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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus TG-3
(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
  • Released March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-4
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus TG-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and TG-3 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 3 years prior to the TG-3 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL3 scores vs the TG-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-PL3 TG-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TG-3 E-PL3 
ReleasedMarch 2014September 2011Newer by 30 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-3

 E-PL3 TG-3 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers external measurements 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-3 has measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus TG-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 vs the TG-3.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and TG-3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specifications. The pic underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and TG-3.

To sum up, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus TG-3 will give greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-3
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Olympus TG-3 Street photography info
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery power (330 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
44
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
74
good battery power (330 shots)
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-3
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
56
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
good battery power (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging advice
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
34
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic socket
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus Tough TG-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2011-09-20 2014-03-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 -
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
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 lb) 247g (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
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 images 330 images
Battery type 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $399 $350