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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-4
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus E-PL6 versus Olympus TG-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the TG-3 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and TG-3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL6 was revealed 5 months after the TG-3 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL6 grades versus the TG-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus TG-3

 E-PL6 TG-3 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus E-PL6

 TG-3 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus TG-3

 E-PL6 TG-3 
IntroducedAugust 2014March 2014Similar generation
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL6 has external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus TG-3 has dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL6 versus Olympus TG-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL6 and the TG-3.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL6 and TG-3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through specifications. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and TG-3.

Plainly, both cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The E-PL6 contains the larger sensor which will make getting bokeh simpler.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-3 Street photography advice
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL6
Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery power (330 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-3 Travel photography highlights
85
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
selfie friendly display
74
great battery power (330 CIPA)
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography features
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography features
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
56
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery power (330 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging info
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging info
79
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external mic port
34
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic support
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL6 Olympus Tough TG-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2014-08-01 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash settings 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
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 247 gr (0.54 lbs)
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 rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 330 images
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $300 $350