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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 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
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Successor is Olympus TG-5
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • New Model is Sony A99 II
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-4 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-4 was launched 2 years after the A99 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the TG-4 grades against the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony A99

 TG-4 A99 
ReleasedApril 2015December 2012More modern by 29 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-4

 A99 TG-4 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony A99

 TG-4 A99 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-4 provides external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-4 against the A99.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-4 and A99 is 90 and 57 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through specifications. The pic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and A99.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-4 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A99 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer TG-4 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-4
Portrait photography with Sony A99
47
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
81
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography details
Sony A99 Street photography details
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography advice
Sony A99 Sports photography advice
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery life (380 CIPA)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery power (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
74
great battery life (380 per charge)
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
weather proof
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery power (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Sony A99
62
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
great battery life (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
low battery power (500 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
34
really wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (247g)
76
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony A99
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony SLT-A99
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-04-13 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 grams (0.54 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 380 photos 500 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One 2
Retail pricing $379 $1,998