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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 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
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-4
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Renewed by Sony A560
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A500, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The TG-3 was introduced 4 years after the A500 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-3 grades vs the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A500

 TG-3 A500 
AnnouncedMarch 2014August 2009Newer by 56 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus TG-3

 A500 TG-3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A500

 TG-3 A500 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 has physical measurements 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 A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-3 against the A500.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-3 and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specs. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and A500.

All in all, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-3 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus TG-3 will offer you extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger TG-3 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony A500 Portrait photography advice
37
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography features
Sony A500 Street photography features
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than average (247g)
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery (330 shots)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
74
great battery (330 CIPA)
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (520 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
heavier than average (247 grams)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A500
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-03-31 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
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 - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 520 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $638