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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • New Model is Olympus TG-4
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus TG-3, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are produced by Olympus. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and TG-3 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-520 was revealed 6 years before the TG-3 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-520 scores against the TG-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-520 TG-3 
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-520

 TG-3 E-520 
LaunchedMarch 2014August 2008More modern by 68 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus TG-3

 E-520 TG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 enjoys exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus TG-3 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus TG-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-520 against the TG-3.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and TG-3 is 68 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The picture here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and TG-3.

All in all, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus TG-3 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography features
58
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
37
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography info
Olympus TG-3 Street photography info
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competitors (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
good battery power (330 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
52
great battery life (650 per charge)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
74
good battery power (330 shots)
weather proof
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
good battery power (330 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (247g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus E-520Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus Tough TG-3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2008-08-20 2014-03-31
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 247 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 shots 330 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $350