Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A580

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A580, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-1 iHS was launched 12 months later than the A580 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the TG-1 iHS scores versus the A580 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-1 iHS features outer dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A580 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-1 iHS vs the A580.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and A580 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-1 iHS and A580.

All in all, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-1 iHS because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A580 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher TG-1 iHS will have a benefit in sensor tech.