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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Released March 2014
  • New Model is Olympus TG-4
Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Olympus TG-3 versus Olympus VG-120, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was launched 3 years later than the VG-120 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-3 scores versus the VG-120 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus VG-120

 TG-3 VG-120 
RevealedMarch 2014January 2011More recent by 40 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus TG-3

 VG-120 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Olympus VG-120

 TG-3 VG-120 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-3 offers external dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-3 versus Olympus VG-120 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 and the VG-120.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and VG-120 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The visual below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-3 and VG-120.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Olympus TG-3 to provide extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots more aggressively. The more recent TG-3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography factors
37
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
33
good MP (14MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Street photography factors
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography features
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography features
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery power (330 shots)
low fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
26
good MP (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (160 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography information
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography information
74
good battery power (330 CIPA)
weather sealing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
62
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (160 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-3
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
56
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
good battery power (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
36
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery (160 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition (247g)
28
relatively wide (26mm)
has face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus Tough TG-3Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Olympus VG-120
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Released 2014-03-31 2011-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII TruePic III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 7cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT-LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 grams (0.54 lbs) 120 grams (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 160 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $190