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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 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
  • Launched May 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-5
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus TG-6 versus Sony A57, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the TG-6 (12MP) and A57 (16MP) and the TG-6 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The TG-6 was brought out 6 years later than the A57 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-6 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-6 scores versus the A57 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-6 over the Sony A57

 TG-6 A57 
ReleasedMay 2019September 2012Fresher by 82 months
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus TG-6

 A57 TG-6 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-6 and Sony A57

 TG-6 A57 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-6 offers outer measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 253 grams (0.56 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-6 versus Sony A57 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-6 compared to the A57.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-6 and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The visual here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-6 and A57.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The TG-6 because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A57 will show extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern TG-6 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
40
manual focus
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Street photography details
Sony A57 Street photography details
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (253 grams)
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Sports photography advice
Sony A57 Sports photography advice
47
max fps high (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (340 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Travel photography details
Sony A57 Travel photography details
68
better than average battery power (340 per charge)
environment proofing
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average in class (253g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
67
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A57 Landscape photography highlights
57
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
better than average battery power (340 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Vlogging features
Sony A57 Vlogging features
34
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
heavier than average in class (253 grams)
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-6 and Sony A57
 Olympus Tough TG-6Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-6 Sony SLT-A57
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2019-05-22 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 20.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 253 gr (0.56 pounds) 618 gr (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 550 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $449 $1,000