Olympus TG-310 vs Sony NEX-C3

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus TG-310 versus Sony NEX-C3, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-310 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is pretty close but the TG-310 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-310 was revealed 7 months prior to the NEX-C3 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the TG-310 matches up versus the NEX-C3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus TG-310 and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-310 Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-310 has got external dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-310 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-310 vs the NEX-C3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the TG-310 and NEX-C3 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through specs. The graphic below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-310 and NEX-C3.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-310 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-C3 will render more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older TG-310 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.