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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus TG-630 iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Olympus TG-630 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 66 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus TG-630 iHS versus Sony A57, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-630 iHS (12MP) and A57 (16MP) and the TG-630 iHS (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The TG-630 iHS was brought out 4 months after the A57 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-630 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-630 iHS matches up versus the A57 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-630 iHS over the Sony A57

 TG-630 iHS A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus TG-630 iHS

 A57 TG-630 iHS 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A57

 TG-630 iHS A57 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013September 2012Similar age
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-630 iHS provides exterior dimensions of 98mm x 66mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-630 iHS versus Sony A57 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the TG-630 iHS against the A57.

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-630 iHS and A57 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-630 iHS and A57.

As you can see, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-630 iHS because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A57 will deliver greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-630 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony A57
27
features face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
59
weather sealing
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
67
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS Landscape photography info
Sony A57 Landscape photography info
39
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery power (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A57 as a Vlogging camera
33
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
77
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic jack
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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A57
 Olympus TG-630 iHSSony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-630 iHS Sony SLT-A57
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-01-08 2012-09-13
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 gr (0.37 lb) 618 gr (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 66 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 550 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $200 $1,000