Olympus TG-810 vs Sony WX30: A Hands-On Expert Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing the right camera often boils down to understanding your unique photography needs. Today, I’m putting two intriguing compacts head-to-head: the rugged Olympus TG-810 and the sleek, versatile Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30. Launched in mid-2011, both appeal to different users but share some core similarities, like compact size and respectable zoom ranges. However, their design philosophies and feature sets couldn’t be more distinct.

Having spent considerable time testing, shooting, and dissecting these cameras, I’ll walk you through everything from sensor tech and image quality to genre-specific performance, ergonomics, and practical usability, peppered with real-world assessment. If you’re hunting for a waterproof adventure buddy or a nimble point-and-shoot packed with video oomph, this is your go-to detailed comparison.

Let’s dive in.

What’s in the Hand: Size, Build, and Handling

First impressions matter, and handling shapes the entire shooting experience.

At a glance, the Olympus TG-810 is noticeably larger and heftier, weighing in at 215g compared to the Sony WX30’s ultra-light 117g. Its dimensions (100x65x26 mm) emphasize sturdiness, while the Sony’s compactness (92x52x19 mm) screams portability.

The TG-810 is purpose-built for durability - boasting weather sealing that’s waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof. You could realistically take it snorkeling, hiking in the rain, or out on rugged terrain without worry. In contrast, the WX30 offers none of these protective features. It’s designed more for casual street and travel photographers prioritizing unobtrusive carry.

Ergonomically, the TG-810’s larger grip area provides reassuring handling, especially when wearing gloves or underwater. The Sony, with its slim profile and rounded edges, feels more like a pocket camera. Neither sports a viewfinder, relying instead on LCDs, but ergonomics favor the TG-810 for tough conditions and the WX30 for quick, light travel.

Later on, the control layout differences become even more apparent when we look at interface design.

Design DNA: Control Layout and User Interface

Examine the top plates, and you’ll see how Olympus prioritizes rugged simplicity - a shutter button with textured grip, a dedicated zoom toggle, and a modest mode dial. Sony, however, leans into compact efficiency with a well-integrated zoom lever around the shutter, and the proverbial “less-is-more” button placement.

The TG-810 notably lacks manual exposure controls, and while this might frustrate some seasoned shooters, its target market - outdoors lovers who want quick point-and-shoot proficiency - may appreciate the no-fuss approach.

The WX30, while not offering manual modes either, adds a touchscreen interface that Olympus misses entirely. This small but critical detail enhances navigation through menus and settings, making Sony’s user experience snappier and more pleasant for on-the-fly adjustments.

Still, the TG-810’s buttons are reasonably tactile, and its LCD screen is bright enough for direct sunlight use, a boon for outdoor shooting.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of Photography

Both cameras share a common 1/2.3" sensor size (6.17 x 4.55 mm), which places them firmly in the small-sensor compact category. The Sony WX30 boasts a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor - a back-illuminated design that yields better noise performance and dynamic range, especially in low light, compared to the Olympus TG-810’s 14MP CCD sensor.

In practical shooting scenarios, this sensor disparity is significant. The Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor delivers richer detail, improved color depth, and higher usable ISO levels (up to 3200 native, compared to Olympus’s 1600). While neither supports RAW capture - limiting post-processing flexibility - the WX30’s superior sensor tech translates into cleaner images and better shadow detail.

CCD sensors, like in the TG-810, have a vintage appeal for their color rendering but are notoriously weaker in low light. If you mostly shoot under bright daylight or in controlled lighting, Olympus still holds its own. But once the sun dips, the Sony’s sensor shows its advantage.

Noise handling differences also emerge clearly in night photography or indoor shooting (which many enthusiasts appreciate). The WX30’s images maintain usable detail up to ISO 800 or 1600, while the TG-810 tends to lose fidelity and introduces more grain at similar sensitivities.

Screen and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

Both cameras lack an electronic or optical viewfinder, relying solely on their rear displays. Here, Sony edges ahead with a touchscreen-enabled 3.0-inch 922k-dot XtraFine TFT LCD, offering crisp resolution and intuitive menu navigation. Touch input allows quick focus point selection and faster menu cycling, which is a boon for ergonomics.

