Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A550: An Expert’s In-Depth Comparison

When it comes to choosing your next camera, the landscape is vast and varied - ranging from rugged compacts designed for adventure to entry-level DSLRs that offer creative flexibility and expansive lens ecosystems. Today, we are pitting two such very different cameras head-to-head: the Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS, a rugged waterproof compact launched in 2013, and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550, an entry-level DSLR released in 2009. Both carry distinct design philosophies and sensor technologies, placing them in different niches, yet each has its own devoted following.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years across multiple genres and environments, I’ll break down how these two cameras excel or falter in real-world use. Buckle up, as we explore everything from sensor size to autofocus, ergonomics, image quality, and beyond. Whether you’re into travel, wildlife, street, or professional work, there’s something here for every discerning photographer.

Size, Build, and Handling: Form Meets Function

At first glance, size and ergonomics create the most obvious contrast. The TG-2 iHS is a compact, ruggedized camera engineered for durability and portability. In contrast, the Sony A550 is a relatively bulky entry-level SLR that puts manual control and lens interchangeability first.

The Olympus TG-2 iHS measures 111x67x29 mm and weighs just over 230 grams. Its tough exterior is crushproof and designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures without a case. While it lacks dustproofing and waterproof rating, the crushproof feature takes some of the worry off in rugged terrain or active situations.

Meanwhile, the Sony A550, weighing nearly three times more at 632 grams and measuring 137x104x84 mm, adopts the classic DSLR form factor with a substantial grip, optical viewfinder, and tilting LCD. This bulk adds heft but also enables more comprehensive manual control and stable handling, especially with longer lenses.

Ergonomically, the A550 excels with dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority modes, exposure compensation, and custom buttons, giving photographers tactile control without wading through menus. The TG-2 iHS, being a compact, offers a simplified interface centered on point-and-shoot ease, limiting manual exposure options.

Verdict: For travelers and those needing a pocketable, shock-resistant shooter, the TG-2 iHS’s size and build are unbeatable. The Sony A550 caters more to those prioritizing control and interchangeability over portability.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensor Versus APS-C

Let’s cut to a critical distinction: sensor size and resolution. One of the largest determinants of image quality, sensor technology influences noise performance, dynamic range, and depth of field capabilities.

• The Olympus TG-2 iHS sports a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor, measuring roughly 6.17x4.55 mm (about 28 mm²), with 12 megapixels. BSI (Backside Illuminated) layout grants it a boost in light sensitivity over traditional CMOS sensors in compact cameras, but physics limits its performance relative to larger APS-C chips. The fixed lens operates in a 25-100 mm equivalent range (f/2.0-4.9), adding some versatility in composition.

• In contrast, the Sony A550 packs a much more sizable APS-C sensor (23.4x15.6 mm, ~365 mm²) with 14 megapixels, a sensor area more than ten times bigger than the Olympus. This difference profoundly impacts image quality - critical for professional-grade detail, low noise, and wider dynamic range.

Here, the Sony holds a clear advantage owing to its sensor size and advanced Bionz image processor. It supports RAW capture, enabling comprehensive post-processing - a key feature absent on the TG-2 iHS, which only outputs JPEG.

The TG-2, however, leverages a bright f/2.0 lens at its widest to improve light-gathering in a compact form, paired with sensor-shift image stabilization to counteract camera shake. While this cannot match the ISO performance or resolution of the A550, the TG-2 still punches above its weight in harsh or constrained conditions.

Electronic Interface and Controls: From Simplicity to Complexity

Touch interfaces remain off the table for both cameras, but their screens and controls tell a story of different design philosophies:

The TG-2 iHS features a 3-inch fixed OLED screen with 610,000 dots resolution - bright and very legible even under bright sunlight. While fixed, the OLED helps maximize color accuracy and contrast for reviewing shots on the go.

