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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released January 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
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-4
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TG-3 (16MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched 3 years prior to the TG-3 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the TG-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus TG-3

 SZ-12 TG-3 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus SZ-12

 TG-3 SZ-12 
IntroducedMarch 2014January 2012More modern by 27 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-3

 SZ-12 TG-3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 has got exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 and the TG-3.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and TG-3 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The image underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and TG-3.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-3 to give extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography details
33
MP count good (14MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
37
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Olympus TG-3 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
Olympus TG-3 Sports photography advice
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery (330 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Olympus TG-3 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (220 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
74
better than average battery (330 shots)
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography information
40
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (220 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
56
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proof
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
34
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than others in class (247g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Olympus Tough TG-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2012-01-10 2014-03-31
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
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
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 226 grams (0.50 lb) 247 grams (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 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 220 shots 330 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $350