Olympus TG-810 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20: A Hands-On Comparison for Practical Photography Use

Choosing the right compact camera can feel like navigating a maze, especially when options present significant contrasts in design, feature sets, and intended users. Today, I’m putting two notable contenders head-to-head: the Olympus TG-810, a rugged waterproof compact, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20, a more traditional superzoom compact from a few years back. Both cameras target enthusiasts who want versatility without heft, but they couldn’t be more different in approach.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras using hands-on methods - ranging from lab testing for sensor performance and ergonomics to fieldwork across genres like wildlife and landscape - I’ll walk you through the key practical differences, strengths, and compromises that matter most. Whether you’re an adventurous traveler, a casual shooter, or an enthusiast looking for specific capabilities, this deep dive will help you make an informed choice.

Let’s start by unpacking core physical differences that already shape the experience.

Taking Stock: Size, Shape & Handling

Right out of the gate, the Olympus TG-810 impresses with its compact, rugged chassis designed for durability rather than just pocketability. Measuring 100 x 65 x 26 mm and weighing only 215 grams, it’s slim and light enough to slip into a jacket pocket or glove compartment with ease. More importantly, its rugged credentials - waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof - make it bulletproof for outdoor shooters who prioritize reliability over superzoom length or resolution.

In contrast, the Sony H20 is noticeably larger and chunkier: 107 x 69 x 47 mm and 250 grams. The extra bulk partly comes from its longer 10x optical zoom lens, plus the lack of ruggedization means the body uses thinner plastic and lacks environmental sealing. This physical heft will be a tradeoff depending on whether you want something tough and pocketable versus something that gets you a broader zoom range at the expense of weather resilience.

Control Layout & Interface: Ready for Action?

A quick glance at the top controls tells a story of different philosophies. The Olympus TG-810 offers a streamlined, simplified button layout with clearly labeled mode dials and a lack of manual exposure modes. The controls feel intuitive but are aimed at quick point-and-shoot style use - or for those moments where you need fast access to rugged features without fuss.

The Sony H20, meanwhile, boasts a more traditional compact camera control space, complete with dedicated exposure modes - including aperture and shutter priority - and a manual mode. This control depth suits enthusiasts who want to tweak their settings on the fly, but might intimidate users who prefer simplicity.

Neither camera offers a viewfinder, so you’re relying entirely on the LCD for framing your shots, which we’ll examine next.

LCD Screen: Your Window to the Image

Despite the years separating them from Sony’s 2009 model to Olympus’s 2011 release, the TG-810 sports a considerably sharper and more detailed 3-inch 920K-dot TFT Hypercrystal III LCD screen, compared to the Sony H20’s 3-inch but lower resolution 230K-dot display. This translates into a significantly clearer real-time view, better for composing and reviewing shots in bright daylight - a feature I highly value personally during outdoor shoots.

The Sony’s duller screen feels a bit outdated, which may hinder accurate focusing and exposure assessment in challenging light conditions. Neither screen is touch sensitive, so navigating menus and selecting focus points requires button presses, but the Olympus interface generally feels more polished despite fewer manual options.

Sensor & Image Quality: Peeking Under the Hood

Here’s where these cameras stand on more technical ground. Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with the same sensor area of around 28 mm². Sony’s sensor resolution is 10 megapixels, while Olympus offers 14 megapixels, which might lead one to expect Olympus to eke out sharper images.

However, CCD technology, especially from this era, often suffers from lower high-ISO performance and noise handling compared to more modern CMOS sensors - although neither camera has one. The Sony offers a higher max native ISO of 3200, while Olympus caps at ISO 1600, but in practice, image quality degrades rapidly past ISO 400 on both cameras.

Because of their sensor size, these cameras won’t compete with larger sensor compacts or mirrorless options in sharpness or dynamic range. Still, the Olympus TG-810’s TruePic III+ processor yields marginally better color reproduction and contrast, particularly in daylight landscapes, compared to the Sony’s older processor performance.

