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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 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
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Revealed June 2013
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the TG-2 iHS (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was revealed 6 years prior to the TG-2 iHS which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-3 scores against the TG-2 iHS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-3 TG-2 iHS 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Olympus E-3

 TG-2 iHS E-3 
RevealedJune 2013February 2008More modern by 65 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution610k230kClearer display (+380k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-3 TG-2 iHS 
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has got physical dimensions 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-2 iHS has dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-3 compared to the TG-2 iHS.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and TG-2 iHS is 56 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specifications. The picture here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and TG-2 iHS.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus TG-2 iHS will offer you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
27
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
69
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography factors
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
slow fps (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery power (350 shots)
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography features
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
68
great battery power (350 shots)
weather proof
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
56
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is small (2.5 inch)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
46
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
great battery power (350 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging features
18
can't shoot video
36
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS
 Olympus E-3Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
Category Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Released 2008-02-20 2013-06-28
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 610k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
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
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 230 grams (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 - 350 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card -
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $670 $380