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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A850, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was unveiled 4 years after the A850 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the TG-3 scores vs the A850 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A850

 TG-3 A850 
LaunchedMarch 2014April 2010Newer by 49 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus TG-3

 A850 TG-3 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A850

 TG-3 A850 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-3 comes with outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the TG-3 against the A850.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and A850 is 90 and 54 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and A850.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-3 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony A850 will show more detail having an extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The newer TG-3 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography info
Sony A850 Portrait photography info
37
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
72
focusing manually
resolution is great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography info
Sony A850 Street photography info
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competitors (247g)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery life (330 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery life (330 shots)
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors (247g)
display is not selfie friendly
55
environment proofing
resolution is great (25 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
56
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
great battery life (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
no liveview feature
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging features
Sony A850 Vlogging features
34
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competitors (247g)
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A850
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Launched 2014-03-31 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT-LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 grams (0.54 lb) 895 grams (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 330 images 880 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Dual
Retail cost $350 $0