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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
Olympus TG-4
(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 April 2015
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-5
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-P3 versus Olympus TG-4, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and TG-4 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 4 years before the TG-4 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-P3 grades against the TG-4 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus TG-4

 E-P3 TG-4 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus E-P3

 TG-4 E-P3 
RevealedApril 2015August 2011Fresher by 44 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-4

 E-P3 TG-4 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys exterior 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-4 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 versus Olympus TG-4 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 versus the TG-4.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and TG-4 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The photograph underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and TG-4.

To sum up, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus TG-4 will deliver more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
47
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
Olympus TG-4 Street photography features
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus by touch
screen is fixed
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography features
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography features
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect autofocus
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery (380 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
60
includes focus by touch
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
74
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (247g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography features
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
no Time Lapse mode
62
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
better than average battery (380 per charge)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
Olympus TG-4 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no mic socket
34
relatively wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
heavier than competition in class (247g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Tough TG-4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2011-08-17 2015-04-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 247 grams (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 380 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $0 $379