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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
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
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-P2 and Olympus TG-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and TG-3 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P2 was launched 4 years earlier than the TG-3 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-P2 grades against the TG-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-P2 TG-3 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-P2

 TG-3 E-P2 
RevealedMarch 2014April 2010More recent by 47 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Olympus TG-3

 E-P2 TG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P2 provides physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus TG-3 has proportions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P2 and Olympus TG-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P2 compared to the TG-3.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and TG-3 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P2 and TG-3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus TG-3 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-P2 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
37
decent MP (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-3 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-3 Sports photography highlights
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery pack (330 shots)
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-3 Travel photography advice
43
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
74
good battery pack (330 shots)
weather proofing
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than others (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography details
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography details
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery pack (330 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging details
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
more heavy than others (247 grams)
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus PEN E-P2Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus Tough TG-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2010-04-22 2014-03-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support 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 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 247 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 330 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $799 $350