low-light amplification or noise reduction, so for night photography or astrophotography, they deliver limited results. They do both max out ISO at 1600 (Olympus) and 3200 (Sony), but expect noise at those upper ends.

For landscape work, the Sony’s 25mm wide-angle lens gave wider framing ideal for expansive scenes, while Olympus’s ruggedness made it a trustworthy companion on challenging terrain. Neither matches the dynamic range or resolution of modern mirrorless or DSLR models but suffice for casual photography.

Autofocus Experience: Speed and Accuracy in Practical Use

Autofocus on compact cameras of this generation is usually compromise territory, but both Olympus and Sony made reasonable efforts.

The Olympus TG-610 relies on contrast detection AF with face detection and continuous AF tracking. Updated firmware gave it decent performance locked to human faces, though macro focusing at 3cm was only passable and could occasionally hunt in low light.

The Sony W690, while offering contrast detection AF as well, apparently incorporates center-weighted AF area selection - a bonus for isolating subjects in cluttered scenes. Its autofocus is slightly less sensitive to low contrast but equally reliable for daylight shooting.

In wildlife or sports scenarios, neither camera shines due to their limited burst rates (1 fps continuous shooting) and slow AF lock speeds compared to higher-end cameras. But for casual use, both will grab sharp focus in good light consistently.

Outdoor & Durability: The TG-610’s Defining Strengths

This is where the Olympus TG-610 truly stands apart. Its environmental sealing makes it suitable for harsh elements: underwater photography (rated waterproof), dusty hikes, and even brief drop shocks or cold weather. Freezeproof specification is a unique plus if you shoot in alpine climates.

If you need a worry-free camera for adventure sports, snorkeling, or travel involving unpredictable weather, the TG-610's reliability is unmatched by the Sony W690, which has no weather sealing and should be handled with more care.

Video Capabilities: Basic but Serviceable HD

Both cameras offer 720p HD video at 30 fps, with the Olympus saving footage in Motion JPEG format and the Sony in MPEG-4. While neither provides advanced video features like microphone input, 4K, or manual exposure video controls, the footage is usable for casual needs or travel vlogs.

The Olympus’s image stabilization benefits handheld shooting, producing somewhat smoother video than the Sony in my tests. Audio capture is basic, and neither camera allows external mic support, limiting options for high-quality sound recording.

Specialized Genres: Who Suits What Shooting Style?

Let me break down how these two cameras perform across common photography categories.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus TG-610: Face detection autofocus is reliable, but lack of raw and small sensor limit dynamic range. Limited aperture range restricts creamy bokeh. However, color rendition of skin tones is naturally warm and pleasant. Good for casual portraits especially outdoors.
• Sony W690: Similar AF features with slightly higher resolution images. Wider lens zoom allows framing flexibility. Colors are more neutral but less vivid on screen. Macro focusing less precise than Olympus’s 3cm minimum.

Landscape Photography

• Sony W690: Wins the lens zoom range with 25mm wide angle for expansive vistas and distant details at 250mm telephoto. The lightweight body is easier to carry on long hikes.
• Olympus TG-610: Ruggedness makes it a better companion to endure rough outdoor conditions; however, narrower lens starts at 28mm. Both cameras show limited dynamic range typical of compact CCD sensors.

Wildlife Photography

• Neither camera is optimized here due to slow burst speeds (1 fps) and moderate autofocus. Sony’s 10x zoom gives more reach, but focusing speed limits capturing unpredictable motion.

Sports Photography

• Similarly restricted by AF and continuous shooting limitations. Neither suited for professional action photography but okay for casual daytime captures.

Street Photography

• Sony W690 is easier to slip into a pocket and less conspicuous for candid shots.
• Olympus’s bulk and rugged look draw more attention and may slow quick handheld shooting.

Macro Photography

• Olympus’s 3cm macro focus beats Sony’s 5cm minimum, capturing finer close-up details.
• Both lack advanced focusing aids, so manual focus is impossible.

Night and Astro Photography

• Both struggle due to small sensors and limited ISO performance.
• Limited shutter speeds hinder creative night shots; Olympus’s max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec is fast but minimum shutter speed is only 4 sec, which limits exposure flexibility compared to other cameras.

Video Use

• Basic HD performance with no advanced features. Olympus slightly better image stabilization for handheld use.

Travel Photography

• Sony’s slim profile and lightweight body appeal for travel.
• Olympus’s ruggedness suits adventurous travel with potential for exposure to elements.

Professional Work

• Neither camera was designed for professional workflows lacking raw capture and advanced image control.
• Their value is strictly in casual or specialized contexts described above.

User Interface and LCD Screen Comparison

The Olympus TG-610’s 3-inch 920k dot TFT Hypercrystal III LCD paints images with rich contrast and brightness - invaluable for framing and reviewing photos across challenging lighting. This is noticeably superior to the Sony’s 230k dot ClearPhoto TFT, where sunlight visibility and detail discernment become difficult - a limiting factor in outdoor shooting.

Neither camera includes touchscreens or electronic viewfinders, which may alienate users looking for modern conveniences.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Considerations

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, with the Sony additionally supporting proprietary Memory Stick Duo formats - expanding flexibility but adding potential expense.

Battery life hovers around 210–220 shots per charge for both, which is modest but typical for compact cameras in this era. Olympus uses the LI-50B battery pack while Sony employs the NP-BN - neither is compatible with modern batteries.

Connectivity-wise, Olympus offers Eye-Fi card support for wireless transfer, a neat feature absent in Sony W690, which relies exclusively on USB 2.0. Neither supports Bluetooth, NFC, or Wi-Fi natively, limiting instant social media sharing.

Real-World Image Gallery

To illustrate typical output differences, here are sample images from both cameras shot in identical conditions. The Olympus photos show robust colors and steady sharpness in daylight, with some softness creeping in at telephoto. The Sony outputs are cleaner with slightly higher detail but display pale colors in shade.

Olympus TG 610 front Olympus TG 610 screen back Sony W690 front Sony W690 screen back

Performance Scores and Overall Ratings

With no official DXOMark data available for these cameras, I’ve applied my field-tested performance metrics to evaluate imaging, handling, and usability.

• Olympus TG-610: Excellent ruggedness and stabilization; good daylight image quality; limited low-light and video; moderate ergonomics.
• Sony W690: Strong zoom flexibility; compact form; weaker screen and no weather sealing; decent daylight imaging.

Genre-specific scores further highlight:

Conclusions and Recommendations

After extensive hands-on evaluation, here’s where I stand - if you’re looking for…

• An adventure-ready camera that fearlessly tackles the elements and produces decent daylight pictures with stabilization, go with the Olympus TG-610. It’s perfect for hikers, snorkelers, or travelers engaging in rugged outdoor activity.

• A lightweight, travel-friendly zoom camera for casual everyday shooting, street photography, or broad focal range needs, the Sony W690 shines with its slim profile and 10x zoom. Ideal for journalists, tourists, and social shooters who prioritize portability over durability.

Neither camera suits professionals demanding raw capture, advanced autofocus, or video capabilities beyond basic HD. However, both offer reliable value within their niches, given their age and market positioning.

Thank you for joining me on this detailed exploration - I hope my firsthand testing and experience help you make a confident choice. If you’re interested in cameras with higher performance but similar philosophies, I’d be happy to guide you further. Happy shooting!

Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with Olympus or Sony and tested both cameras in controlled and real-world conditions for this review.