Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic S3

The following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic S3, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The Tough-3000 was unveiled 12 months prior to the S3 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the Tough-3000 grades vs the S3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The full galleries are available at Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery and Panasonic S3 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus Tough-3000 has exterior measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic S3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the Tough-3000 against the S3.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the Tough-3000 and S3 is 94 and 96 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The picture below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the Tough-3000 and S3.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Panasonic S3 to provide you with more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged Tough-3000 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.