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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Announced February 2012
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Sony NEX-F3, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-820 iHS (12MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the TG-820 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The TG-820 iHS was introduced 6 months before the NEX-F3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-820 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the TG-820 iHS grades vs the NEX-F3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Sony NEX-F3

 TG-820 iHS NEX-F3 
Display resolution1030k920kSharper display (+110k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 NEX-F3 TG-820 iHS 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sony NEX-F3

 TG-820 iHS NEX-F3 
ReleasedFebruary 2012August 2012Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-820 iHS has got exterior measurements of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Sony NEX-F3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the TG-820 iHS against the NEX-F3.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-820 iHS and NEX-F3 is 92 and 86 respectively.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-820 iHS and NEX-F3.

As you have seen, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-820 iHS with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-F3 will resolve more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Portrait photography camera
27
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Street photography information
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography information
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography factors
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
53
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography factors
59
weather proof
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (220 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
69
better than average battery pack (470 shots)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography info
38
fairly wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (470 shots)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Vlogging with Sony NEX-F3
33
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
27
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-820 iHS and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus TG-820 iHSSony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-820 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-02-08 2012-08-16
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type 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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
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
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,030k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 gr (0.45 lbs) 314 gr (0.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 470 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 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 pricing $500 $470