Olympus’s TG-810 features a fixed 3-inch 920k-dot TFT Hypercrystal III LCD, optimized for outdoor visibility but without any touch support. The screen clarity is decent but less finely rendered. Color accuracy and brightness are respectable on both systems, though Sony’s slightly larger pixel density lends a more vibrant feel.

For composing shots in bright conditions or tricky angles, neither camera offers tilt or swivel LCDs, which limits framing creativity. This is a trade-off you’d expect in compacts of this era.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Versatility in Framing

Lens performance is paramount - here, both cameras aim for a practical zoom range but differ in approach.

The Olympus TG-810 features a 28-140mm equivalent 5x zoom (F3.9-5.9), while the Sony WX30 slightly shifts to 25-125mm (5x zoom) with a more generous maximum aperture starting at F2.6.

What does that mean in practice?

The Sony’s bright wide end (F2.6) means you can gather more light when shooting at its shortest focal length, a definite plus for indoor or low-light shooting. Olympus sacrifices some aperture for ruggedness and waterproof construction.

Concerning macro capability, the TG-810 shines with a 3cm closest focus distance, allowing close-up shots with vivid detail - helpful for shooting flowers, insects, or textures. The WX30 has a 5cm macro range, slightly less close but still competitive for casual macro photography.

Stabilization-wise, Olympus relies on sensor-shift image stabilization, highly effective in reducing blur at slow shutter speeds, especially useful for underwater or dim conditions. Sony employs optical image stabilization (steadyshot) within the lens assembly, which also works well but can introduce some slight focus hunting at extremes.

Autofocus and Speed: How Fast Can They Chase a Shot?

Autofocus systems define usability across genres like wildlife or sports, and here the differences become pronounced.

Olympus has a modest contrast-detection AF system with face detection and tracking capabilities, but suffers from a very slow continuous shooting rate - only 1 frame per second. This makes it unsuitable for fast action or wildlife photography.

Sony WX30 offers faster autofocus responsiveness with 9 contrast-detection focus points and a burst rate of up to 10 frames per second (though in a limited buffer). It employs center-weighted AF rather than multipoint tracking, lacking face or tracking AF modes, which somewhat restricts subject-tracking precision but still performs well for casual sports or street action.

Neither camera offers phase-detection AF or advanced tracking modes that you’d find on DSLRs or mirrorless models. So if you’re chasing birds or fast-moving athletes, neither is ideal, but Sony’s speed gives it a clear edge in quick-reaction scenarios.

Shooting Experience Across Photography Genres

Let’s explore how both cameras perform in various photography disciplines, illustrating strengths and weaknesses from actual field tests.

Olympus TG 810 front Olympus TG 810 screen back Sony WX30 front Sony WX30 screen back

Portrait Photography

Skin tone rendering and bokeh quality are critical here. Olympus’s CCD sensor offers pleasing, warm color tones suited for natural-looking skin, while Sony’s CMOS sensor creates sharper and more color-accurate images with more neutral hues.

However, neither camera has significant control over aperture to create shallow depth of field; bokeh is noticeably limited due to relatively small sensors and variable maximum apertures.

Olympus’s face detection AF helps nail focus on eyes better than the Sony WX30, which doesn’t feature face detection.

Landscape Photography

Resolution and dynamic range matter here. Sony’s 16MP sensor provides an advantage in image detail, especially when cropping, and its better ISO and dynamic range performance allows for capturing more fine shadow textures.

Olympus TG-810’s rugged waterproof body makes it suitable for harsh environments - a clear advantage for adventurous landscape shooters. However, the smaller sensor and lower resolution limit ultimate image quality.

Weather sealing can matter immensely here, and Olympus clearly targets the outdoor enthusiast.

Wildlife Photography

Autofocus speed and burst rate are fundamental. Sony’s 10fps burst and better AF speed make it modestly more capable of freezing motion, whereas Olympus’s 1fps rate is frustratingly sluggish.

Lens zoom lengths are comparable, but neither camera offers substantial telephoto reach or fast aperture for tight wildlife shots.

Neither is professional wildlife gear but Sony’s speed edges it closer to snap-happy wildlife shooting.

Sports Photography

Similar story to wildlife - Sony’s higher frame rate helps, but autofocus tracking is absent on both, making subjects hard to follow continuously.

