Clicky

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-4
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the TG-3 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The TG-870 was announced 22 months after the TG-3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the TG-870 scores vs the TG-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus TG-3

 TG-870 TG-3 
RevealedJanuary 2016March 2014Newer by 22 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus TG-870

 TG-3 TG-870 

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Olympus TG-3

 TG-870 TG-3 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 has external dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Olympus TG-3 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the TG-870 against the TG-3.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and TG-3 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and TG-3.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of images but you should always consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The younger TG-870 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography information
Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography information
36
good MP (16MP)
provides face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
37
good MP (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography features
Olympus TG-3 Street photography features
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (221 grams)
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (247g)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
good battery (300 shots)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (330 shots)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
69
good battery (300 shots)
environment proof
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
74
better than average battery pack (330 shots)
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors in class (247g)
display isn't selfie friendly
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography info
50
relatively wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
environment proof
good battery (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (330 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging highlights
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging highlights
32
relatively wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
heavier than competition (221 grams)
34
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
heavier than competitors in class (247g)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Olympus TG-3
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Olympus Tough TG-3
Class Ultracompact Waterproof
Introduced 2016-01-06 2014-03-31
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) -
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 pounds) 247 grams (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 330 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $280 $350