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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 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
  • Announced May 2012
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Launched December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • Renewed by Sony A99 II
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A99, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) posses different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TG-1 iHS was launched 7 months earlier than the A99 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the TG-1 iHS grades against the A99 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Sony A99

 TG-1 iHS A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 A99 TG-1 iHS 
LaunchedDecember 2012May 2012More modern by 7 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k610kCrisper display (+619k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A99

 TG-1 iHS A99 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-1 iHS features external dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-1 iHS versus the A99.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and A99 is 91 and 57 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing technical specs. The pic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-1 iHS and A99.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-1 iHS because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A99 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged TG-1 iHS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Portrait photography features
Sony A99 Portrait photography features
27
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
81
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography features
Sony A99 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
75
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Sports photography details
Sony A99 Sports photography details
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery (350 shots)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography features
Sony A99 Travel photography features
68
good battery (350 CIPA)
weather proofing
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
60
weather sealing
good resolution (24MP)
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A99
46
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
good battery (350 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Vlogging with Sony A99
36
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
76
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A99
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSSony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Sony SLT-A99
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-05-08 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 pounds) 812 gr (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 500 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI90B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media - Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $399 $1,998