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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 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
  • Released March 2014
  • New Model is Olympus TG-4
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A500
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A560, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The TG-3 was released 3 years later than the A560 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the TG-3 scores against the A560 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A560

 TG-3 A560 
ReleasedMarch 2014August 2010More recent by 44 months

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Olympus TG-3

 A560 TG-3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A560

 TG-3 A560 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-3 offers external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony A560 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A560 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 versus the A560.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and A560 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and A560.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-3 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus TG-3 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer TG-3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony A560 Portrait photography advice
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography details
Sony A560 Street photography details
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competitors (247 grams)
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography features
Sony A560 Sports photography features
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery power (330 CIPA)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (1,050 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography highlights
Sony A560 Travel photography highlights
74
better than average battery power (330 CIPA)
environment proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors (247 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-3
Landscape photography with Sony A560
56
decently wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment proof
better than average battery power (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
2 card slots
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging advice
Sony A560 Vlogging advice
34
decently wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing mic support
heavier than competitors (247 grams)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic support
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A560
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-03-31 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 pounds) 599 gr (1.32 pounds)
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 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 817
Other
Battery life 330 images 1050 images
Battery style 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 recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One 2
Price at release $350 $650