Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A55

Here is a detailed review of the Olympus TG-810 and Sony A55, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-810 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar but the TG-810 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The TG-810 was introduced 12 months later than the A55 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-810 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the TG-810 grades vs the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus TG-810 and Sony SLT-A55. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus TG-810 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-810 offers outer measurements of 100mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-810 and Sony A55 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-810 versus the A55.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-810 and A55 is 92 and 67 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-810 and A55.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-810 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A55 will deliver extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern TG-810 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.