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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-860
(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
Sony NEX-C3
(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  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony NEX-C3

 TG-860 NEX-C3 
ReleasedFebruary 2015August 2011More 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 resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-C3

 TG-860 NEX-C3 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

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

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography details
36
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography features
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
79
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography advice
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
53
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (400 shots)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Travel photography camera
71
environment proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (21mm)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
lighter than competitors (225 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-C3
48
rather wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
environment proof
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging factors
33
rather wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone support
27
lighter than competitors (225g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony 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