Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony A550

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Sony A550, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-2 iHS was announced 3 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-2 iHS scores vs the A550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus TG-2 iHS Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-2 iHS has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Sony A550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-2 iHS compared to the A550.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-2 iHS and A550 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Often, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and A550.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The TG-2 iHS with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A550 will produce greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively. The fresher TG-2 iHS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.