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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Launched August 2012
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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and VH-515 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was launched 20 months later than the VH-515 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the TG-3 scores against the VH-515 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus VH-515

 TG-3 VH-515 
LaunchedMarch 2014August 2012More recent by 20 months

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus TG-3

 VH-515 TG-3 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Olympus VH-515

 TG-3 VH-515 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-3 comes with outside dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-3 compared to the VH-515.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and VH-515 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and VH-515.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-3 to result in more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent TG-3 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
37
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography info
Olympus VH-515 Street photography info
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch focus
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery (330 shots)
max fps low (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography factors
Olympus VH-515 Travel photography factors
74
better than average battery (330 shots)
environment proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
provides touch focus
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography details
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography details
56
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
environment proofing
better than average battery (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
37
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-3
Vlogging with Olympus VH-515
34
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
35
rather wide (26mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus Tough TG-3Olympus VH-515
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Olympus VH-515
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-03-31 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII TruePic III+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT-LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 152 gr (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $350 $648