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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
94 Imaging
34 Features
24 Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90 Imaging
40 Features
46 Overall
42

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Olympus TG-3
(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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Canon SD970 IS and Olympus TG-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by companies Canon and Olympus. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and TG-3 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was introduced 6 years prior to the TG-3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the SD970 IS scores against the TG-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Olympus TG-3

          

          

            
 SD970 IS TG-3 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Canon SD970 IS

          

          

            
 TG-3 SD970 IS 
LaunchedMarch 2014February 2009More recent by 62 months
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Olympus TG-3

          

          

            
 SD970 IS TG-3 
Focus manually  Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen  Lack of selfie screen
Touch display  Lack of Touch display
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS offers physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-3 has dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).
Take a look at the Canon SD970 IS and Olympus TG-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SD970 IS versus the TG-3.
Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison
Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and TG-3 is 94 and 90 respectively.
Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
In many cases, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The photograph here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SD970 IS and TG-3.
As you can tell, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus TG-3 to resolve more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

            Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


                Photography Glossary        

	
	
	
	

        

          
Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography features
26
 supports face detect focusing
 focusing manually not possible
 lack of manual mode
 cannot use external flash
 low MP (12 megapixels)
 sensor  is tiny (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
37
 good  resolution (16 megapixels)
 comes with face detection focus
 focusing manually not possible
 cannot use external flash
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Olympus TG-3
56
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 fixed screen
 sensor  is tiny (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
59
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 weather sealing
 no articulating screen
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
 heavier than others in class (247g)
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Sports Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Sports photography details
Olympus TG-3 Sports photography details
25
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
 no shutter priority mode
 low MP (12 megapixels)
 sensor  is tiny (1/2.3")
 no phase detect AF
47
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good  resolution (16 megapixels)
 comes with tracking autofocus
 weather sealing
 great battery (330 CIPA)
 very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
 no shutter priority
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Travel photography details
Olympus TG-3 Travel photography details
51
 built-in flash
 doesn't have Timelapse function
 low MP (12MP)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
74
 great battery (330 shots)
 weather sealing
 good  resolution (16 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 relatively wide (25mm)
 great max aperture (f2.0)
 heavier than others in class (247 grams)
 doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison
 Canon SD970 IS as a Landscape photography camera
 Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
32
 nice screen size (3 inch)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 focusing manually not possible
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
 lack of manual mode
 low MP (12 megapixels)
 sensor  is tiny (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
 doesn't have Timelapse function
56
 relatively wide (25mm)
 great max aperture (f2.0)
 screen size is good (3")
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good  resolution (16MP)
 weather sealing
 great battery (330 per charge)
 focusing manually not possible
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Vlogging details
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging details
27
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 supports face detect focusing
 wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
 doesn't have microphone support
34
 relatively wide (25mm)
 great max aperture (f2.0)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 comes with face detection focus
 high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 doesn't posses selfie friendly display
 no external mic support
 heavier than others in class (247g)
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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Olympus TG-3
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISOlympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Olympus Tough TG-3
Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2009-02-18 2014-03-31
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Autofocus touch    
Autofocus continuous    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Multi area autofocus    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect autofocus    
Contract detect autofocus    
Phase detect autofocus    
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Display technology - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual mode    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support    
Headphone support    
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 160g (0.35 pounds) 247g (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch - $350