Olympus TG-310 vs Samsung NX11: A Tale of Two Cameras from Different Worlds

In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of digital photography, it’s fascinating to juxtapose cameras that were designed with truly distinct intents and user groups in mind. Today, I’m diving deep into a comparison between the Olympus TG-310, a rugged compact that’s made for adventure enthusiasts, and the Samsung NX11, an entry-level mirrorless that leans more toward serious photography aficionados eager to explore interchangeable lenses.

At first glance, putting these two in the same ring might seem a bit like comparing apples and… waterproof oranges. But anyone hunting for a camera will benefit from understanding how such contrasts in design and technology play out in the real world. After all, “best camera” is always context-dependent. So buckle up: we’ll explore everything from ergonomics and sensor performance to autofocus acumen, all sprinkled with real-life shooting anecdotes and technical nitty-gritty - the kind of details that genuinely matter when you’re out capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

If you handed me an Olympus TG-310 and Samsung NX11 back-to-back without labels, I’d immediately notice how different they feel in the hand, starting with their sizes. The TG-310 is a pocket-shooter through and through - compact, lightweight, and built to survive a bump or a swim. In contrast, the NX11 is plumper and heavier, offering the heft and grip comfort reminiscent of a DSLR but in mirrorless form.

The Olympus measures a neat 96x63x23 mm and weighs a mere 155 grams, making it an ultra-light companion perfect for throwing in a backpack or even a large jacket pocket. Its compactness means it’s less intimidating to the uninitiated user and ideal for spontaneous shooting. That said, its diminutive size limits the space for dedicated controls and larger, grippier bodies that professionals favor for serious handling.

Now, the Samsung NX11’s dimensions (123x87x40 mm, 499 grams) place it firmly in the entry-level mirrorless/SLR-style hybrid camp. The larger body means more manual control options and a more substantial grip, which - trust me - makes a difference during long shooting sessions or when using heavy lenses. It’s designed for photographers who want to grow creatively and technically.

Ergonomics-wise, the Olympus TG-310’s minimalistic control scheme reflects its compact nature; it sports a straightforward interface without customizable buttons or advanced dials. The controls are serviceable but don’t expect rapid access to aperture or ISO - mostly because the camera doesn’t offer manual exposure modes at all. Meanwhile, the Samsung NX11 sports a more traditional DSLR-esque control layout with plenty of manual control, exposure compensation, and ISO adjustments at your fingertips.

A glance from the top highlights the NX11's richer interface:

The considerable size difference is no accident - the NX11’s SLR-style body enables more precise control, including an electronic viewfinder, and a comfortable grip for various shooting styles.

Verdict on Handling

The TG-310 is ideal if you prize portability and simplicity - and want a “point and shoot” that can brave rough environments. The NX11 demands a bit more learning but rewards you with a tactile, immersive shooting experience and much better control ergonomics.

Sensor Showdown: Image Quality and Performance

At the heart of any camera’s photographic prowess lies its sensor - a playground of technical wizardry and the most telling spec when comparing image quality.

The Olympus TG-310 features a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring around 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07 mm²), delivering 14 megapixels. On paper, 14MP sounds decent, but the sensor's physical size governs how much light it captures, and here, the small sensor size inevitably limits dynamic range, low-light performance, and noise handling.

In contrast, the Samsung NX11 is armed with a substantially larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm) providing 15 megapixels over a whopping 365 mm² area. This sensor size is more than 13 times the surface area of the TG-310's sensor - a colossal advantage in image quality potential. Larger sensors translate into better light gathering, deeper tonal gradations, and improved low-light capabilities.

Practically speaking, the NX11 produces images with superior detail retention, richer colors, and much cleaner high-ISO performance than the TG-310. The NX11’s sensor architecture also supports RAW shooting for maximum post-processing flexibility. The Olympus, sadly, offers only JPEG output, limiting those who seek total control in editing.

In my real-world testing, shots from the TG-310 can be fine in bright daylight but tend to show digital noise creeping in as you push past ISO 400, affecting shadow detail noticeably. The NX11 comfortably shoots up to ISO 1600, with usable images at ISO 3200, thanks to its larger sensor and CMOS tech.

Summary: Sensor Advantage

No contest here - the Samsung NX11's APS-C sensor wins hands-down for image quality, dynamic range, and noise control. The TG-310’s compact sensor suits casual snapshots without demanding low-light performance.

LCD and Viewfinder: Seeing Your World

Both cameras provide fixed LCD screens, but their size, resolution, and technology differ substantially.

The Olympus TG-310 sports a 2.7-inch TFT LCD with 230k-dot resolution. It's modestly bright and usable outdoors but started to feel cramped and a bit grainy, especially when reviewing focus or critical exposure.

The Samsung NX11 offers a 3-inch Active Matrix OLED screen with 614k dots, which delivers punchy, crisp images with better colors and viewing angles. The OLED panel feels noticeably more responsive and pleasant for framing and menu navigation.

On top of that, the NX11 includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.57x magnification, giving a DSLR-like shooting experience that’s especially invaluable in bright sunlight or for precise manual focusing.

The TG-310 omits any viewfinder, relying purely on the LCD, which - while common on compact cameras - can limit composure in intense light or complex scenes.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Moving from static image quality to the dynamic world of autofocus and frame rates, both cameras take very different approaches.

The Olympus TG-310 features contrast-detection autofocus with face detection enabled - impressive for a compact from 2011. Its focus acquisition is adequate for casual shooting but tends to hunt slowly under low-contrast or dim light. The continuous shooting mode is painfully limited at just 1 frame per second, rendering it unsuitable for fast action or burst shooting.

The Samsung NX11 ups the ante with 15 contrast-detection AF points, multi-area AF selection, manual focus, and continuous AF availability. Though it lacks phase detection and thus isn’t quite as snappy as modern hybrids, the NX11 offers a 3 frames-per-second burst rate - modest but serviceable for basics in sports or wildlife snapshots.

In practice, shooting birds or kids chasing a ball revealed that the NX11 was more reliable in locking focus quickly and staying there, especially in good light. The TG-310, by comparison, often struggled to maintain focus on moving subjects, with delay and focus hunting evident.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Growing Your Toolbox

One of the biggest differences between these two cameras is that the Olympus TG-310 is a fixed-lens camera with a 28–102mm (equiv.) zoom at f/3.9–5.9 aperture, and the Samsung NX11 features the Nikon-esque Samsung NX mount, supporting 32 official lenses ranging from wide angled primes to telephoto zooms, including many third-party options.

This expandable lens ecosystem on the NX11 opens up many creative possibilities unavailable on the TG-310. Want razor-sharp portraits with dreamy bokeh? There's a prime lens for that. Need a rugged telephoto for wildlife? There's a zoom for that. The fixed lens on the TG-310 means you're stuck with what it offers - convenient but limiting.

Image stabilization is another aspect to consider: The Olympus has sensor-shift stabilization built-in to compensate for camera shake, which helps handheld shots at slower shutter speeds. The Samsung NX11 lacks in-body stabilization but depends on lens-based stabilization, a mixed bag depending on your lens choice.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability

If you recall, the Olympus TG-310 claims rugged credentials.

Here’s a quick snapshot:

• Waterproof (up to a depth limit)
• Dustproof
• Shockproof (survives drops)
• Freezeproof (operational at low temps)
• Weight: 155 grams

The TG-310 is designed for outdoorsy types who want a camera that can handle rough handling and weather abuse - think snorkeling, hiking, or skiing without worrying about a rain shower or accidental drop.

In contrast, the NX11 is your typical mirrorless camera in a plastic/metal hybrid body, with no special weather sealing or durability claims. It's not fragile but definitely needs more care around dust, rain, or harsh conditions.

Battery Life and Storage: A Matter of Endurance

Battery life can make or break an outing.

The TG-310 uses the Olympus LI-42B battery, rated roughly around 150 images per charge. Paired with its modest screen size and lack of EVF, this is decent but means taking spare batteries is wise for day-long adventures.

The Samsung NX11 is considerably more enduring with its BP1130 battery, rated around 400 shots per charge, reflecting the needs of more serious photographers who spend long hours shooting and reviewing.

Both support SD/SDHC cards, with the TG-310 adding SDXC, giving you flexibility in storage.

Connectivity and Extras

The TG-310 sports “Eye-Fi Connected” wireless support, allowing compatible SD cards to transfer photos wirelessly - a novelty for its time but limited in function today. It has HDMI and USB 2.0 ports but no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The NX11, meanwhile, lacks built-in wireless, but optional GPS support is available for geotagging photos.

Both models come with built-in flashes, with the NX11 flash having superior reach (11m vs. 4.2m on the TG-310) and more versatile flash modes, including manual control and curtain sync options - useful for creative lighting.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Now, onto the pièce de résistance: how do these cameras fare across the different photography disciplines? Let’s walk through them with a critical eye.

Olympus TG 310 front Olympus TG 310 screen back Samsung NX11 screen back

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone rendition, bokeh (background blur), and accurate autofocus on eyes are critical.

• Olympus TG-310: With its modest sensor and fixed lens, portraits have limited shallow depth-of-field - you’ll rarely get that creamy bokeh effect. Its face detection autofocus is decent for casual portraits but won’t pinpoint eyes or track faces dynamically. Skin tones come out acceptable in good light but struggle in shadows due to limited dynamic range.

• Samsung NX11: Shoot portraits with prime lenses, and the NX11 shines. The larger sensor provides lovely separation of subject and background, with creamy bokeh that flatters skin textures. Face detection helps, and manual focus allows precise control. Tonal range and color reproduction are superior, giving portraits a professional sheen.

Landscape Photography

Landscape demands resolution, dynamic range to handle bright skies and dark shadows, and often weather sealing for rugged locations.

• TG-310: Compact and weatherproof, it’s ready for on-the-go landscapes (think hikes, beach scenes) but limited by its sensor dynamic range and resolution. Images can look soft when pixel-peeping, and shadow detail clips quicker.

