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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-3
  • Successor is Olympus TG-5
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX200V
  • Renewed by Sony HX400V
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-4 was introduced 2 years later than the HX300 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-4 grades vs the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony HX300

 TG-4 HX300 
RevealedApril 2015February 2013Fresher by 27 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus TG-4

 HX300 TG-4 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony HX300

 TG-4 HX300 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-4 provides physical dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has specifications of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-4 and the HX300.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and HX300 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at specs. The graphic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-4 and HX300.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX300 to give extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-4 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
47
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
42
manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography info
Sony HX300 Street photography info
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than average in class (247g)
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than average in class (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX300 Sports photography highlights
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
great battery (380 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Sony HX300
74
great battery (380 per charge)
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average in class (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
54
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (623g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX300 Landscape photography factors
62
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
great battery (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
48
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-4
Vlogging with Sony HX300
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (247 grams)
25
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (623g)
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony HX300
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2015-04-13 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) -
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 lb) 623g (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory -
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $379 $339