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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Announced February 2020
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus TG-860, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and TG-860 (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-M1 III was introduced 5 years later than the TG-860 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M1 III matches up versus the TG-860 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Olympus TG-860

 E-M1 III TG-860 
AnnouncedFebruary 2020February 2015Fresher by 62 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 TG-860 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus TG-860

 E-M1 III TG-860 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 III provides exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while the Olympus TG-860 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus TG-860 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 III versus the TG-860.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and TG-860 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing merely by going over a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and TG-860.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 III will offer you greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 III should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography highlights
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
35
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography information
Olympus TG-860 Street photography information
78
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography highlights
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography highlights
79
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
71
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (21mm)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography advice
Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography advice
81
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
47
reasonably wide (21mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
weather sealing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 III
Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
79
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have external mic port
33
reasonably wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIOlympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type Pro Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2020-02-11 2015-02-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic IX TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 -
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 60.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 gr (1.28 pounds) 224 gr (0.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 photos 300 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual One
Launch price $1,800 $279