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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and they are both built by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and TG-3 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was announced 4 years earlier than the TG-3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL1 grades against the TG-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-PL1 TG-3 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 TG-3 E-PL1 
ReleasedMarch 2014May 2010Fresher by 47 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-3

 E-PL1 TG-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 has outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus TG-3 has specifications of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the TG-3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and TG-3 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and TG-3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus TG-3 will deliver extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography information
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
37
MP count good (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Olympus TG-3 Street photography factors
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than average in class (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
has no phase detect AF
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery pack (330 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
74
good battery pack (330 shots)
environment proofing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average in class (247g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
56
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
good battery pack (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
34
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (247g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus Tough TG-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2010-05-17 2014-03-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
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
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 247g (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 330 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $288 $350