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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as mju Tough 3000
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus Tough-3000, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the Tough-3000 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and Tough-3000 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 20 months after the Tough-3000 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short view of how the E-P3 matches up versus the Tough-3000 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 E-P3 Tough-3000 
RevealedAugust 2011January 2010Newer by 20 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Olympus E-P3

 Tough-3000 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus Tough-3000

 E-P3 Tough-3000 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 provides outer measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Olympus Tough-3000 has dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus Tough-3000 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 compared to the Tough-3000.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and Tough-3000 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The picture here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and Tough-3000.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-P3 contains the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The newer E-P3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus Tough-3000 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Olympus Tough-3000
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
no articulating screen
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Olympus Tough-3000
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
36
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography highlights
60
provides focus via touch
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
weather sealing
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography factors
Olympus Tough-3000 Landscape photography factors
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lack of Timelapse function
35
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Olympus Tough-3000
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus Tough-3000
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
Also Known as - mju Tough 3000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2011-08-17 2010-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.1
Macro focusing distance - 2cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
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 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $0