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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus TG-310 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Waterproof and both are created by Olympus. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and TG-310 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and TG-310 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the TG-310 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-3 grades vs the TG-310 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus TG-310

 E-3 TG-310 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Olympus E-3

 TG-310 E-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2011February 2008Newer by 35 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus TG-310

 E-3 TG-310 
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has got outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Olympus TG-310 has dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-3 against the TG-310.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and TG-310 is 56 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and TG-310.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus TG-310 will give you more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography features
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Olympus TG-310 Street photography details
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than average (155 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography details
Olympus TG-310 Sports photography details
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (150 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-310 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
67
lighter than average (155g)
environment proof
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery pack (150 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography advice
56
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
low resolution sensor (10MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
39
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery pack (150 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-310 Vlogging advice
18
can't shoot video
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
lighter than average (155g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus TG-310
 Olympus E-3Olympus TG-310
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus TG-310
Type Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2008-02-20 2011-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Max aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lb) 155 gr (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 150 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $670 $0