The Sony A550 sports a 3-inch tilting LCD at 922,000 dots, providing more flexibility when shooting at low or high angles - a boon for multimedia and macro work. While not touchscreen-enabled (common at its launch time), the tilt mechanism enhances creative framing.

To delve deeper, the A550’s DSLR layout grants direct manual controls for exposure compensation, shutter/aperture priority modes, custom white balance, and bracketing for exposure and white balance. Its autofocused system employs nine phase-detection points, supporting continuous AF tracking (though not animal eye AF, which remains a newer feature).

The TG-2 iHS is deliberately simplified: a fixed zoom, no exposure modes beyond auto-like presets, autofocus single and tracking options, plus creative filters via Olympus software.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking the Action

For wildlife, sports, and street photographers - focus speed and accuracy define moments more than megapixels.

The Sony A550 shines in this regard with its nine cross-type AF points, phase-detection autofocus, and continuous AF during burst shooting at 7 fps. This combination allows for reliable tracking of moving subjects across the frame, essential for active scenarios such as sports or wildlife.

The Olympus TG-2 iHS uses contrast-detection AF, with face detection and single-point options, but lacks phase detection and continuous AF during burst. Its top burst speed is 5 fps, adequate for casual capture but not professional sports or wildlife applications.

Its macro capabilities impress, however, with focusing down to 1 cm - making it a miniature powerhouse for close-up work.

Practical takeaway: If fast-moving subjects dominate your shots, the Sony A550 is the superior choice for AF performance and speed across genres.

Image Stabilization and Low Light Performance

Sensor-shift image stabilization on the Olympus TG-2 iHS is a well-implemented feature, helping to arrest shake during handheld shots and video recording. Its compact size and lens design complement this, improving handheld low-light capabilities up to ISO 6400.

The Sony A550 also offers sensor-based stabilization, but paired with its APS-C sensor and native ISO range up to 12800, the DSLR better manages noise and retains detail at higher sensitivities. This makes the A550 stronger in low-light conditions for both stills and long exposures.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

Let’s talk systems: The TG-2 iHS has a fixed lens - a bright 25-100mm equivalent zoom with an f/2.0 maximum aperture at the wide end, narrowing to f/4.9 at telephoto. It’s competent for travel, street, and macro photography, with image stabilization adding to its practicality.

The Sony A550, on the other hand, uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount offering access to 143 native lenses ranging from ultra-wide fisheye to specialized macros and professional telephotos. This flexibility allows users to tailor their arsenal precisely to their genre, a massive advantage for growing photographers or professionals.

Budget-wise, the fixed-lens TG-2 keeps costs predictable while the Sony system, though initially pricier, allows incremental upgrades and adaptation.

Durability and Environmental Sealing: Ready for Adventure

The Olympus TG-2 iHS boasts crushproof construction and is designed to withstand harsh conditions. Despite lacking formal dustproof or waterproof certification, the rugged exterior is meant to survive rough handling, making it ideal for travel, hiking, or waterside activities where a bulky camera could be easily damaged.

The Sony A550 has no special environmental sealing, reflecting its consumer DSLRs’ typical chassis build. It requires more careful handling, especially in adverse conditions.

Video Capabilities and Multimedia

Video is a priority for many enthusiasts and creatives:

• The Olympus TG-2 iHS shoots Full HD 1080p video (MPEG-4, H.264) at decent quality with optical image stabilization, making it a capable on-the-go video camera in a compact form.

• The Sony A550, reflecting its era and DSLR focus, does not support video recording.

For casual video users or vloggers seeking durability, the TG-2 clearly leads the video department.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting

Sony A550 offers 480 shot capacity per charge with its NP-FM500H battery - a solid endurance typical for DSLRs, especially for extended shooting days.

Olympus TG-2 iHS claims 350 shots per battery with its Li-90B pack, which is respectable given the small form factor and image stabilization demands.

Both cameras accept a single memory card slot: Sony is compatible with SD/SDHC and Memory Stick formats, Olympus specifics are not detailed but typically takes SD cards.

