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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-860
(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
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Updated by Olympus TG-870
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the TG-860 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-860 was announced 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the TG-860 scores vs the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-860 NEX-3 
LaunchedFebruary 2015June 2010More recent by 57 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-860

 NEX-3 TG-860 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-3

 TG-860 NEX-3 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-860 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-860 versus Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-860 vs the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-860 and NEX-3.

As you can see, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-860 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus TG-860 will offer extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer TG-860 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
49
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
71
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (21mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
59
good MP (14MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
48
rather wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
33
rather wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
27
has face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2015-02-06 2010-06-07
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type 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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Yes None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 224 grams (0.49 lb) 297 grams (0.65 lb)
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 Overall 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 300 images 330 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $279 $0