Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic G3

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic G3, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and G3 (16MP) and the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and G3 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-1 iHS was announced 11 months later than the G3 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the TG-1 iHS grades against the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. The whole galleries are available at Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery and Panasonic G3 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-1 iHS has outside dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has specifications of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic G3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-1 iHS vs the G3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-1 iHS and G3 is 91 and 83 respectively.

More often than not, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-1 iHS and G3.

Clearly, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-1 iHS having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic G3 will give you greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent TG-1 iHS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.