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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 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
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the TG-2 iHS (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was released 22 months earlier than the TG-2 iHS which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E-P3 scores against the TG-2 iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-P3 TG-2 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution614k610kSharper screen (+4k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Olympus E-P3

 TG-2 iHS E-P3 
IntroducedJune 2013August 2011More modern by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS

 E-P3 TG-2 iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 has outside dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Olympus TG-2 iHS has sizing of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the TG-2 iHS.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and TG-2 iHS is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through specifications. The pic here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and TG-2 iHS.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide the same resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The E-P3 provides the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-P3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
27
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch focus
screen is fixed
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography info
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery life (350 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
60
supports touch focus
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
great battery life (350 CIPA)
weather proof
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography info
Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography info
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
46
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
great battery life (350 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic socket
36
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2011-08-17 2013-06-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 610 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lb) 230 grams (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" 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 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $0 $380