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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII 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
  • Released April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • New Model is Olympus TG-5
Sony RX100 VII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 302g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Revealed July 2019
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 VI
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the RX100 VII (20MP) is pretty close but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and RX100 VII (1") feature different sensor size.

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The TG-4 was introduced 5 years earlier than the RX100 VII and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 VII being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the TG-4 matches up vs the RX100 VII when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony RX100 VII

 TG-4 RX100 VII 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VII over the Olympus TG-4

 RX100 VII TG-4 
RevealedJuly 2019April 2015More recent by 52 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony RX100 VII

 TG-4 RX100 VII 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-4 comes with physical measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony RX100 VII has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") along with a weight of 302 grams (0.67 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-4 and the RX100 VII.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and RX100 VII is 90 and 88 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and RX100 VII.

As you can see, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-4 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony RX100 VII will result in greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older TG-4 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Portrait photography camera
47
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
67
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography details
Sony RX100 VII Street photography details
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors in class (247g)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
supports touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (302 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-4
Sports photography with Sony RX100 VII
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery power (380 per charge)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
71
silent mode (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Sony RX100 VII
74
great battery power (380 CIPA)
environment proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors in class (247g)
display isn't selfie friendly
77
lighter than competition in class (302 grams)
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (24mm)
not so great battery power (260 CIPA)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Landscape photography camera
62
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
environment proof
great battery power (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
65
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
not so great battery power (260 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 VII Vlogging highlights
34
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (247 grams)
81
really wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
lighter than competition in class (302 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony RX100 VII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony RX100 VII
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Class Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Released 2015-04-13 2019-07-25
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus range 1cm 8cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lbs) 302 gr (0.67 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 418
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 260 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $379 $1,298