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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 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
  • New Model is Olympus TG-4
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • Updated by Sony A290
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 Overview

The following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A230, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was unveiled 4 years after the A230 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the TG-3 scores versus the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A230

 TG-3 A230 
RevealedMarch 2014May 2009Newer by 60 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus TG-3

 A230 TG-3 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A230

 TG-3 A230 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-3 enjoys outer dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A230 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 against the A230.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and A230 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by checking specifications. The picture here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and A230.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-3 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus TG-3 will resolve more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The newer TG-3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A230 Portrait photography highlights
37
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography advice
Sony A230 Street photography advice
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (247 grams)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography information
Sony A230 Sports photography information
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery (330 per charge)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
weather sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (230 per charge)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography info
Sony A230 Landscape photography info
56
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
better than average battery (330 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
51
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (10MP)
terrible battery (230 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging information
Sony A230 Vlogging information
34
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
heavier than competition (247g)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A230
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-03-31 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life 330 shots 230 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $350 $569