Neither camera supports shutter/aperture priority or manual modes, so controlling exposure in tricky lighting is impossible.

Sony’s ability to shoot 1080/60p video (more on video below) means you might capture plays on video rather than stills.

Street Photography

Sony WX30’s compact, lightweight form and discreet build make it ideal for street shooting - it won’t draw attention or tire your hand.

Olympus TG-810’s bulk and rugged looks are less discreet but do enable shooting worry-free in bad weather.

Low-light shooting favors Sony for its brighter lens and better ISO handling.

Macro Photography

Olympus’s 3cm focus minimum offers a slight edge over Sony’s 5cm, letting you get more intimate close-ups.

Both cameras’ small sensor sizes limit shallow depth-of-field effects, but image stabilization in Olympus aids capturing sharp images handheld at macro distances.

Night and Astro Photography

Sony WX30’s higher max ISO of 3200 and the BSI-CMOS sensor make it far more suitable here.

Olympus’s ISO ceiling at 1600 and noisier images limit usability in near dark conditions.

Neither provides bulb modes or long exposure bracketing necessary for serious astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

Video has clearly evolved in the Sony WX30’s favor. It shoots 1080p HD at 60 frames per second using AVCHD compression, delivering smooth, high-definition video suitable for casual filmmaking or family recording.

Olympus TG-810 is limited to 720p at 30fps, using MPEG-4 and H.264 formats, with no advanced video features or external mic input on either.

Neither camera provides in-body video stabilization beyond the sensor-shift for stills.

For hybrid shooters valuing video quality, Sony is the overt winner here.

Travel Photography

Sony’s compact, lightweight design, longer battery life (250 shots vs 220) and video prowess favor travel.

Olympus offers the ruggedness needed for adventure travel - waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof - invaluable for beaches, hikes, and extreme weather.

Both have GPS (TG-810 built-in; none on WX30) which is handy for geotagging travel photos.

Pro-Level Reliability and Workflow Considerations

For professionals, both cameras fall short on several fronts: no RAW support (limiting professional image editing), lack of manual exposure controls, limited dynamic range, and modest sensor technology are drawbacks.

Storage-wise, both support SD cards but Sony adds compatibility with Sony Memory Stick formats, which might interest current Sony shooters.

Connectivity is minimal - USB 2.0 and HDMI out on both. TG-810 supports Eye-Fi cards (wireless transfer), but no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is present on either.

Battery life is decent but modest, with the Olympus’s LI-50B and Sony’s NP-BN1 batteries needing regular recharge on longer shoots.

Summing Up the Strengths and Weaknesses with the Numbers

Which Camera Excels in What Photography Genre?

• Portraits: Olympus edges in skin tone and focus assist, but Sony’s sharper sensor brings more detail.
• Landscapes: Sony’s resolution and dynamic range shine unless you need rugged weather resistance - then Olympus wins.
• Wildlife & Sports: Sony for speed and burst; Olympus not recommended.
• Street & Travel: Sony for pocketability and discretion; Olympus if your adventure includes tough environments.
• Macro: Olympus’s close focusing takes the lead.
• Night/Astro: Sony’s higher ISO and CMOS tech dominate.
• Video: Sony provides more options and quality.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Choosing between the Olympus TG-810 and Sony WX30 ultimately comes down to your primary use and environment.

• If adventure, durability, and environmental protection top your list - for hiking, snorkeling, or rough conditions - Olympus TG-810 is hard to beat with its rugged build and reliable image stabilization. Accept the trade-offs in slower operation and lower ISO performance.

• If you want a compact, lightweight travel companion with better sensor quality, faster shooting, and higher quality video, the Sony WX30 excels. It’s a nimble street shooter and travel documenter but requires care in weather and physical handling.

Neither is a replacement for serious professional gear, but each offers compelling value for their niches. Price-wise, the Olympus commands a higher investment, justified by its toughness, while Sony’s more affordable price suits casual users.

This hands-on evaluation draws on my extensive testing protocols including real-world shooting, lab sensor analysis, and workflow integration trials. For a field shoot comparison and image samples, see my video review linked above.

Whichever you pick, understanding these key strengths and limitations will ensure you invest in the camera that truly meets your photographic aspirations and lifestyle.

Happy shooting!