Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-7

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony NEX-7, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The TG-1 iHS was revealed 5 months after the NEX-7 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the TG-1 iHS grades vs the NEX-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-1 iHS features physical dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the TG-1 iHS compared to the NEX-7.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-1 iHS and NEX-7 is 91 and 84 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-1 iHS and NEX-7.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-1 iHS having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-7 will show greater detail because of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively.