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Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Olympus TG-830 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-830 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 214g - 109 x 67 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A500, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the TG-830 iHS (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the TG-830 iHS (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The TG-830 iHS was manufactured 3 years later than the A500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-830 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the TG-830 iHS scores vs the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-830 iHS over the Sony A500

 TG-830 iHS A500 
ReleasedJanuary 2013August 2009Fresher by 41 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-830 iHS

 A500 TG-830 iHS 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A500

 TG-830 iHS A500 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-830 iHS features exterior dimensions of 109mm x 67mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-830 iHS vs the A500.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-830 iHS and A500 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-830 iHS and A500.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-830 iHS due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus TG-830 iHS will result in extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The fresher TG-830 iHS should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Portrait photography details
Sony A500 Portrait photography details
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
63
focusing manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Street photography details
Sony A500 Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
67
weather proof
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
43
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Landscape photography features
Sony A500 Landscape photography features
45
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proof
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Vlogging advice
Sony A500 Vlogging advice
33
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A500
 Olympus TG-830 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-830 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-01-08 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lb) 630 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 67 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 520 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $638