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Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
50
Imaging
56
Features
63
Overall
58
Nikon D3 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Nikon D3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1300g - 160 x 157 x 88mm
  • Revealed April 2008
  • Newer Model is Nikon D3S
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
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Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Nikon and Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the D3 (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the D3 (Full frame) and TG-870 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The D3 was brought out 8 years before the TG-870 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon D3 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the D3 grades vs the TG-870 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3 over the Olympus TG-870

 D3 TG-870 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen resolution922k921kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Nikon D3

 TG-870 D3 
ReleasedJanuary 2016April 2008Newer by 93 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon D3 and Olympus TG-870

 D3 TG-870 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D3 offers physical measurements of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") having a weight of 1300 grams (2.87 lbs) while the Olympus TG-870 has dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

See the Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the D3 versus the TG-870.

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the D3 and TG-870 is 50 and 91 respectively.

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching specifications. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the D3 and TG-870.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D3 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus TG-870 will render more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged D3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography features
63
manual focus
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
36
good resolution (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3 Street photography information
Olympus TG-870 Street photography information
54
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (221 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D3
Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
65
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (4,300 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery power (300 shots)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
51
better than average battery life (4,300 per charge)
environment proof
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
better than average battery power (300 shots)
environment proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
67
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery life (4,300 CIPA)
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
50
quite wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
environment proof
better than average battery power (300 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3 Vlogging details
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
32
quite wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no mic socket
heavier than competition (221 grams)
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Nikon D3 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3 and Olympus TG-870
 Nikon D3Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D3 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Class Pro DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2008-04-18 2016-01-06
Physical type Large SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 36 x 23.9mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 860.4mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4256 x 2832 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 51 -
Cross type focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 309 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1300g (2.87 lbs) 221g (0.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 81 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2290 not tested
Other
Battery life 4300 pictures 300 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) x2 SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 2 One
Retail cost $5,450 $280