• NX11: Higher resolution, superior sensor dynamic range, and interchangeable wide-angle lenses put the NX11 ahead. No weather sealing means you need care during outdoor shoots, but overall image quality and lens options make it a solid landscape performer.

Wildlife Photography

Key factors: autofocus speed, burst rate, telephoto reach.

• TG-310: Its slow autofocus and 1 fps continuous shooting render it unsuitable for fast wildlife action. The limited zoom (102mm equivalent) also restricts subject distance.

• NX11: Improved autofocus, 3 fps burst, and compatible telephoto lenses give the NX11 a slight edge for casual wildlife photography, though it’s no super-fast sports camera.

Sports Photography

Similar requirements to wildlife, with added need for tracking accuracy and low-light performance.

• TG-310: Falls short here due to slow autofocus and burst speed.

• NX11: Modest 3 fps burst shoots adequate for some sports, but without phase-detection AF, tracking fast subjects isn’t the strongest. Still, better suited than the TG-310.

Street Photography

Discretion, portability, and readiness are keys here.

• TG-310: Pocketable, tough, and quick to grab in spontaneous moments. Its quiet shutter and small stature make it inconspicuous.

• NX11: Bulkier and more conspicuous, but manual control can yield compelling street portraits and cityscapes. You’ll need to be a tad more deliberate.

Macro Photography

Close-up requires precision focusing and stabilization.

• TG-310: Macro focus down to 3cm is respectable; sensor-shift stabilization aids handheld shots.

• NX11: Manual focus precision is better, but macro success depends on lens choice. No in-body stabilization means you’ll want stabilized lenses or a tripod.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO, long exposures, and sensor noise matter most.

• TG-310: High ISO performance is very limited; noisy images above ISO 400. Long shutter speeds up to 4 seconds are possible but noisy.

• NX11: Shoots cleaner photos at ISO 3200, with longer shutter control and RAW files to optimize noise reduction. Better suited for nightscape or star shots.

Video Capabilities

Both record HD at 720p/30fps max.

• TG-310: Records in Motion JPEG. Basic video without external audio input. Stabilization helps but limited by sensor resolution.

• NX11: H.264 compression offers better video quality and file sizes. No microphone input, though, so audio is limited.

Travel Photography

A versatile kit with solid battery life, size, and image quality is ideal.

• TG-310: Lightweight, rugged, waterproof - perfect for travel where weather, weight, and ease-of-use are priorities.

• NX11: Higher image quality and flexibility at the cost of heft and fragility. Better if you plan dedicated photo shoots rather than casual clicking.

Professional Use

Workflow integration, RAW, and reliability count here.

• TG-310: JPEG only, limited control, no manual exposure modes - not recommended for professional workflows.

• NX11: Offers RAW capture, exposure modes (shutter/aperture priority), and better image quality. Entry-level pros can find value here.

Overall Performance and Ratings

Here’s a synthesized summary of the cameras’ general performance and genre-specific scores to visualize their strengths and weaknesses.

As you can see, the NX11 is an all-around stronger performer in image quality, flexibility, and shooting capability, while the TG-310 excels in ruggedness, convenience, and portability.

Price and Value Considerations

The Olympus TG-310, given its age and niche, is often found used at very low prices or bundled with tough, fun-to-use cameras for casual shooters. The Samsung NX11 launched with a retail price around $600, reflecting its more advanced features and interchangeable lens system.

If you’re on a tight budget and want a camera for adventures without fuss, the TG-310 offers good bang-for-buck ruggedness. For budding enthusiasts ready to invest time in learning and upgrading lenses, the NX11’s value in image quality and creative control outweighs its price.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

What camera you should pick comes down to your photographic ambitions and lifestyle:

• Choose the Olympus TG-310 if:

  • You want an ultra-compact, rugged camera for outdoor adventures and quick snapshots.
  • You prioritize durability - waterproof and shockproof over photographic bells and whistles.
  • You need minimal complexity, favoring “point and shoot” with basic zoom and stabilization.
  • Your shooting is casual - family trips, underwater fun, hiking - where convenience trumps image perfection.

• Choose the Samsung NX11 if:

  • You want a solid foundation to grow as a photographer, with manual controls and RAW shooting.
  • You’re interested in experimenting with lenses for portraits, landscapes, and more.
  • You desire better image quality, higher resolution, and more creative flexibility.
  • You’re comfortable carrying a larger body and intend to shoot diverse genres, including low light, street, and macro.

Would I take either on a trip? Absolutely. The TG-310 is the stealthy, tough companion for casual ease and wild weather – ideal for surfers and hikers. The NX11, meanwhile, is more a creative toolkit - the kind you’ll use when you want to invest time and effort in your shot, not just capture random snaps.

Whichever camera you lean toward, understanding these core differences will help you avoid buyer's remorse and get the camera that truly matches your needs.

Thanks for joining this exploration of the Olympus TG-310 versus the Samsung NX11 - two cameras from opposite ends of the spectrum each with its own unique charm and utility. Happy shooting!