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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus TG-4
(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
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-4, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and TG-4 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 4 years before the TG-4 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL3 scores vs the TG-4 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus TG-4

 E-PL3 TG-4 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TG-4 E-PL3 
RevealedApril 2015September 2011Fresher by 43 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-4

 E-PL3 TG-4 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys external 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) whilst the Olympus TG-4 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-4 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL3 against the TG-4.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and TG-4 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to see the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and TG-4.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus TG-4 will give more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
47
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-4 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
heavier than others (247 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Olympus TG-4
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery (380 CIPA)
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-4 Travel photography information
44
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
74
great battery (380 shots)
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others (247g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography information
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
62
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
great battery (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Olympus TG-4 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing mic port
34
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
heavier than others (247 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus Tough TG-4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2011-09-20 2015-04-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options 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
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 247 grams (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 photographs 380 photographs
Style 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $399 $379