Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
![Olympus PEN E-PL3 front Olympus PEN E-PL3 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/w300/fronton/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3.jpg)
![Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS/Olympus-TG-2-iHS-front.jpg)
91 Imaging
36 Features
42 Overall
38
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
- Revealed September 2011
- Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 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
- 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
- Released June 2013
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Overview
On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and both are created by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the TG-2 iHS (12MP) is very close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
The E-PL3 was announced 21 months prior to the TG-2 iHS making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera.
Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL3 scores versus the TG-2 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Olympus TG-2 iHS Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS
E-PL3 | TG-2 iHS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Olympus E-PL3
TG-2 iHS | E-PL3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | June 2013 | ![]() | September 2011 | Fresher by 21 months |
Display resolution | 610k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+150k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS
E-PL3 | TG-2 iHS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | No selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | No Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Physical Comparison
If you are looking to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 offers outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Olympus TG-2 iHS has proportions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).
See the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-2 iHS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 and the TG-2 iHS.
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS-size-comparison.jpg)
Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and TG-2 iHS is 88 and 91 respectively.
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is tough to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The photograph here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and TG-2 iHS.
As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL3 contains the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field simpler. The older E-PL3 will be behind in sensor technology.
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Olympus |
Model type | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS |
Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Waterproof |
Revealed | 2011-09-20 | 2013-06-28 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor 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 | 12MP | 12MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 3968 x 2976 |
Maximum native ISO | 12800 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 35 | - |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 25-100mm (4.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/2.0-4.9 |
Macro focusing range | - | 1cm |
Total lenses | 107 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dots | 610 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Display tech | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | OLED |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 4 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 6.0fps | 5.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | - |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | - |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/160 secs | - |
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 |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
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 | 313g (0.69 lbs) | 230g (0.51 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") | 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 52 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 20.9 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.3 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 499 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 photos | 350 photos |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | BLS-5 | Li-90B |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | - |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Pricing at launch | $399 | $380 |