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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-6
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 253g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released May 2019
  • Earlier Model is Olympus TG-5
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus TG-6 versus Sony A500, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-6 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-6 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-6 was introduced 9 years after the A500 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-6 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the TG-6 matches up against the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-6 over the Sony A500

 TG-6 A500 
ReleasedMay 2019August 2009Newer by 119 months
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-6

 A500 TG-6 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-6 and Sony A500

 TG-6 A500 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-6 comes with 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) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-6 versus Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-6 vs the A500.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-6 and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-6 and A500.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The TG-6 includes the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF tougher. The younger TG-6 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-6
Portrait photography with Sony A500
40
has manual focus
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Street photography factors
Sony A500 Street photography factors
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (253g)
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-6
Sports photography with Sony A500
47
max fps high (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery (340 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Travel photography highlights
Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
68
good battery (340 CIPA)
weather sealing
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average in class (253g)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
43
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (520 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
57
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery (340 CIPA)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (520 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
heavier than average in class (253 grams)
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-6 and Sony A500
 Olympus Tough TG-6Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-6 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2019-05-22 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 20.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill- in, Manual, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 253g (0.56 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 340 shots 520 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $449 $638