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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Announced February 2012
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Introduced September 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Sony QX30, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Lens-style by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the TG-820 iHS (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The TG-820 iHS was revealed 3 years prior to the QX30 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-820 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the TG-820 iHS matches up versus the QX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Sony QX30

 TG-820 iHS QX30 
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution1030k0kSharper display (+1030k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 QX30 TG-820 iHS 
IntroducedSeptember 2014February 2012More modern by 31 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sony QX30

 TG-820 iHS QX30 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-820 iHS has got outer dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-820 iHS and the QX30.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-820 iHS and QX30 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-820 iHS and QX30.

Clearly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony QX30 to deliver more detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged TG-820 iHS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
27
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
38
MP count good (20 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Sports photography features
Sony QX30 Sports photography features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
59
environment proof
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
65
provides touch to focus
MP count good (20MP)
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery (200 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Landscape photography information
Sony QX30 Landscape photography information
38
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual exposure
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
39
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small ( inches)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Vlogging info
Sony QX30 Vlogging info
33
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sony QX30
 Olympus TG-820 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-820 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Waterproof Lens-style
Announced 2012-02-08 2014-09-03
Physical type Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.9-5.9 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches -
Resolution of display 1,030k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in None
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 grams (0.45 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 200 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $500 $348