Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5
86 Imaging
48 Features
60 Overall
52


90 Imaging
38 Features
51 Overall
43
Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Key Specs
(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
- Released August 2011
- Old Model is Olympus E-P2
- New Model is Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 12800)
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 video
- 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
- 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
- Introduced May 2017
- Superseded the Olympus TG-4
- Renewed by Olympus TG-6

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Overview
Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and they are both built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the TG-5 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TG-5 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

The E-P3 was announced 6 years before the TG-5 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera.
Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-P3 scores versus the TG-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P3 and Olympus Tough TG-5. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P3 Gallery and Olympus TG-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus TG-5
E-P3 | TG-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 614k | ![]() | 460k | Crisper screen (+154k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus E-P3
TG-5 | E-P3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | May 2017 | ![]() | August 2011 | More modern by 70 months |
Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus TG-5
E-P3 | TG-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal screen measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen |
Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison
In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-5 has sizing of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-P3 against the TG-5.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and TG-5 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The picture here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and TG-5.
Clearly, both of these cameras provide the same resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The E-P3 offers the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The more aged E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-P3 | Olympus Tough TG-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Olympus |
Model | Olympus PEN E-P3 | Olympus Tough TG-5 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Waterproof |
Released | 2011-08-17 | 2017-05-17 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | TruePic VI | TruePic VIII |
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 | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 12800 |
Max boosted ISO | - | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Min boosted ISO | - | 100 |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 35 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-100mm (4.0x) |
Maximum aperture | - | f/2.0-4.9 |
Macro focus distance | - | 1cm |
Number of lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 614 thousand dots | 460 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Display tech | 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 4 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0fps | 20.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) | - |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/180 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 3840x2160 |
Video format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Built-in |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 369g (0.81 lbs) | 250g (0.55 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") | 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around 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 photos | 340 photos |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLS-5 | LI-92B |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail price | $0 | $449 |