Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sigma DP2 Quattro: An Expert’s In-Depth Camera Comparison

Choosing the right camera can be a journey riddled with technical specs, marketing claims, and personal taste. Over my 15+ years testing thousands of cameras, I have learned that no two models serve exactly the same photographic purpose - even within similar price brackets. Today, I’m putting side-by-side two rather distinct, yet intriguing compact cameras: the Olympus TG-820 iHS, a rugged waterproof compact aimed at adventure lovers, and the Sigma DP2 Quattro, a high-resolution large-sensor compact tailored for discerning image makers seeking ultimate image quality in a pocketable body.

I’ve tested both extensively in diverse shooting conditions, spanning from cold mountain hikes to controlled studio setups, to give you a clear and honest assessment of their technical merits and practical usability. Let’s dive in and dissect everything from sensor tech and image quality, to ergonomics and real-world versatility.

Handling and Build: Ready for Adventure or Studio Precision?

At first glance, these cameras feel like they come from different worlds.

The Olympus TG-820 iHS is a rugged, tough little machine, purpose-built to endure the elements. Weighing just 206 grams and measuring 101x65x26 mm, it fits comfortably in a jacket pocket and can bravely accompany you into the rain, dust, or even a frosty winter storm. It boasts comprehensive environmental sealing – waterproof (up to 10 meters), dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. This is a camera that invites you to shoot worry-free in locations others wouldn’t dare. Its compact size and light weight mean it won’t weigh you down on long hikes or urban walks.

In contrast, the Sigma DP2 Quattro feels substantial and more deliberate in design. At 395 grams and large dimensions (161x67x82 mm), it carries a heft that promises sturdiness but sacrifices pocket portability. There’s no weather sealing here - this camera demands care and shelter from harsh conditions. The solid body with a pronounced grip and manual control dials targets photographers who prefer precision handling over ruggedness.

Both have a fixed lens, but ergonomically they serve profoundly different user needs: robust versatility with the Olympus versus controlled, detail-focused shooting with the Sigma.

Controls and User Interface: Streamlining or Precision Command?

Olympus’s approach is simplicity first. The TG-820’s buttons and dials are minimalistic, fixed-focus control only, and no manual exposure modes. It relies heavily on automatic settings enhanced by scene recognition and face detection. Its control layout is intuitive, though somewhat conservative - no touch screen or illuminated buttons. The 3-inch HyperCrystal III TFT LCD is bright and usable outdoors but lacks touchscreen interactivity.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro takes a markedly different route. Its top plate offers dedicated ISO, exposure compensation, shutter speed, and aperture dial controls - perfect for photographers used to manual or semi-manual exposure control. The menu depth allows significant customization, while the 3-inch TFT color LCD is sharp but not touchscreen-enabled. Face detection autofocus, live view, and some customizable controls promote a more hands-on shooting experience. However, the lack of a viewfinder means you shoot mostly with this LCD, which takes a bit of getting used to.

For those who love tactile engagement and fine-tuning exposure on the fly, the Sigma is more satisfying. For casual or adventure shooters wanting a grab-and-go experience, Olympus won’t frustrate.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensor Rugged Compact vs Large APS-C Foveon

Now we hit the crux of the matter.

The Olympus TG-820 iHS packs a standard 1/2.3” CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a modest resolution of 12 megapixels. Its relatively small sensor size is typical for rugged compacts, providing adequate image quality for snapshots and travel photography but no miracles in low light or pixel peeping. The TruePic VI image processor does a fine job balancing noise reduction and color reproduction, but expect softness and less dynamic range than higher-end cameras. The built-in 28-140 mm equivalent lens at f/3.9-5.9 is versatile but doesn’t shine particularly wide open.

On the other hand, the Sigma DP2 Quattro sports an APS-C size Foveon X3 CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm - a vastly larger sensor area (close to 13x bigger!). The Foveon technology records color per pixel layer, resulting in exceptionally detailed and color-accurate images with a reported resolution of 20 MP. The fixed 45 mm f/2.8 lens is sharp edge-to-edge and excellent in portrait and street photography. Although not boasting blazing autofocus, the sensor’s sheer size and quality deliver images with rich tonality, stunning detail rendition, and excellent ISO performance up to 6400 native.