Real-World Photography Across Genres

How do these cameras perform in practice across photography genres? Let’s dive in.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands excellent color rendition, precise skin tone reproduction, and pleasing bokeh.

• The Sony A550’s APS-C sensor captures smoother gradations and better subject isolation due to control over depth of field (interchangeable lenses with wide-aperture primes).
• Face detection autofocus enhances eye sharpness, and its RAW capture enables nuanced post-processing to perfect skin tones.
• Olympus TG-2 iHS offers face detection but fixed aperture zoom restricts bokeh options; it nevertheless shines with close focusing for creative headshots.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters crave dynamic range, resolution, and weather durability.

• The Sony A550’s larger sensor yields better detail retention in shadows and highlights, while its 14 MP resolution allows large prints and cropping flexibility.
• Lack of weather sealing is a downside.
• Olympus TG-2 iHS, although limited by small sensor, benefits from rugged build suited for rough environments, but dynamic range is narrower and details softer.

Wildlife and Sports

• Sony A550’s phase-detect AF and 7fps burst make it a solid entry-level wildlife/sports tool.
• Olympus TG-2 iHS’ slower AF and smaller zoom reach constrain action photography but excels in macro and still scenes near water or rough terrain.

Street and Travel Photography

• TG-2 iHS is compact, has a bright lens, built-in GPS tagging, and is less conspicuous, ideal for candid shots and travel documentation.
• Sony A550 is larger and louder, but offers more compositional control and superior image quality.

Macro Photography

• TG-2 iHS enables focusing down to 1cm, outperforming many standard DSLRs without macro lenses, great for close-up nature shots.
• Sony requires specialized lenses to achieve comparable magnification.

Night and Astro Photography

• Sony A550’s better high ISO and longer shutter speed options suit astro and low-light handheld scenarios.
• TG-2 iHS’ max shutter speed of 1/2000s and high ISO limits manual exposure creative control.

Video

• TG-2 iHS is the clear winner with Full HD solid video support.
• Sony does not record video.

Professional Use and Workflow

• Sony’s RAW file support, exposure control, and lens selection favor professional workflows.
• Olympus provides convenience but limited post-processing flexibility.

Overall Quantitative and Genre Score Comparisons

Let’s place a fine point with holistic scores:

Olympus TG 2 iHS front Olympus TG 2 iHS screen back Sony A550 front Sony A550 screen back

Here, side-by-side sample shots confirm the sharper, cleaner images from Sony A550 - especially in shadows and fine texture. The Olympus images show good color for a compact with contrasty JPEGs but lack fine detail.

Sony takes the lead in most image quality parameters - color depth, dynamic range, noise control - while Olympus wins a point for ruggedness and travel specialty.

Notably, Olympus scores highest in travel, macro, and video, while Sony dominates portrait, wildlife, and sports.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Both cameras offer distinct value propositions, making the decision less about a “better camera” and more about matching a device to your photographic lifestyle.

• Choose the Olympus TG-2 iHS if you prioritize compactness, durability, macro capabilities, and integrated video in an affordable, travel-ready package. It’s a champ for hikers, beachgoers, casual vloggers, and macro lovers who want a rugged camera with minimal fuss.

• Opt for the Sony A550 if image quality, manual control, fast autofocus, and upgradeable lenses matter most. It suits beginners stepping enthusiastically into DSLR territory and enthusiasts craving creative freedom without breaking into pro-tier pricing.

A Caveat on Age and Market Position
Both cameras are somewhat dated - TG-2 iHS launched in 2013, Sony A550 in 2009 - so don’t overlook newer models that might blend these strengths better. However, understanding these cameras’ distinctions teaches us about sensor size, ergonomics, and feature trade-offs critical to any photography gear decision.

Hopefully, this deep dive aids you in identifying which camera complements your style, shooting type, and budget. Happy shooting - and always test gear hands-on when possible!