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Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro front
Portability
77
Imaging
51
Features
31
Overall
43

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro 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
  • Announced March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 50mm (F2.5) lens
  • 453g - 114 x 70 x 77mm
  • Launched November 2009
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Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-3 versus Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Ricoh. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro (12MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-3 was announced 4 years later than the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the TG-3 scores versus the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

 TG-3 GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro 
LaunchedMarch 2014November 2009Fresher by 54 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro over the Olympus TG-3

 GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro TG-3 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

 TG-3 GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 has got external measurements 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 Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro has specifications of 114mm x 70mm x 77mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-3 versus Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the TG-3 versus the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro.

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro is 90 and 77 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading through specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro.

All in all, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The TG-3 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Olympus TG-3 will give extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer TG-3 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-3
Portrait photography with Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
37
MP count decent (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
54
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro as a Street photography camera
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competitors (247g)
61
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography advice
Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Sports photography advice
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
great battery power (330 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
31
decent sensor size (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
no liveview feature
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography advice
Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Travel photography advice
74
great battery power (330 per charge)
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors (247 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
49
built-in flash
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-3
Landscape photography with Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
56
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proof
great battery power (330 shots)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
46
you can focus manually
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging factors
Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Vlogging factors
34
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
heavier than competitors (247 grams)
20
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Olympus TG-3 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
 Olympus Tough TG-3Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
General Information
Make Olympus Ricoh
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
Category Waterproof Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2014-03-31 2009-11-10
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII GR engine III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 50mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 180s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/3200s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 lb) 453g (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 114 x 70 x 77mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 320 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images) )
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $350 $566