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Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M 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
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is pretty close but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and NX300M (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was brought out 16 months later than the NX300M which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX300M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the TG-3 scores vs the NX300M for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Samsung NX300M

 TG-3 NX300M 
RevealedMarch 2014January 2013Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Olympus TG-3

 NX300M TG-3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k460kClearer screen (+308k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Samsung NX300M

 TG-3 NX300M 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 has got outside dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX300M has specifications of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") along with a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the TG-3 vs the NX300M.

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and NX300M is 90 and 86 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specifications. The visual here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-3 and NX300M.

Plainly, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-3 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Samsung NX300M will result in extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher TG-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography factors
Samsung NX300M Portrait photography factors
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-3
Street photography with Samsung NX300M
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (247g)
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Sports photography camera
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery power (330 CIPA)
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography features
Samsung NX300M Travel photography features
74
good battery power (330 per charge)
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (247g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
supports touch focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Landscape photography camera
56
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery power (330 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3.3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging highlights
Samsung NX300M Vlogging highlights
34
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
33
touchscreen functionality
features face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Samsung NX300M
 Olympus Tough TG-3Samsung NX300M
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Samsung NX300M
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-03-31 2013-01-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII DRIMe IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 247
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3.3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 768k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT-LCD Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lbs) 331 gr (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
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 pictures 330 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $350 $699