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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternative Name is mju Tough 3000
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
Photography Glossary

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The Tough-3000 was released 6 years earlier than the WX500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the Tough-3000 scores vs the WX500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Sony WX500

 Tough-3000 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 WX500 Tough-3000 
ReleasedApril 2015January 2010Fresher by 64 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus Tough-3000 and Sony WX500

 Tough-3000 WX500 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus Tough-3000 has external dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the Tough-3000 compared to the WX500.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Tough-3000 and WX500 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the Tough-3000 and WX500.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Sony WX500 to give greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older Tough-3000 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus Tough-3000
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
39
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Street photography details
Sony WX500 Street photography details
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
70
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
36
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (360 per charge)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
61
environment proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
better than average battery pack (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
35
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
49
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (360 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Vlogging features
Sony WX500 Vlogging features
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
35
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus Tough-3000 and Sony WX500
 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Also referred to as mju Tough 3000 -
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-01-07 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.1 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 lb) 236g (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $348