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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Olympus TG-310 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2011
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Old Model is Sony A3000
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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the TG-310 (14MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the TG-310 (1/2.3") and a3500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-310 was introduced 4 years earlier than the a3500 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the TG-310 matches up versus the a3500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Sony a3500

 TG-310 a3500 

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Olympus TG-310

 a3500 TG-310 
ReleasedMarch 2014January 2011More modern by 39 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus TG-310 and Sony a3500

 TG-310 a3500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-310 has got physical dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the TG-310 compared to the a3500.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-310 and a3500 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The pic underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-310 and a3500.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-310 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony a3500 will give extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged TG-310 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-310
Portrait photography with Sony a3500
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
77
you can focus manually
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Street photography information
Sony a3500 Street photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than average (155 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-310
Sports photography with Sony a3500
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery life (150 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
59
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (470 shots)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Travel photography advice
Sony a3500 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than average (155g)
environment proof
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (150 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
60
great battery pack (470 per charge)
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography factors
Sony a3500 Landscape photography factors
39
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
environment proof
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery life (150 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (470 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Vlogging information
Sony a3500 Vlogging information
32
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than average (155g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
26
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
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Olympus TG-310 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-310 and Sony a3500
 Olympus TG-310Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-310 Sony Alpha a3500
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-01-06 2014-03-21
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ BIONZ image
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 1600 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.20 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 grams (0.34 lbs) 411 grams (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
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 150 images 470 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $398