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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the TG-3 (16MP) is very comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was brought out 18 months earlier than the TG-3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL5 scores against the TG-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-PL5 TG-3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-PL5

 TG-3 E-PL5 
ReleasedMarch 2014September 2012Newer by 18 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-3

 E-PL5 TG-3 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus TG-3 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-PL5 against the TG-3.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and TG-3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and TG-3.

Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 features the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The more aged E-PL5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
37
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Olympus TG-3 Street photography information
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery power (330 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-3 Travel photography features
75
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
74
great battery power (330 per charge)
environment sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography information
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
no Timelapse mode
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment sealing
great battery power (330 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no microphone support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Tough TG-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-09-17 2014-03-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - 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 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 247 gr (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $350