Clicky

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Olympus TG-830 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-830 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 109 x 67 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus TG-830 iHS versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-830 iHS (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the TG-830 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The TG-830 iHS was manufactured 2 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-830 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the TG-830 iHS matches up versus the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-830 iHS over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-830 iHS NEX-3 
IntroducedJanuary 2013June 2010More recent by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-830 iHS

 NEX-3 TG-830 iHS 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony NEX-3

 TG-830 iHS NEX-3 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-830 iHS enjoys external dimensions of 109mm x 67mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-830 iHS versus Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-830 iHS versus the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-830 iHS and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-830 iHS and NEX-3.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-830 iHS because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus TG-830 iHS will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern TG-830 iHS provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
72
manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
76
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography advice
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
52
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
67
environment proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
59
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography features
45
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment proof
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
33
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
27
includes face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus TG-830 iHSSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-830 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-01-08 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 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
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214g (0.47 lb) 297g (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 67 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life 300 images 330 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $0 $0