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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and A57 (16MP) and the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The TG-1 iHS was launched 4 months earlier than the A57 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the TG-1 iHS matches up against the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Sony A57

 TG-1 iHS A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 A57 TG-1 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k610kClearer display (+311k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A57

 TG-1 iHS A57 
RevealedMay 2012September 2012Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-1 iHS enjoys physical measurements of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-1 iHS against the A57.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the TG-1 iHS and A57 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The photograph below might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-1 iHS and A57.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-1 iHS because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A57 will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
27
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Street photography with Sony A57
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
75
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Sports photography advice
Sony A57 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
68
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
environment proof
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
67
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Landscape photography details
Sony A57 Landscape photography details
46
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
better than average battery power (350 shots)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse mode
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A57 as a Vlogging camera
36
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
77
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone support
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A57
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSSony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Sony SLT-A57
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-05-08 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 618 gr (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 550 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI90B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $399 $1,000