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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the TG-4 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The TG-4 was introduced 5 years after the A500 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the TG-4 scores against the A500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony A500

 TG-4 A500 
IntroducedApril 2015August 2009More modern by 69 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-4

 A500 TG-4 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony A500

 TG-4 A500 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-4 provides outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the TG-4 and the A500.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The image here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-4 and A500.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-4 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Olympus TG-4 will give you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger TG-4 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography information
Sony A500 Portrait photography information
47
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Sony A500
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (247 grams)
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery life (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography info
Sony A500 Travel photography info
74
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
environment proof
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247g)
display is not selfie friendly
43
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (520 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Sony A500
62
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (520 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than average (247g)
9
can't record video
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony A500
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-04-13 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 pounds) 630g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 380 images 520 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $379 $638