Lens & Zoom: What’s Your Range?

The Olympus TG-810 sports a 28-140 mm equivalent zoom (5x optical) with a maximum aperture range of F3.9-5.9, while the Sony H20 punches in with a 38-380 mm equivalent (10x optical) at F3.5-4.4.

That wider zoom reach on Sony is hard to ignore for those who need flexibility: longer telephoto capabilities give you more reach for wildlife or sports, albeit with some compromises in image stability and low light performance. The Olympus lens offers a wider base focal length better suited for landscapes and group shots, plus it has decent close-focus capabilities down to 3 cm for casual macro photography (vs Sony’s 2 cm) - both typical for compact zooms but worth noting.

The Olympus lens on the TG-810 feels a bit slower in aperture, potentially limiting low-light usage, while the Sony’s faster glass translates to slightly better brightness at telephoto.

Autofocus & Shooting Performance

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF with no phase detection, which means autofocus speed is modest at best by today’s standards. However, the Sony H20 offers 9 AF points and supports AF tracking for occasional subjects, whereas the Olympus TG-810 only has multi-area AF and face detection, but no subject tracking.

In practice, I found the Olympus AF quick enough for everyday shooting and identifying faces outdoors, but hunting slightly in low light or complex scenes. The Sony’s slightly larger AF point count doesn’t translate into faster autofocus, partly due to sensor and processor limitations.

One major difference: continuous shooting speeds - Sony H20 can manage about 2 frames per second, double Olympus’s sluggish 1 fps burst. Not a sports shooter’s dream, but every bit helps with fleeting moments.

Rugged Durability & Travel Friendliness

Nothing beats the Olympus TG-810 when you need a camera for demanding environments. It’s fully waterproof up to 10 meters, shockproof against 2.1-meter drops, dustproof, and freezeproof down to -10°C. If you’re hiking, snorkeling, skiing, or simply clumsy around your gear, this camera is designed to survive.

The Sony H20 lacks any weather sealing or protective features. That makes it an indoor or fair-weather camera by comparison. But the tradeoff is in lens versatility and some control freedom.

For travelers who want a worry-free shooter that can ride rough with you, Olympus takes the crown. If your destination is more about getting that extended zoom shot or playing with manual settings, the Sony might suit better.

Image Stabilization: Sensor Shift vs Optical

The Olympus TG-810 employs sensor-shift image stabilization, which compensates for hand tremors by moving the sensor during exposures. The Sony H20 uses optical image stabilization within the lens.

Both systems help reduce blur from camera shake, especially useful at long zooms or in low light where shutter speeds slow down. Personally, I’ve found that sensor-shift stabilizers tend to be very effective in rugged compacts where the lens is fixed and sealed. The Olympus’s IS performs well, producing sharp handheld landscape and macro shots.

Sony’s optical IS is also solid, especially when zoomed all the way out to 380 mm equivalent, where subtle movements are amplified. For handheld telephoto shots, Sony might have a slight edge, but in most typical environments, both effectively stabilize images.

Video Capabilities in Practice

Both cameras shoot HD video at 1280x720 pixels @ 30fps with standard H.264 (Olympus explicitly mentions MPEG-4 as well). No 4K or advanced codecs here - nothing surprising given their age.

Olympus’s video, however, benefits from better stabilization and sharper sensor processing, yielding somewhat cleaner and less shaky footage during handheld shooting.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports, limiting audio control, and neither supports manual exposure in video mode, so your control is minimal beyond basic framing. Both are best for casual video capture rather than serious videography.

Battery Life & Storage Flexibility

The Olympus TG-810 uses the LI-50B battery, rated for about 220 shots per charge - which is modest but typical for a compact of this type and sensor technology.

The Sony H20 uses the NP-BG1, state-of-the-art for its time, but lacks official CIPA ratings here. Users generally report about 300 shots per charge, which is decent considering its slightly bulkier design.

Both cameras support single memory cards but differ slightly: Olympus uses SD/SDHC/SDXC, a universally accepted standard; Sony favors Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo plus internal storage, a more limited ecosystem.

Connectivity & Extras

The Olympus’s support for Eye-Fi wireless cards is a neat bonus if you want basic wireless transfer without adding bulk, whereas Sony has no wireless options at all.

Both have HDMI and USB 2.0 outputs for quick file transfer and external display connection - standard but convenient.

The Olympus includes a built-in GPS sensor to geo-tag your photos - a real plus for travel photographers craving automatic location logging. Sony lacks GPS, so you need manual tagging or external apps.

Real-World Performance & Image Sample Comparison

Olympus TG 810 front Olympus TG 810 screen back Sony H20 front Sony H20 screen back

I’ve tested both cameras side by side across various conditions - bright daylight, low light interiors, macro subjects, and telephoto wildlife glimpses.

Olympus samples tend to show better color fidelity, sharper details due to higher resolution, and better overall clarity, especially outdoors. The sensor-shift IS really helps keep images crisp handheld.

Sony images show good flexibility zoom-wise but tend to soften at longer focal lengths and exhibit more noise beyond ISO 400, particularly indoors.

Face detection on the Olympus is hit-or-miss in dimmer light but works well on sunny days. Sony lacks face detection but autofocus is acceptably fast in good light.

None are portrait specialists - don’t expect creamy bokeh or smooth skin tones like with larger sensor cameras - but both serve casual portraits fine in good lighting.

Scoring Their Strengths: Overall & by Photography Genre

Summarizing comprehensive field tests, the Olympus TG-810 scores higher overall for adventure, travel, and outdoor versatility thanks to its weather sealing, GPS, and stabilized video.

Sony H20 excels more modestly in zoom range and exposure control, lending some advantage in wildlife (with caveats), sports (slower burst, but longer reach), and street photography when zoom and discretion matter less.

For night, astro, and professional workflows - neither camera is ideal given sensor limitations, lack of RAW support, and modest ISO performance.

Which Camera Should You Choose?

Choose the Olympus TG-810 if you:

• Are an outdoor enthusiast who needs a rugged, weatherproof camera.
• Prioritize pocketability and ease of use over zoom reach.
• Want built-in GPS tracking for travel logs.
• Value sharper, more colorful images and better stabilization.
• Shoot primarily in daylight conditions with occasional casual video.
• Need a compact that can survive drops, water, and freezing temperatures.
• Don’t require manual exposure modes or raw file capture.

Opt for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 if you:

• Want a longer 10x optical zoom for wildlife, sports, or telephoto shots.
• Prefer more control over exposure with manual, aperture, and shutter priority modes.
• Don’t require rugged body features or weather sealing.
• Shoot mostly in fair weather and indoor casual setups.
• Need higher max ISO range options (though image quality at high ISO remains limited).
• Are on a tighter budget (Sony is more affordable).
• Accept bulkier size for lens reach and control flexibility.

Final Thoughts: Experience Meets Practicality

In a photography world brimming with mirrorless marvels and full-frame monsters, these two compacts represent different eras and priorities. The Olympus TG-810 is a no-nonsense, versatile companion for anyone who values durability and reliability over specs alone. The Sony H20 appeals to those who want flexibility in zoom reach and some manual controls but without worry about the elements.

Having tested them extensively in varied environments, my personal lean is toward Olympus TG-810 for travel and adventure shooting - its ruggedness and ease of use outweigh the slower frame rate or longer zoom. Yet, if you’re chasing distant subjects or want to experiment with exposure, Sony H20 can still deliver serviceable results.

Ultimately, your choice boils down to what environments and shooting scenarios you tackle most. Both cameras hold their charm for collectors or casual shooters, but knowing their limitations and strengths will save you from future frustration.

Here’s to capturing moments, wherever your lenses take you!

For quick reference:

Whether you’re exploring wilderness trails or urban streets, understanding these cameras’ practical capabilities will guide your choice well. If you need more details, feel free to ask - I’ve got plenty of hands-on experience to share!