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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Announced March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are built by Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and TG-3 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was released 4 years prior to the TG-3 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL2 grades vs the TG-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-PL2 TG-3 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-PL2

 TG-3 E-PL2 
AnnouncedMarch 2014February 2011More recent by 38 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus TG-3

 E-PL2 TG-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 offers exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-3 has dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 and the TG-3.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and TG-3 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specs. The graphic here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and TG-3.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus TG-3 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-3
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
37
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others in class (247g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 per charge)
no phase detect AF
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery pack (330 CIPA)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-3 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (280 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
74
good battery pack (330 per charge)
environment sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than others in class (247g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography highlights
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (280 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
56
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment sealing
good battery pack (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Olympus TG-3
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (247g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus Tough TG-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2011-02-11 2014-03-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lbs) 247 gr (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 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 rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images 330 images
Form of battery 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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Retail price $0 $350