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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the TG-850 iHS and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-P3 grades versus the TG-850 iHS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 E-P3 TG-850 iHS 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display resolution614k460kCrisper display (+154k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Olympus E-P3

 TG-850 iHS E-P3 
ReleasedJanuary 2014August 2011More recent by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 E-P3 TG-850 iHS 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 comes with external 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 TG-850 iHS has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 versus the TG-850 iHS.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and TG-850 iHS is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and TG-850 iHS.

Clearly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus TG-850 iHS will render greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
35
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography highlights
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
screen is fixed
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography factors
60
supports focus via touch
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
72
great battery pack (330 per charge)
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (21mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography details
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography details
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
50
really wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Olympus TG-850 iHS
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic support
33
really wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2011-08-17 2014-01-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI 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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4616 x 3464
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 1/2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Yes
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 218 grams (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $0 $250