OM System TG-7 vs Sony HX90V

The OM System Tough TG-7 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2023 and April 2015. Both the TG-7 and the HX90V are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The OM System has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 18 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

OM System TG-7		Sony HX90V
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
25-100mm f/2.0-4.9		24-720mm f/3.5-6.4
12 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		18 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
4K/30p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-12,800		ISO 80-3,200 (80 - 12,800)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (638k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
20 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens-based stabilization
Waterproof body (15m)		not weather sealed
330 shots per battery charge		360 shots per battery charge
114 x 66 x 33 mm, 249 g		102 x 58 x 36 mm, 245 g

Check TG-7 price at
amazon.com
Check HX90V offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the OM System Tough TG-7 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the OM System TG-7 and the Sony HX90V. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TG-7 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the HX90V is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony HX90V is notably smaller (21 percent) than the OM System TG-7. Moreover, the HX90V is slightly lighter (2 percent) than the TG-7. It is worth mentioning in this context that the TG-7 is splash and dust resistant, while the HX90V does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the TG-7 is water-proof up to 15m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

Concerning battery life, the TG-7 gets 330 shots out of its OM System LI-92B battery, while the HX90V can take 360 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		OM System TG-7	114 mm	66 mm	33 mm	249 g	330	Y	Sep 2023	US$ 549	amazon.com
2.		Sony HX90V	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	US$ 429	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX720	110 mm	64 mm	36 mm	270 g	250	n	Feb 2016	US$ 379	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	US$ 229	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	US$ 229	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-PM1	110 mm	64 mm	34 mm	265 g	330	n	Jun 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
7.		Olympus TG-4	112 mm	66 mm	31 mm	247 g	380	Y	Apr 2015	US$ 379	ebay.com
8.		Olympus TG-5	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	250 g	340	Y	May 2017	US$ 449	ebay.com
9.		Olympus TG-6	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	253 g	340	Y	May 2019	US$ 449	ebay.com
10.		Olympus XZ-1	111 mm	65 mm	42 mm	275 g	320	n	Jan 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
11.		Olympus XZ-2	113 mm	65 mm	48 mm	346 g	340	n	Sep 2012	US$ 599	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic FZ300	132 mm	92 mm	117 mm	691 g	380	Y	Jul 2015	US$ 599	amazon.com
13.		Pentax WG-8	118 mm	66 mm	33 mm	242 g	340	Y	Jun 2024	US$ 399	amazon.com
14.		Sony HX95	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
15.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
16.		Sony HX400V	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	660 g	300	n	Feb 2014	US$ 499	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The HX90V was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 22 percent) than the TG-7, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the HX90V offers a higher resolution of 18 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the TG-7. This megapixels advantage translates into a 22 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the HX90V has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.25μm versus 1.53μm for the TG-7). Moreover, it should be noted, that the TG-7 is much more recent (by 8 years and 5 months) than the HX90V, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of individual pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the HX90V has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony HX90V implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the HX90V for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 24.5 x 18.4 inches or 62.2 x 46.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 19.6 x 14.7 inches or 49.7 x 37.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm. The corresponding values for the OM System TG-7 are 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm for good quality, 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The OM System Tough TG-7 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-12800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		OM System TG-7	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.9	12.7	1553	54
2.		Sony HX90V	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	738	47
3.		Canon SX720	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.3	11.8	817	48
4.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
5.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	20.7	12.2	1102	52
6.		Olympus E-PM1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	21.0	10.3	499	52
7.		Olympus TG-4	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.2	11.6	737	47
8.		Olympus TG-5	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.5	11.9	934	50
9.		Olympus TG-6	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1127	52
10.		Olympus XZ-1	1/1.7	10.1	3664	2752	720/30p	18.8	10.4	117	34
11.		Olympus XZ-2	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.4	11.3	216	49
12.		Panasonic FZ300	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	19.3	11.0	97	38
13.		Pentax WG-8	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
14.		Sony HX95	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1057	51
15.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1058	51
16.		Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
17.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.2	1070	51
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the TG-7 provides a higher video resolution than the HX90V. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the HX90V has an electronic viewfinder (638k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the TG-7 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the OM System TG-7 and Sony HX90V along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		OM System TG-7	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Sony HX90V	638	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX720	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP140	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Olympus E-PM1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	n	Y
7.		Olympus TG-4	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Olympus TG-5	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Olympus TG-6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Olympus XZ-1	optional	n	3.0 / 614	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Olympus XZ-2	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic FZ300	1440	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Pentax WG-8	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
14.		Sony HX95	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Sony HX99	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX400V	210	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The OM System TG-7 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the TG-7 and the HX90V have zoom lenses built in. The TG-7 has a 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 optic and the HX90V offers a 24-720mm f/3.5-6.4 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Sony provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the OM System. The TG-7 offers the faster maximum aperture.

The TG-7 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the HX90V uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the OM System Tough TG-7 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		OM System TG-7	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon SX720	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Olympus E-PM1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Olympus TG-4	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Olympus TG-5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Olympus TG-6	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Olympus XZ-1	Y	mono / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus XZ-2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Panasonic FZ300	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Pentax WG-8	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	3.0	-	-	-
14.		Sony HX95	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
15.		Sony HX99	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony WX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that both cameras feature internal geolocalization sensors and can record GPS coordinates in their EXIF data.

The TG-7 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of OM System. In contrast, the HX90V has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the HX90V was succeeded by the Sony HX99. Further information on the features and operation of the TG-7 and HX90V can be found, respectively, in the OM System TG-7 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony HX90V Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the OM System TG-7 and the Sony HX90V? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the OM System Tough TG-7:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 921k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/2.0 vs f/3.5).
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 15m).
• More modern: Reflects 8 years and 5 months of technical progress since the HX90V launch.

Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (18 vs 12MP), which boosts linear resolution by 22%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 114x66mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (22 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in April 2015).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the HX90V emerges as the winner of the match-up (11 : 9 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the OM System TG-7 and the Sony HX90V place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the TG-7 or the HX90V. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		OM System TG-7	4/5	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	Sep 2023	US$ 549	amazon.com
2.		Sony HX90V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	US$ 429	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX720	..	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	US$ 379	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	US$ 229	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	US$ 229	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-PM1	..	86/100	..	71/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
7.		Olympus TG-4	..	+	..	79/100	4/5	4/5	Apr 2015	US$ 379	ebay.com
8.		Olympus TG-5	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	US$ 449	ebay.com
9.		Olympus TG-6	4/5	+ +	4.5/5	76/100	4/5	4/5	May 2019	US$ 449	ebay.com
10.		Olympus XZ-1	4/5	..	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
11.		Olympus XZ-2	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	US$ 599	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic FZ300	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	US$ 599	amazon.com
13.		Pentax WG-8	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	US$ 399	amazon.com
14.		Sony HX95	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
15.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
16.		Sony HX400V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	US$ 499	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Check TG-7 price at
amazon.com
Check HX90V offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~

Check TG-7 price at
amazon.com
Check HX90V offers at
ebay.com

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.