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Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-810 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-810
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 215g - 100 x 65 x 26mm
  • Introduced August 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-810 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very comparable but the TG-810 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-810 was manufactured 24 months later than the A500 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-810 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the TG-810 matches up versus the A500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-810 over the Sony A500

 TG-810 A500 
ReleasedAugust 2011August 2009Fresher by 24 months
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-810

 A500 TG-810 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-810 and Sony A500

 TG-810 A500 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-810 comes with physical dimensions of 100mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the TG-810 and the A500.

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-810 and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by going through specifications. The photograph below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-810 and A500.

Plainly, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-810 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus TG-810 will provide extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher TG-810 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-810
Portrait photography with Sony A500
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-810
Street photography with Sony A500
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-810
Travel photography with Sony A500
64
environment proof
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
43
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery (520 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
43
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proof
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery (520 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
30
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
9
no video
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Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-810 and Sony A500
 Olympus TG-810Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-810 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-08-16 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.20 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 grams (0.47 lbs) 630 grams (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 65 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 1.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 520 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $428 $638