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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus TG-850 iHS versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The TG-850 iHS was announced 3 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the TG-850 iHS grades against the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-850 iHS NEX-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2014June 2010More recent by 45 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 NEX-3 TG-850 iHS 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony NEX-3

 TG-850 iHS NEX-3 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-850 iHS enjoys exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-850 iHS versus Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the TG-850 iHS against the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-850 iHS and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The graphic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-850 iHS and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-850 iHS with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Olympus TG-850 iHS will give you more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern TG-850 iHS provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
35
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography info
Sony NEX-3 Street photography info
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (330 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
72
great battery power (330 per charge)
weather proof
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
59
good resolution (14MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
50
relatively wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
weather proof
great battery power (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
27
supports face detection focus
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-01-29 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4616 x 3464 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/2s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Yes Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life 330 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $250 $0