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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 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
  • Announced June 2013
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very well matched and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-2 iHS was manufactured 24 months after the W550 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-2 iHS matches up vs the W550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Sony W550

 TG-2 iHS W550 
AnnouncedJune 2013July 2011More modern by 24 months
Display resolution610k230kClearer display (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 W550 TG-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Sony W550

 TG-2 iHS W550 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-2 iHS has got physical measurements of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-2 iHS against the W550.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-2 iHS and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The picture below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-2 iHS and W550.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony W550 to give more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The newer TG-2 iHS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W550 as a Portrait photography camera
27
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Street photography factors
Sony W550 Street photography factors
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Sports photography with Sony W550
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (350 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography information
Sony W550 Travel photography information
68
better than average battery (350 per charge)
environment sealing
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
46
fairly wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
better than average battery (350 per charge)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
42
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
36
fairly wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
29
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Sony W550
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Announced 2013-06-28 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology OLED Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.80 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230g (0.51 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-90B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 -
Pricing at release $380 $119