Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony QX1

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Sony QX1, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Lens-style by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") and QX1 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The TG-2 iHS was announced 14 months before the QX1 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the TG-2 iHS scores vs the QX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS & Sony Alpha QX1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus TG-2 iHS Gallery & Sony QX1 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-2 iHS has 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 QX1 has proportions of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") having a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Sony QX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-2 iHS against the QX1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-2 iHS and QX1 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and QX1.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-2 iHS with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony QX1 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more aged TG-2 iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.