Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony Cyber-shot T90: An Expert’s Comprehensive Comparison

Choosing between two compact cameras like the Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 can be challenging without a deep dive into their real-world performance, usability, and technical strengths. Both cater to casual photographers with distinct priorities – ruggedness and adventure-ready handling in the TG-2 iHS, versus sleek ultracompact minimalism in the T90. Having tested both thoroughly over years of hands-on experience, I’ll guide you through every crucial aspect and help you decide which one suits your photography style and needs best.

Let’s start by examining their physical dimensions and ergonomics because a camera’s feel can influence your shooting experience profoundly.

Hold It in Your Hands: Physical Size and Usability

Right off the bat, the Olympus TG-2 iHS is a noticeably chunkier unit, weighing 230 grams with dimensions of 111x67x29mm, designed explicitly for durability and outdoor use. Its robust build includes crushproofing, contributing to the somewhat bulky feel. You sense you can toss it into a backpack on rugged hikes or near water without worry.

In contrast, the Sony T90 is a featherweight at 148 grams and incredibly slim, measuring just 94x57x15mm. This camera is crafted for the urban explorer or someone who prioritizes discreet street photography and ultimate portability. However, the T90’s slimness means sacrificing some grip comfort, especially for users with larger hands or in cold weather gloves.

I'll admit, the TG-2’s more substantial grip and tactile controls make a big difference for active shooting. But if pocketability is your prime concern, the Sony T90 is tough to beat.

Top-Down Look: Controls and User Interface

The control layout reinforces each camera’s user philosophy. The Olympus TG-2 iHS opts for larger, well-spaced physical buttons and a mode dial, aimed at quick adjustments even with gloves - a necessity in outdoor or rugged environments. Its interface is straightforward, though it leans toward preset shooting modes rather than manual overrides.

On the flip side, the Sony T90 features a very minimalist button configuration with capacitive touch capabilities on its screen. Its shallow body means fewer mechanical buttons, which can slow down operation if you’re used to tactile controls. Yet, it offers manual focus, a feature missing on the TG-2, giving more creative control if you prefer precision.

In my experience, I appreciate the TG-2’s robust, tactile approach when shooting outdoors, but the T90’s touchscreen feels futuristic and can accelerate casual shooting sessions indoors or in well-lit conditions.

Peering Into the Sensor: Size and Image Quality

Let’s talk about the engines behind image capture - their sensors. Both cameras house a 1/2.3-inch sensor measuring around 6.17x4.55 mm, with roughly the same sensor area (~28 mm²) - standard fare for compact cameras of their generations.

However, the Olympus TG-2 integrates a BSI-CMOS sensor, which typically boasts better high ISO performance and dynamic range compared to the Sony T90’s CCD sensor. CMOS sensors are more power-efficient and faster in data readout, enabling the TG-2’s somewhat stronger responsiveness in burst shooting and live view.

The TG-2’s sensor produces 12MP images in a native 4:3 aspect ratio, balancing resolution and noise control, whereas the Sony T90 also provides 12MP output but includes more aspect ratio options (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9), albeit at the cost of a smaller maximum image size in those non-native ratios.

Practically, you’ll notice the TG-2’s superiority in low-light and in situations demanding swift autofocus. The T90, being older and with an older sensor type, is reliable in bright daylight but will trail when shadows drop or ISO climbs.

Seeing Is Believing: LCD Screen and Optical Viewfinder Differences

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, which is not unexpected given their categories. For composing shots, both rely on their rear LCD screens. The TG-2 sports a 3-inch OLED fixed screen with 610K dots, yielding vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast – beneficial when shooting in variable light or reviewing your captures outdoors.

Meanwhile, the Sony T90 has a 3-inch LCD with only 230K dots and touchscreen input, which limits clarity and sharpness. It also struggles under bright sunlight, making framing and focus confirmation trickier outside.

Adding another point in favor of the TG-2, its screen lacks touchscreen functionality, but the high resolution and OLED technology yield more detailed and true-to-life previews, crucial for confirming focus, exposure, and composition on the fly.

In the Field: Real-World Photography Performance Across Genres

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Focus

Both cameras tap into contrast-detection autofocus systems, but the TG-2 includes face-detection AF, improving focus accuracy for portraits. The Sony T90 lacks this feature, making portraits slightly less reliable for nail-sharp eyes.

The TG-2 has a fast F2.0 aperture at its widest 25mm equivalent focal length, beneficial for subject isolation and creamy background blur (bokeh) close-ups. The T90’s aperture, starting at F3.5 and narrowing at telephoto lengths, is less adept at separating subject from background.

Additionally, the TG-2 supports macro focusing down to 1cm, allowing impressive close-ups with natural background defocus – perfect for capturing fine details and textures in portraits or product shots. The T90 lacks a defined macro mode, resulting in less flexibility for close-range creativity.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Sealing

For landscapes, resolution and dynamic range are paramount. Both cameras deliver 12MP files - sufficient for web usage and small prints. However, the TG-2’s CMOS sensor generally offers better dynamic range than Sony’s CCD, preserving more highlight and shadow detail, which is indispensable when shooting sunsets or tricky bright sky scenes.

Moreover, and crucially for landscape photographers who brave the elements, the Olympus TG-2 is crushproof and features environmental sealing (though not fully waterproof), offering peace of mind against harsh weather. The Sony T90 provides no weather sealing, limiting its reliability for outdoor adventures.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus, Burst Rates, and Telephoto Reach

Here, speed matters. The TG-2 manages a continuous shooting mode of 5 frames per second, which, combined with its fast CMOS sensor and face detection, supports capturing action fairly well in daylight. The zoom range is 25-100mm equivalent, which may feel modest but covers general telephoto needs in wildlife photography.

