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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-P3 versus Olympus TG-870, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was released 5 years earlier than the TG-870 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-P3 grades against the TG-870 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus TG-870

 E-P3 TG-870 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-P3

 TG-870 E-P3 
IntroducedJanuary 2016August 2011Fresher by 53 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k614kCrisper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-870

 E-P3 TG-870 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 has exterior measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-870 has proportions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 versus Olympus TG-870 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the TG-870.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and TG-870 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing specifications. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and TG-870.

To sum up, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus TG-870 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
fixed screen
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competitors (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography details
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (300 shots)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
60
has touch focus
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
better than average battery life (300 shots)
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (21mm)
more heavy than competitors (221 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
50
really wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment proof
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging features
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging features
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
32
really wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (221g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-08-17 2016-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest 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 -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 lbs) 221g (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" 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 pictures 300 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $280