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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 190g - 96 x 65 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2011
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
  • Released June 2010
  • New Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus TG-610 versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty close but the TG-610 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The TG-610 was unveiled 8 months later than the NEX-3 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-610 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a brief overview of how the TG-610 matches up vs the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-610 NEX-3 
ReleasedJanuary 2011June 2010Fresher by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-610

 NEX-3 TG-610 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony NEX-3

 TG-610 NEX-3 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution920k920kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-610 has got outer dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") and a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-610 versus Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the TG-610 versus the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-610 and NEX-3 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-610 and NEX-3.

All in all, both of the cameras provide the same MP albeit different sensor sizing. The TG-610 includes the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF more challenging. The more recent TG-610 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good MP (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography details
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
52
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
64
weather sealing
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
59
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-610
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
43
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
weather sealing
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
30
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
27
includes face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus TG-610Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-610 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-01-06 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.20 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 210 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $223 $0