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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99

Portability
92 Imaging
36 Features
37 Overall
36
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57 Imaging
69 Features
88 Overall
76

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2012
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • New Model is Sony A99 II
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Sony A99, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-820 iHS (12MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-820 iHS (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The TG-820 iHS was brought out 10 months earlier than the A99 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-820 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the TG-820 iHS grades against the A99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Sony A99

		

		

			
 TG-820 iHS A99 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

		

		

			
 A99 TG-820 iHS 
ReleasedDecember 2012February 2012More modern by 10 months
Manually focus  Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k1030kSharper screen (+199k dot)
Selfie screen  Easy selfies
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sony A99

		

		

			
 TG-820 iHS A99 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch screen  Absent Touch screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-820 iHS has got outside dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).
Look at the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Sony A99 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-820 iHS and the A99.
Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 size comparison
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-820 iHS and A99 is 92 and 57 respectively.
Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The picture below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-820 iHS and A99.
As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-820 iHS due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A99 will provide you with more detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged TG-820 iHS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.
	
			Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
			Photography Glossary	

	
	
	
	

	

		
Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus TG-820 iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 Portrait photography advice
27
 features face detect focus
 focusing manually not possible
 lack of manual mode
 cannot use external flash
 megapixel count low (12MP)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
81
 manual focus
 decent megapixels (24MP)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 has face detect focusing
 supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Street photography with Sony A99
61
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 environment proof
 screen does not articulate
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
75
 screen articulates
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 supports RAW formats
 environment proofing
 above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Sports photography with Sony A99
34
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features tracking focus
 environment proof
 very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
 no phase detect auto focus
78
 maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 decent megapixels (24MP)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 has tracking focus
 environment proofing
 sensor has phase detect AF
 low battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison
 Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Travel photography camera
 Sony A99 as a Travel photography camera
59
 environment proof
 built-in flash
 rather wide (28mm)
 no Timelapse mode
 not so great battery pack (220 shots)
 megapixel count low (12MP)
 does not have selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
60
 environment proofing
 decent megapixels (24MP)
 selfie friendly screen
 does not have Time Lapse recording
 low battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A99
38
 rather wide (28mm)
 nice screen size (3 inch)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 environment proof
 focusing manually not possible
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
 lack of manual mode
 megapixel count low (12MP)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
 not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
 no Timelapse mode
74
 manual focus
 change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
 nice screen size (3 inches)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 decent megapixels (24MP)
 large sensor size (Full frame)
 above average high ISO (25,600)
 supports RAW formats
 environment proofing
 two card slots
 low battery pack (500 per charge)
 does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Vlogging with Sony A99
33
 rather wide (28mm)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detect focus
 high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
 does not have selfie friendly screen
 no microphone jack
76
 selfie friendly screen
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 has face detect focusing
 high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 includes mic socket
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony A99 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sony A99
 Olympus TG-820 iHSSony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-820 iHS Sony SLT-A99
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-02-08 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and  16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format    
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Autofocus touch    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Center weighted autofocus    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detection autofocus    
Contract detection autofocus    
Phase detection autofocus    
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,030 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch functionality    
Screen technology HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Max flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 206 grams (0.45 lb) 812 grams (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 500 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording    
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots 1 Two
Launch cost $500 $1,998