Conversely, the Sony T90’s burst rate maxes out at 2 fps with a slower shutter speed ceiling (1/1600s), restricting fast-action capture. Its longer equivalent telephoto of 35-140mm offers reach but the smaller aperture and slower burst can mean missed shots.

Neither camera is designed as a pro sports rig, but the TG-2 is the better choice if you want playful sports or wildlife candids outdoors.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

If you prioritize discretion, the T90’s svelte form factor and quiet operation score points. It slips into a pocket invisibly and won’t draw attention, helpful when capturing candid street portraits or urban scenes.

The TG-2’s thickness and rugged shell make it less subtle but more durable. You’ll also appreciate the TG-2’s higher ISO capabilities under poor lighting, beneficial at dusk or indoors.

Macro and Close-up Photography: Magnification and Focus Precision

Again, the TG-2 shines with near-microscopic 1cm macro focusing and sensor-shift image stabilization, which helps keep handheld close-ups steady. The T90’s lack of macro mode means it struggles focusing below ~10cm, resulting in limited expressive close-up possibilities.

Night and Astrophotography: Low-light IQ and Exposure Options

The Olympus TG-2’s sensor and maximum ISO 6400 outperform the Sony T90’s max ISO 3200. The TG-2 also benefits from sensor-shift stabilization, delivering cleaner handheld night shots with less motion blur.

Without RAW support on either model, pushing the files in post is limited, but the TG-2’s native dynamic range and higher ISO flexibility translate to better usable night images. The Sony T90's older sensor and JPEG-only capture make it much more noise-prone in the dark.

Neither camera offers dedicated long-exposure modes for astrophotography, so serious night sky shooters should look elsewhere, but the TG-2’s ruggedness encourages experimentation in challenging conditions.

High-Definition Video Capabilities

Video specs are modest on both. The TG-2 shoots Full HD 1080p at 30fps using MPEG-4 and H.264 compression, while the Sony T90 maxes out at 720p HD with Motion JPEG codec, which is less efficient and produces larger files.

Neither supports external microphones or headphones, limiting sound quality control, although the TG-2 includes sensor-shift stabilization which helps smooth handheld footage noticeably more than the optical stabilization in the T90.

For casual video recording on trips or family events, the TG-2 clearly leads; however, neither camera fills the role of a dedicated camcorder or hybrid video camera.

Travel-Friendly Versatility and Battery Life

When trekking or exploring, versatility counts. The TG-2’s weather sealing and durability make it a confident companion for varied environments, from wet trails to dusty paths.

Its battery life rates around 350 shots per charge, dependable though not exceptional by today’s standards. The Sony T90’s battery life isn’t officially stated but typically runs shorter due to its slim profile and older tech; having spare batteries is advisable for all-day use.

Storage-wise, the TG-2 uses standard SD cards, widely available and cost-effective. The Sony T90 uses Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo cards, specialized and less accessible nowadays, which could be frustrating long term.

Professional-Grade Features and Workflow Integration

Neither camera targets professionals but understanding their limitations is essential. Both lack RAW support, which is a dealbreaker if you require post-processing flexibility.

The TG-2 supports custom white balance and offers selective AF area focus modes, helpful for semi-pro users. The T90, with no face detection and limited AF customization, is more “point and shoot” friendly.

Both have HDMI output for image review on bigger screens and USB 2.0 for transfers, but no wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which is a downside for tethered workflows or instant sharing.

Evaluating Overall Performance

Summing up my benchmark testing and real-world shooting, the Olympus TG-2 outperforms the Sony T90 across most technical criteria - image quality, autofocus reliability, continuous shooting speed, environmental durability, and video specs.

The Sony T90’s strengths lie in its carefree portability and simple touchscreen navigation, suitable for casual snapshots and travel when space and stealth are priorities.

Breaking It Down by Photography Genre

Sample Images from Both Cameras

Olympus TG 2 iHS front Olympus TG 2 iHS screen back Sony T90 front Sony T90 screen back

Reviewing side-by-side landscape and portrait images, you can clearly see the TG-2’s richer colors and cleaner low-light results. The T90 produces usable daylight shots but shows noise creeping in shadows and highlights, along with less pleasing skin tone rendition.

Connectivity, Expandability, and Price Considerations

Both models lack modern wireless networking - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC - limiting remote control and image sharing convenience, a significant gap for today’s connected world.

Lens wise, they are fixed-lens cameras; the TG-2’s focal range of 25-100mm equivalents with a bright F2.0 aperture on the wide end gives it more creative latitude versus the T90’s 35-140mm but slower F3.5-10.0 variable aperture.

Pricing (as of 2023 data) places the TG-2 around $380, the T90 at $260. Considering the TG-2’s modern sensor, rugged features, and better specs, it offers superior value for money if you want more than an everyday snapshot camera.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

So, after putting these two compact cameras through their paces, what’s my bottom line?

• If your photography involves active outdoor shooting, macro exploration, or variable lighting, the Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS is unquestionably the better choice. Its ruggedness, superior sensor, and wider aperture give it a practical edge across most disciplines - plus stabilization and more versatile video.

• If ultimate portability, discreet shooting, and basic travel snapshots are your main priorities, and you can accept compromises in image quality and low-light performance, the Sony Cyber-shot T90 remains a lovable compact camera with a sleek design.

Dear reader - if you want a robust companion for adventure and solid all-around image quality, the Olympus TG-2 wins hands down. But, if your pocket is your top priority, and you’re shooting in good light with no heavy lifting, the Sony T90 can still charm its way into your kit.

Thank you for reading this detailed comparison. Should you decide on either, I hope this guide helps you harness your new camera’s strengths and understand its limitations. Cameras are tools, after all - how you use them makes all the difference.

Happy shooting!

• Your expert camera reviewer