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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 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
  • Announced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-4
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and XZ-1 (10MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and XZ-1 (1/1.63") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was brought out 3 years after the XZ-1 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the TG-3 scores against the XZ-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Olympus XZ-1

 TG-3 XZ-1 
RevealedMarch 2014January 2011More modern by 39 months

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus TG-3

 XZ-1 TG-3 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Olympus XZ-1

 TG-3 XZ-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-3 provides physical dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Olympus XZ-1 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 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 based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the TG-3 and the XZ-1.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-3 and XZ-1 is 90 and 88 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The pic underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and XZ-1.

All in all, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-3 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus TG-3 will provide more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern TG-3 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Portrait photography camera
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
45
you can focus manually
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography advice
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (247g)
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/1.63")
more heavy than competitors (275g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Olympus XZ-1
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery pack (330 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (320 shots)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography features
Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography features
74
better than average battery pack (330 CIPA)
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors in class (247g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
62
good battery life (320 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (275g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography features
Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography features
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
better than average battery pack (330 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
54
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (320 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (247 grams)
31
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (275 grams)
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Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus Tough TG-3Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Olympus XZ-1
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-03-31 2011-01-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII TruePic V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3664 x 2752
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT-LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 275 gr (0.61 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 34
DXO Color Depth score not tested 18.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 117
Other
Battery life 330 shots 320 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $350 $567