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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 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
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Released July 2006
  • Previous Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Refreshed by Sony A550
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A100, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and A100 (10MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The TG-3 was announced 7 years after the A100 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the TG-3 matches up vs the A100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A100

 TG-3 A100 
ReleasedMarch 2014July 2006Newer by 94 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus TG-3

 A100 TG-3 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A100

 TG-3 A100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-3 has external dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A100 has measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 and the A100.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and A100 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at specifications. The picture underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-3 and A100.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-3 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus TG-3 will give extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger TG-3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A100 Portrait photography highlights
37
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
52
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A100 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (247 grams)
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography information
Sony A100 Sports photography information
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
Travel photography with Sony A100
74
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
45
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A100 as a Landscape photography camera
56
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
better than average battery power (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
53
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-3
Vlogging with Sony A100
34
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic socket
heavier than competition (247 grams)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A100
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-03-31 2006-07-31
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lbs) 638 gr (1.41 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 476
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots One One
Price at launch $350 $1,000