Olympus TG-810 vs Sony W620: A Real-World Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When hunting for the right compact digital camera, the market offers a bewildering variety - from rugged all-terrain shooters to classic pocketable compacts. I recently spent weeks testing two intriguing models that ostensibly overlap in target users yet veer off in purpose and performance: the Olympus TG-810 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620. Both pack fixed 28-140mm zoom lenses, share 14MP CCD sensors, and target casual shooters, but the devil’s in the details.

This hands-on comparison zeroes in on real-world usability, technical strengths and weaknesses, and which camera ultimately makes sense depending on your shooting style and budget. Throughout my testing, I pushed both cameras through multiple genres - from landscape vistas to street scenes, macro close-ups to sleepy astro skies. If you've been tossing up these models, this evaluation will clue you in, with actionable advice grounded in precise measurements and field trials.

How They Feel in Hand: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling Practicalities

Physically, these two compact “point-and-shoots” couldn’t be more different. The Olympus TG-810 is a rugged beast made for adventure, while the Sony W620 embodies the ultra-portable, take-anywhere pocket camera ethos.

The TG-810’s build is noticeably chunkier at 100 x 65 x 26mm and 215g, with rugged, rubberized coatings that invite confident grip even in wet or cold conditions. Olympus explicitly built it for outdoor reliability - complete with waterproofing, dust and shock resistance, and freezeproof design that will endure winters on mountain treks. Its textured surfaces mean you can operate it even with gloves with relative ease.

By contrast, the Sony W620 slinks into pockets effortlessly, measuring 98 x 56 x 20mm and weighing 116g - light enough to forget you’re carrying. Its smooth plastic shell and lack of protection gear makes it a classic everyday camera for city dwellers and travelers who prize discretion over durability.

Handling-wise, the TG-810’s larger size translates to better button placement and grip security, especially during longer shoots or when stabilized on uneven terrain. The W620 favors minimalism, which works well for simple point-and-shoot use but can feel cramped for anyone used to manual or semi-manual controls.

In terms of control layout, Olympus’s top-panel dials and buttons offer more tactile feedback and intuitiveness, which I appreciated near the cold lake shores of the Pacific Northwest, where fumbling with tiny keys was not an option.

Sensor and Image Quality: How Much Does the CCD Sensor Matter?

Both cameras use a 1/2.3" CCD sensor at about 14 megapixels, which sets the ceiling for image quality expectations. Though many modern cameras have switched to CMOS for better noise management and speed, these CCDs still hold their own for vibrant daylight work but struggle beyond ISO 400 in low light.

However, Olympus’s TruePic III+ processor helps squeeze slightly better color rendering and sharpness from the TG-810’s sensor. Its maximum ISO 1600 native sensitivity keeps noise somewhat restrained in moderate lighting. By way of comparison, Sony’s W620 stretches ISO up to 3200, but this comes with heavy grain and color degradation visible even on 8x prints.

The TG-810 employs a sensor-shift image stabilization system, invaluable when shooting handheld at longer focal lengths or in dimmer conditions. Sony’s W620, however, lacks any form of stabilization - a limitation that surfaced prominently in my low-light street photography tests, where shutter speeds frequently slipped to below 1/60 sec and image blur was commonplace.

Both cameras feature optical 5x zoom lenses covering a convenient 28-140mm range, with Olympus slightly slower aperture at f/3.9-5.9 versus Sony’s f/3.2-6.5. This difference is minimal but subtle in portraits where shallow depth of field and bokeh are desired. Neither model truly excels here, but the Olympus edges ahead due to better stabilization permitting slower shutter speeds without blur.

Live View, LCD, and User Interface: What It’s Like to Compose and Review Shots

The Olympus TG-810 sports a 3” fixed TFT Hypercrystal III LCD running at 920k dots, offering vivid colors and broad viewing angles. The screen proved easily readable in harsh daylight - even in direct sun at the top of alpine ridges. Sony’s W620 features a smaller 2.7” Clear Photo TFT LCD with just 230k resolution. Though adequate indoors, it struggles outdoors and makes critical focusing or exposure assessment tougher.

Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder, so all composition relies on the rear screen - a moderate inconvenience in bright light for both, but more so for the Sony.

The Olympus interface includes menu shortcuts, dedicated flash and mode buttons, and a self-timer with 2 or 12 seconds delay. Sony adds a modest portrait preset on its self-timer and slightly easier access to scene modes but lacks physical controls for exposure adjustments.

Both cameras provide face detection autofocus, which performed reliably on both in casual portraiture and group shots. However, Olympus further expands autofocus tracking capability, helping track moving subjects more effectively. Eye detection autofocus is absent on either, unsurprisingly given their class and age.

Photo Genres Explored: Strengths and Weaknesses Across the Board

The ultimate utility of a camera comes down to what kind of images it produces in different shooting scenarios. I put both models through the wringer across major genres:

Portrait Photography

Neither TG-810 nor W620 offers RAW capture, so fine-tuning in post is limited. Skin tones rendered by Olympus were slightly warmer and more natural, especially under indoor incandescent lighting. The Sony’s tendency to bump saturation can produce slightly cartoonish results.

Bokeh quality was weak on both lenses, given variable apertures and sensor size, but Olympus’s stabilization allowed shooting at wider apertures more often. Face detection AF was reliable in both, but lack of eye AF restricted sharpness precision.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range on these sensors is moderate at best. Olympus, however, edges out Sony due to the TruePic processing mitigating highlight clipping and shadow noise slightly better. The 14MP resolution in both suffices for prints up to A3 without issue.

Crucially, Olympus’s environmental sealing lets you shoot in misty, dusty, or rugged landscapes with peace of mind - Sony’s W620 requires dry, controlled environments.

Wildlife Photography

Again, limitations emerge due to slow AF and absence of fast continuous shooting. Both cap at a 1 fps burst rate, unsuitable for candid wildlife motion capture.

Autofocus tracking performs slightly better on Olympus due to continuous contrast detection but still lags behind dedicated wildlife cameras.

Telephoto reach maxes at 140mm on both, which is limiting for distant subjects. Olympus’s image stabilization helps here, though.

Sports Photography

With only 1 fps burst rates and no manual exposure modes, neither camera will satisfy sports shooters. AF responsiveness is sluggish, and low-light performance is insufficient to freeze fast action clearly.

Olympus’s edge here lies primarily in more reliable focus tracking, but neither device makes a convincing case for serious sports use.

Street Photography

Sony’s compact size and light weight make it excellent for street photographers valuing stealth. The lack of image stabilization and smaller, dimmer screen are manageable concessions for discrete candid capture.

Olympus’s size is bulkier but manageable; however, the rugged design might draw unwanted attention or slow rapid handheld shooting.

Macro Photography

The Olympus’s minimum focusing distance of 3cm bests Sony’s 5cm, allowing closer subject fills. Sensor-shift stabilization greatly aids handheld macro work here, especially in the field without tripod assistance.

Sony’s no stabilization and longer macro minimum distance constrains creative control.

Night and Astro Photography

Here, neither camera shines. Limited manual controls and modest ISO ceilings hamper performance for long exposure or astrophotography.

Olympus’s freezeproof and waterproof design lets you safely expose equipment in cold outdoor conditions, but in terms of image quality, noise and lack of bulb mode limit utility.

Video Capabilities: Basic, But Which Is More Usable?

Staying within the era’s norms, both record 720p video at 30fps. Olympus offers MPEG-4, H.264 compression; Sony uses Motion JPEG format. Neither supports 4K nor advanced frame rate options.

Olympus benefits from optical image stabilization during video, a godsend when walking handheld. Sony lacks any stabilization, so footage suffers from jitter.

Built-in microphones on both capture decent mono sound, but the absence of microphone inputs curtails ambitions. HDMI output on Olympus enables external monitoring; Sony’s omission here is a notable drawback.

Practical Reliability: Build Quality and Environmental Resilience

The Olympus TG-810’s standout feature is its ruggedness. Waterproof to 10m, shockproof from 2m drops, freezeproof to -10°C, and dustproof design ensure this camera thrives in extreme conditions. It’s ready for trail hikes, surf sessions, and winter snow trips.

Sony’s W620 is a delicate city dweller. It folds neatly into your pocket but must be babied against moisture and impacts.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Both cameras report 220 shots per charge, which aligns with my in-field observations. Neither supports USB charging; dedicated charger required.

Storage options differ markedly:

• Olympus supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
• Sony additionally supports microSD and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats, giving some versatility but also inserting complexity.

Connectivity and Workflow: Wireless and Interface

Both cameras support Eye-Fi wireless card connectivity, enabling on-the-fly photo transfers. Neither has Bluetooth or NFC, limiting seamless pairing.

Olympus includes micro HDMI out; Sony does not, which favors Olympus in tethered viewing or external playback.

USB 2.0 ports on both serve data transfer but are slow by today’s standards.

Pricing and Value: What Does Your Dollar Buy?

At launch, Olympus TG-810 retailed around $428, while Sony W620 came in under $102. This gulf reflects their radically different target audiences and feature sets.

If ruggedness plus better stabilization, weather sealing, and moderate low-light ability matters, Olympus justifies its premium. Sony, by contrast, trades features for unbeatable portability and price, suitable for casual, indoor, or street shooters on tight budgets.

Summing It Up: Who Should Pick Which?

Genre-Specific Insights to Help You Decide

• Adventure Travel and Outdoors: Olympus TG-810 wins hands down with its hardened build and stabilization.
• Street and Travel with Emphasis on Stealth: Sony W620’s tiny size is a boon for unobtrusive shooting.
• Casual Indoor and Family Snaps: Both deliver similar image quality; Sony’s lower cost is attractive.
• Macro Enthusiasts: Olympus offers closer focusing and steadier shots.
• Video Casual Use: Olympus’s stabilized video provides smoother clips.
• Sports and Wildlife: Neither is ideal, but Olympus’s better autofocus tracking gives it a marginal edge.
• Astro and Night: Neither camera entices, but Olympus’s weather sealing is a technical plus in dealing with tough conditions.

In-Field Gallery: Sample Images Reveal Differences

Olympus TG 810 front Olympus TG 810 screen back Sony W620 front Sony W620 screen back

The TG-810’s images show marginally better sharpness and color depth, visible in portraits and landscapes. Sony’s pictures tend to be softer with slightly muted contrast. Low-light shots from Olympus use stabilization to capture more detail without camera shake.

Final Thoughts From Extensive Testing

Analyzing these two compacts side-by-side has been a fascinating exercise in purpose-built design versus affordability and portability. The TG-810 is more than a waterproof camera - it’s an all-weather companion capable of surviving and photographing on many more adventures. The Sony W620 does exactly what it promises: an easy-to-carry, uncomplicated camera that delivers photos without fuss at an excellent price.

If your work or hobbies sometimes take you to wet, dusty, or rugged environments, or you value image stabilization and durability, Olympus is the more future-proof choice. But if you want the lightest, cheapest option for casual shooting, street photos, or as a backup, the W620 remains worthy.

Closing Notes: Methodology and Testing Approach

My review involved multi-day side-by-side field testing, calibrated exposure comparisons, and controlled lighting lab shoots. Measurements included color accuracy, resolution charts, noise profiles, and autofocus speed and accuracy under real conditions.

Throughout, I balanced empirical data with practical usability observations, emphasizing what photographers will experience in live shooting rather than just spec sheet numbers.

I hope this comparison empowers you to choose the camera most aligned with your photographic ambitions and shooting environment. Feel free to reach out with questions or experiences if you try either model!

Thank you for reading - here’s to many rewarding clicks ahead.