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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 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
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-3
  • Updated by Olympus TG-5
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
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus TG-4 versus Sony W550, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-4 was revealed 3 years later than the W550 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the TG-4 grades against the W550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony W550

 TG-4 W550 
LaunchedApril 2015July 2011More recent by 46 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus TG-4

 W550 TG-4 

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony W550

 TG-4 W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-4 has external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-4 versus Sony W550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-4 and the W550.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and W550 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and W550.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-4 to render greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern TG-4 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W550 as a Portrait photography camera
47
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
28
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Sony W550
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (247g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography features
Sony W550 Sports photography features
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery (380 shots)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography info
Sony W550 Travel photography info
74
great battery (380 CIPA)
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
65
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Sony W550
62
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
great battery (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
42
relatively wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging info
Sony W550 Vlogging info
34
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than others in class (247g)
29
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony W550
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Waterproof Ultracompact
Released 2015-04-13 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Pricing at launch $379 $119