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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus TG-630 iHS front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Olympus TG-630 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 66 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus TG-630 iHS, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the TG-630 iHS (12MP) is fairly close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and TG-630 iHS (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was revealed 5 years prior to the TG-630 iHS and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus TG-630 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-3 grades vs the TG-630 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus TG-630 iHS

 E-3 TG-630 iHS 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-630 iHS over the Olympus E-3

 TG-630 iHS E-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2008More recent by 59 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS

 E-3 TG-630 iHS 
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 enjoys outer measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-630 iHS has specifications of 98mm x 66mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus TG-630 iHS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 compared to the TG-630 iHS.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and TG-630 iHS is 56 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and TG-630 iHS.

As you can see, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus TG-630 iHS will render extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
27
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Olympus TG-630 iHS
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Olympus TG-630 iHS Sports photography advice
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
slow fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
59
weather proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (220 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
56
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low MP (10MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
39
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Olympus TG-630 iHS
18
no video shooting
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS
 Olympus E-3Olympus TG-630 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus TG-630 iHS
Class Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2008-02-20 2013-01-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 98 x 66 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 220 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $670 $200