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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-2 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 - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2013
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Updated by Sony A560
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively similar but the TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The TG-2 iHS was announced 3 years after the A500 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the TG-2 iHS matches up versus the A500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Sony A500

 TG-2 iHS A500 
ReleasedJune 2013August 2009More modern by 47 months
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 A500 TG-2 iHS 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Sony A500

 TG-2 iHS A500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-2 iHS offers outside dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the TG-2 iHS compared to the A500.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-2 iHS and A500 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specifications. The image underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-2 iHS and A500.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The TG-2 iHS has got the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF trickier. The younger TG-2 iHS should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
27
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Street photography with Sony A500
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography advice
Sony A500 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery (350 per charge)
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery power (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Travel photography with Sony A500
68
good battery (350 CIPA)
environment proofing
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (520 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
46
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
good battery (350 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery power (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Vlogging with Sony A500
36
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Sony A500
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-06-28 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lb) 630 grams (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 520 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type - SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $380 $638