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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus TG-870 versus Sony NEX-3, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty close but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-870 was brought out 5 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the TG-870 matches up vs the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 TG-870 NEX-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016June 2010More modern by 68 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

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

 NEX-3 TG-870 
Manually focus More precise focusing

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

 TG-870 NEX-3 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-870 enjoys outside measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has measurements 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-870 versus Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the TG-870 compared to the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The pic underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-870 and NEX-3.

To sum up, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-870 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus TG-870 will render extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent TG-870 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
36
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (221 grams)
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery (300 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
52
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
69
good battery (300 shots)
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (21mm)
heavier than competitors in class (221g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
59
megapixel count good (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
50
fairly wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
good battery (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
32
fairly wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (221 grams)
27
supports face detect focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-01-06 2010-06-07
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 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), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221g (0.49 lbs) 297g (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" 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 300 shots 330 shots
Form 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 recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $280 $0