Olympus TG-3 vs Sony NEX-3N

Following is a extended assessment of the Olympus TG-3 and Sony NEX-3N, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very comparable but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The TG-3 was unveiled 14 months after the NEX-3N making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the TG-3 matches up against the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Tough TG-3 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The full galleries are available at Olympus TG-3 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 comes with exterior dimensions 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 NEX-3N has specifications of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-3 and Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-3 and the NEX-3N.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and NEX-3N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Often, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and NEX-3N.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor sizes. The TG-3 provides the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher. The more recent TG-3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.