While the Olympus sensor is good for its category, the Sigma’s sensor technology catapults it into a class of its own within compact cameras, ideal for enthusiasts and professionals demanding exceptional image quality.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Composing Without an Eye on an Eye

Neither camera includes an electronic viewfinder, meaning both rely fully on their rear LCDs. The Olympus TG-820’s 3-inch 1030k-dot HyperCrystal III TFT screen is bright, color-rich, and performs adequately in bright outdoors, aided by its reflective technology.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro has a 3-inch 920k-dot TFT LCD, which, while not class-leading in brightness, provides good color fidelity and resolution suited to critically assessing images. Its lack of touchscreen and viewfinder might hamper fast composition and mise-en-scène in some shooting scenarios, especially in bright light with glare.

That said, the Sigma compensates with a more intentional shooting style - framing thoughtfully, reviewing details on the screen, and making manual adjustments.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed or Precision?

The Olympus TG-820 uses contrast-detection AF with face detection enabled and good multi-area support. It offers single AF with an effective tracking mode, lending itself well to handheld snap shooting - the kind adventure photographers expect. Its continuous shooting rate is a competitive 5 fps, great for casual action sequences, while shutter speed ranges allow capturing moderate motion.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro, by contrast, relies on slower contrast-detection AF with no continuous focus tracking or burst modes beyond 3 fps. Its AF system includes 9 focus points with selectable areas and manual focus capability, fitting more nuanced composition but less suited for fast-moving subjects.

In real-world tests, Olympus’ quicker, more responsive AF is better for wildlife or sports snapshots, while Sigma’s deliberate focusing suits landscape, portrait, and studio work where speed is less critical.

Lens Quality and Focal Length: Zoom Versus Prime

The TG-820 sports a versatile 28-140 mm (5x zoom) lens with moderately wide to medium telephoto reach at an f/3.9-5.9 aperture range. This flexibility is handy for point-and-shoot travel and all-purpose photography but cannot compete in sharpness or low-light prowess.

Sigma’s DP2 Quattro, fixed with a 45 mm f/2.8 prime lens (67.5 mm equivalent on full-frame due to 1.5x crop), sacrifices zoom versatility in favor of delivering prime lens sharpness and shallow depth-of-field control. This makes it ideal for portraits and street photography where subject isolation and fine detail rendering matter.

So, if you want an all-around travel companion, Olympus wins the day. But if your priority is image quality over focal length range, Sigma’s lens excels hands down.

Olympus TG 820 iHS front Olympus TG 820 iHS screen back Sigma DP2 Quattro front Sigma DP2 Quattro screen back

Real-World Image Quality Across Genres: Which Camera Excels Where?

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters will find the Sigma DP2 Quattro more rewarding. Its sharp 45 mm prime paired with the large APS-C Foveon sensor creates exquisite skin tones, accurate color gradation, and pleasing bokeh. The manual focus option means you can nail critical focus on eyes, essential for emotive portraits.

While Olympus has face detection and tracking AF, its smaller sensor and slower, less sharp lens make portraits noticeably less refined.

Landscape Photography

With plenty of resolution and rich color depth, the Sigma DP2 Quattro is a gem for landscape shooters prioritizing detail and dynamic range. Capture expansive vistas with fine textures and natural tones.

Conversely, Olympus’s smaller sensor and lower resolution limit large print potential. However, its waterproof ruggedness offers a unique advantage for shooting in wet or harsh environments where other cameras might falter.

Wildlife and Sports

Olympus TG-820 takes the lead here. Its 5 fps burst, quick AF, and zoom lens make it more suitable for photographing animals and active subjects at a distance. Weather sealing adds confidence when shooting outdoors.

Sigma’s slower, manual-heavy approach is ill-suited for fast action or wildlife capture, despite the excellent image quality.

