Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A580

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A580, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the TG-630 iHS (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the TG-630 iHS (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The TG-630 iHS was introduced 20 months later than the A580 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-630 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the TG-630 iHS scores against the A580 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus TG-630 iHS & Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-630 iHS Gallery & Sony A580 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-630 iHS provides exterior dimensions of 98mm x 66mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-630 iHS and the A580.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-630 iHS and A580 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through specs. The photograph below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-630 iHS and A580.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-630 iHS having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony A580 will render more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The more recent TG-630 iHS should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.