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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Launched May 2012
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony NEX-3, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very comparable but the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The TG-1 iHS was unveiled 24 months after the NEX-3 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the TG-1 iHS scores vs the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-1 iHS NEX-3 
LaunchedMay 2012June 2010More modern by 24 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 NEX-3 TG-1 iHS 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k610kCrisper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony NEX-3

 TG-1 iHS NEX-3 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-1 iHS offers physical dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-1 iHS vs the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing specifications. The pic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-1 iHS and NEX-3.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-1 iHS using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-3 will produce greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The younger TG-1 iHS provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
27
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery power (350 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
52
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
68
good battery power (350 per charge)
weather proofing
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
59
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
46
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
good battery power (350 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Vlogging information
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
36
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
27
includes face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-05-08 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 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 350 photos 330 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI90B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $399 $0