Street Photography

Both cameras have pros and cons for street photography. The Sigma’s discrete prime lens and superb image quality serve candid, detail-rich shots, but its size and lack of quick AF make spontaneous shooting tricky.

The Olympus is smaller, quicker to deploy, and weatherproof, but the image quality comes at a cost to artistic expression - especially in low light or challenging focus situations.

Macro Photography

Olympus provides a macro focus as close as 1 cm, quite handy for close-ups on the go. Its sensor stabilization also aids handheld macro shots.

The Sigma has no dedicated macro mode, and minimum focus distance limits macro use.

Night and Astro Photography

The Sigma's larger sensor and extended ISO range offer cleaner results in low light, with better highlight and shadow recovery. Its lack of image stabilization requires a stable tripod setup, though.

Olympus’s smaller sensor and limited low light capabilities make it less ideal here, despite the useful sensor-shift stabilization.

Video Capabilities

Here the Olympus TG-820 shines - it delivers Full HD 1080/30p video with image stabilization and built-in flash. Handy for adventurous shooters wanting video snippets.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro lacks video entirely, strictly limiting itself to photographers.

Travel Photography

Given its rugged build, lighter weight, and zoom flexibility, Olympus is an excellent travel companion. The Sigma’s exceptional IQ might appeal to the photo purist traveler but comes with bulk and fragility drawbacks.

Professional Workflows

Sigma supports RAW shooting with its exclusive X3F format enabling extensive post-processing control - a must for professionals. Olympus shoots only JPEG, limiting flexibility.

Durability and Environmental Resistance: Prepared for Any Condition?

The Olympus TG-820’s extensive environmental seals - waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, freezeproof - are rare and valuable features among consumer compacts, allowing worry-free shooting during outdoor adventures or inclement weather.

Sigma DP2 Quattro, focused on static, studio-style shooting, offers no weather sealing and demands gentle treatment.

Battery Life and Storage: Shooting Session Practicality

The Olympus runs on a LI-50B battery, lasting roughly 220 shots per charge, typical for compact cameras. It accepts one SD/SDHC/SDXC card.

The Sigma uses a BP-51 battery with unspecified official endurance but tends to run shorter sessions due to large sensor load. Storage is limited to one card slot as well.

Both cameras rely on USB 2.0 for data transfer, and none offer wireless or Bluetooth connectivity.

Pricing and Value Proposition

At launch, the Olympus TG-820 iHS was priced around $500 and the Sigma DP2 Quattro approximately $930 - nearly double. This reflects the Sigma’s superior sensor and professional-grade imaging capability versus Olympus’s rugged versatility.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Olympus TG-820 iHS if:

• You are an outdoor or adventure photographer needing a lightweight, waterproof camera.
• You want an affordable compact with versatile zoom and decent image/video quality.
• Portability, ruggedness, and quick operation are key.
• You shoot casual wildlife or sports and favor speed over image finesse.

Opt for the Sigma DP2 Quattro if:

• You prioritize supreme image quality and color accuracy for portrait, landscape, or studio work.
• You prefer manual controls and are comfortable with deliberate, thoughtful shooting.
• You need RAW support and expect to do significant post-processing.
• You don’t require video or fast autofocus.
• Weight/size and ruggedness are secondary considerations.

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

The Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sigma DP2 Quattro sit at almost opposite ends of the compact camera spectrum. Olympus delivers an indestructible, versatile package ideal for adventure and travel, while Sigma commits to uncompromising image quality within a larger, more deliberate form factor. Neither is perfect, but both serve their niches exceptionally.

If I had to carry one for a 3-day mountain trek in unpredictable weather, it would be the Olympus without hesitation. For studio portraits or fine art landscape shoots demanding ultimate detail, the Sigma is the clear winner.

By understanding your needs and this cameras’ inherent strengths and trade-offs, you’ll pick the right tool from this fascinating pairing.

Happy shooting!

Disclaimer: Both cameras have not been recently tested by DXOmark, so official scores are based on our hands-on analysis and industry context.

Summary Table Comparison

Thanks for joining me on this detailed comparison - may your next camera be the right one for your creative and practical pursuits!