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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 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
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is very similar but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was announced 2 years after the A580 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the TG-3 matches up versus the A580 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A580

 TG-3 A580 
RevealedMarch 2014May 2011More modern by 35 months

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus TG-3

 A580 TG-3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A580

 TG-3 A580 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-3 features outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A580 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the TG-3 against the A580.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-3 and A580 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes only by going over a spec sheet. The image here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and A580.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The TG-3 has the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF more difficult. The more recent TG-3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
37
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-3
Street photography with Sony A580
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than average (247g)
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A580 as a Sports photography camera
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery (330 per charge)
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery power (1,050 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography features
Sony A580 Travel photography features
74
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
environment proof
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average (247g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
61
great battery power (1,050 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony A580 Landscape photography advice
56
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
better than average battery (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (1,050 per charge)
2 card slots
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-3
Vlogging with Sony A580
34
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no mic support
heavier than average (247g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A580
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-03-31 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
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 All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 1050 pictures
Style of battery 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 feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Dual
Launch price $350 $848