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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Olympus TG-6
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 253g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Announced May 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-5
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Released April 2017
  • Newer Model is Sony A9 II
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-6 versus Sony A9, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the TG-6 (12MP) and A9 (24MP) and the TG-6 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-6 was unveiled 2 years later than the A9 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-6 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-6 grades versus the A9 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-6 over the Sony A9

 TG-6 A9 
ReleasedMay 2019April 2017Fresher by 26 months

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus TG-6

 A9 TG-6 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k1040kSharper screen (+400k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-6 and Sony A9

 TG-6 A9 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-6 has got outer measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 253 grams (0.56 lbs) while the Sony A9 has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-6 versus Sony A9 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-6 versus the A9.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-6 and A9 is 90 and 65 respectively.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The visual here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-6 and A9.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-6 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A9 will give greater detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more recent TG-6 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Portrait photography details
Sony A9 Portrait photography details
40
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
83
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-6
Street photography with Sony A9
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (253g)
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
47
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery life (340 shots)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
86
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery power (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Travel photography advice
Sony A9 Travel photography advice
68
better than average battery life (340 shots)
weather proofing
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (253 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
73
great battery power (650 per charge)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
includes focus by touch
good resolution (24MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Landscape photography information
Sony A9 Landscape photography information
57
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery life (340 shots)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
85
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great battery power (650 shots)
has double storage slots
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A9 as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competition (253g)
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-6 and Sony A9
 Olympus Tough TG-6Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-6 Sony Alpha A9
Class Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2019-05-22 2017-04-19
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII BIONZ X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 693
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill- in, Manual, Flash Off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC -
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 253g (0.56 lb) 673g (1.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 340 images 650 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots 1 2
Cost at launch $449 $4,498