Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony QX30

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony QX30, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The Tough-3000 was released 5 years before the QX30 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the Tough-3000 grades versus the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery & Sony QX30 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus Tough-3000 enjoys outer measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony QX30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the Tough-3000 versus the QX30.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the Tough-3000 and QX30 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching technical specs. The picture here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the Tough-3000 and QX30.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony QX30 to render extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged Tough-3000 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.