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Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Samsung CL5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
Samsung CL5
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-4.5) lens
  • 141g - 93 x 60 x 19mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Alternative Name is PL10
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Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus TG-3 versus Samsung CL5, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Samsung. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and CL5 (9MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and CL5 (1/2.5") possess different sensor sizing.

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The TG-3 was brought out 5 years after the CL5 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung CL5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the TG-3 matches up versus the CL5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Samsung CL5

 TG-3 CL5 
AnnouncedMarch 2014February 2009More modern by 63 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung CL5 over the Olympus TG-3

 CL5 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Samsung CL5

 TG-3 CL5 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 provides external 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) while the Samsung CL5 has specifications of 93mm x 60mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-3 versus Samsung CL5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-3 versus the CL5.

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and CL5 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching technical specs. The picture below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and CL5.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus TG-3 will result in greater detail having its extra 7MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The newer TG-3 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung CL5 as a Portrait photography camera
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
24
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
resolution not great (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Samsung CL5 as a Street photography camera
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than others (247 grams)
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography information
Samsung CL5 Sports photography information
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery pack (330 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography factors
Samsung CL5 Travel photography factors
74
good battery pack (330 per charge)
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than others (247g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung CL5 as a Landscape photography camera
56
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery pack (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging details
Samsung CL5 Vlogging details
34
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than others (247g)
25
supports face detect focusing
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung CL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Samsung CL5
 Olympus Tough TG-3Samsung CL5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Samsung CL5
Also Known as - PL10
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Launched 2014-03-31 2009-02-23
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 9MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-4.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 16s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 grams (0.54 pounds) 141 grams (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 93 x 60 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $391