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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Released May 2012
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony A550, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is relatively similar but the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-1 iHS was released 2 years after the A550 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the TG-1 iHS grades against the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Sony A550

 TG-1 iHS A550 
RevealedMay 2012December 2009More modern by 30 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 A550 TG-1 iHS 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k610kSharper screen (+312k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A550

 TG-1 iHS A550 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-1 iHS comes with physical dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony A550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-1 iHS and the A550.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-1 iHS and A550 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The picture below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-1 iHS and A550.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-1 iHS featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony A550 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher TG-1 iHS is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony A550
27
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography highlights
Sony A550 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Sports photography information
Sony A550 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
weather proof
good battery pack (350 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
68
good battery pack (350 shots)
weather proof
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
46
really wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
good battery pack (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse mode
66
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Vlogging details
Sony A550 Vlogging details
36
really wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A550
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-05-08 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 610k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 632g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 480 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI90B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media - SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $399 $749