Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3
91 Imaging
40 Features
42 Overall
40


91 Imaging
56 Features
57 Overall
56
Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- 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
- Newer Model is Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 12800
- 1280 x 720 video
- Sony E Mount
- 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
- Released August 2011
- Superseded the Sony NEX-3
- Successor is Sony NEX-F3

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview
Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-C3, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is very comparable but the TG-860 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

The TG-860 was brought out 3 years later than the NEX-C3 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the TG-860 scores against the NEX-C3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 & Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus TG-860 Gallery & Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony NEX-C3
TG-860 | NEX-C3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2015 | ![]() | August 2011 | More recent by 43 months |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus TG-860
NEX-C3 | TG-860 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More accurate focusing | ||
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-C3
TG-860 | NEX-C3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Tilting | Tilting display |
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display sizing |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | No Touch friendly display |
Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-860 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-860 and the NEX-C3.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and NEX-C3 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and NEX-C3.
All in all, both of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The TG-860 contains the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF harder. The newer TG-860 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 | Sony Alpha NEX-C3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 | Sony Alpha NEX-C3 |
Class | Waterproof | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Launched | 2015-02-06 | 2011-08-22 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | TruePic VII | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4912 x 3264 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 125 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens zoom range | 21-105mm (5.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/3.5-5.7 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 121 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Tilting | Tilting |
Screen size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Screen resolution | 460k dots | 920k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen technology | - | TFT Xtra Fine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 7.0fps | 6.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 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) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video file format | H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 224 grams (0.49 lb) | 225 grams (0.50 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") | 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 73 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 22.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.2 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1083 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 photographs | 400 photographs |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | Li-50B | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch price | $279 | $343 |