Clicky

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Released May 2012
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF2
  • New Model is Panasonic GF5
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Panasonic GF3, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is fairly similar but the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The TG-1 iHS was manufactured 10 months after the GF3 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the TG-1 iHS grades versus the GF3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Panasonic GF3

 TG-1 iHS GF3 
RevealedMay 2012August 2011More modern by 10 months
Display resolution610k460kCrisper display (+150k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 GF3 TG-1 iHS 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Panasonic GF3

 TG-1 iHS GF3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-1 iHS provides physical dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Panasonic GF3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the TG-1 iHS compared to the GF3.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-1 iHS and GF3 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The pic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-1 iHS and GF3.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The TG-1 iHS provides the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF tougher. The more recent TG-1 iHS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
27
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
55
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography features
Panasonic GF3 Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography highlights
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery pack (350 CIPA)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography highlights
68
good battery pack (350 CIPA)
weather proofing
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
58
includes focus by touch
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (300 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography advice
46
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
good battery pack (350 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
36
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
32
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-05-08 2011-08-11
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.30 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 pounds) 264g (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 459
Other
Battery life 350 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $399 $360