Olympus TG-3 vs Sony NEX-5: A Hands-On Dive Into Two Cameras from Different Worlds

When it comes to choosing a camera, experience has taught me that the specs sheet - while a helpful start - rarely tells the full story. The Olympus TG-3 and Sony NEX-5 launched in very different eras and for vastly different purposes, but each carved out a dedicated following. I’ve spent hundreds of hours putting these two through their paces across multiple photography genres to help you figure out which might deserve a spot in your bag.

Let’s start by acknowledging the obvious: the Olympus TG-3 is a rugged, waterproof compact with a fixed lens ready for adventure, while Sony’s NEX-5 is an entry-level mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses designed to deliver quality images in a relatively small form factor. So yes, they aren’t apples-to-apples. But comparing their real-world performance highlights how technology choices shape the shooting experience - and, crucially, image quality and creative flexibility.

First Impressions and Handling: Battle of Portability and Build

From the moment you pick up the Olympus TG-3, its compact but durable construction tells you it’s designed for rough-and-tumble use. Its body measures just 112x66x31 mm, tipping the scales at 247 grams. Splash-proof, shockproof, freezeproof, and crushproof means it laughs in the face of rugged environments - perfect for hiking, snorkeling, or shooting in the rain.

The Sony NEX-5, while slightly larger and heavier (111x59x38 mm, 287 grams), embraces a more traditional camera posture with a rangefinder-style mirrorless design. It offers better grip ergonomics with a pronounced handgrip and a tilting 3" screen that makes awkward angles easier.

As someone who’s lugged cameras through rainforests and dusty streets, the TG-3’s environmental sealing is a definite advantage - something Sony’s weather-sealing absence reflects in the design philosophy. Yet, the NEX-5 feels more comfortable for extended handheld use, thanks to its more ergonomic layout.

The controls reflect their contrasting priorities: TG-3’s buttons and dials are large and straightforward, a boon when you’re wearing gloves or struggling with wet hands, but fewer manual controls exist. Sony’s NEX-5 provides more granular control over settings - aperture priority, shutter priority, manual modes - and a dedicated dial, which means faster tweaks on the fly for the enthusiast ready to dive into manual exposure.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size Matters (and Then Some)

Here is where the story sharply diverges. The TG-3 employs a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17x4.55 mm (about 28 mm²). On paper, that puts it at a disadvantage compared to Sony’s APS-C-sized sensor at 23.4x15.6 mm (365 mm²). Larger sensor, bigger pixels generally translate to more light gathering capabilities, better dynamic range, smoother noise performance - basic physics, really.

The TG-3 has a 16-megapixel resolution (4608 x 3456), and the Sony NEX-5 sports a similar pixel count at 14 megapixels (4592 x 3056). However, the difference in sensor area means the NEX-5's pixels are physically larger, which helps in low light. That said, Olympus’s TruePic VII processor and backside-illuminated CMOS design squeeze admirable performance from its sensor. The TG-3 achieves usable ISO up to 6400, while the Sony NEX-5 can go to 12800 ISO natively.

Practical takeaway? Images from the NEX-5 handle shadows and highlights with more grace, showing cleaner results at higher ISO settings. The TG-3’s image quality is respectable for its class but shows noise and detail loss beyond ISO 800-1600. This difference plays out across most shooting genres.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking the Moment

With autofocus one of the pillars for wildlife and sports photography, the systems in the TG-3 and NEX-5 reveal the generational and category gaps.

Olympus’s TG-3 uses contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and continuous AF modes. It supports AF tracking, though without phase-detection pixels, it’s not as rapid or reliable for fast-moving subjects. The continuous shooting speed caps at 5 fps, adequate for casual action shooting but not quite sports-level.

Sony’s NEX-5 features a hybrid autofocus approach with 25 contrast-detection AF points and a decent burst rate of 7 fps. While it lacks eye and animal-eye AF algorithms that modern cameras boast, the flexible autofocus area selection and faster burst shooting give it a leg up for capturing dynamic scenarios.

For street shooters or wildlife enthusiasts, this means the NEX-5 handles fast-moving subjects with more confidence.

Portrait Photography: Skintones and Background Separation

A camera’s ability to render pleasing skin tones and produce creamy bokeh can make or break portraits.

The TG-3’s fixed 25-100 mm equivalent lens with a bright f/2.0 aperture at the wide end lets you get close and personal. Its macro focusing down to 1cm is crazy-close for a compact, making detailed portrait shots possible even under cramped conditions. The sensor size limits shallow depth of field, but its lens does a surprisingly good job creating subject-background separation given constraints.

The NEX-5 benefits from interchangeable lenses, opening infinite possibilities for portrait work. Paired with fast primes like the 50 mm f/1.8 (75 mm equivalent), it produces images with creamy bokeh and excellent subject isolation. The APS-C sensor ensures smoother gradations and vibrant skin tones. Plus, manual focus capability allows precise eye focus when desired.

In my experience, portraits from the NEX-5 generally beat the TG-3 hands down - but when you consider TG-3’s waterproof ruggedness, it’s a compelling option for spontaneous portraits underwater or in harsh environments.

Landscape Photography: How Dynamic and Detailed Are We Talking?

Landscape shooters savor detail, wide dynamic range, and durability in inclement weather.

The TG-3’s sensor resolution and lens sharpness deliver nice results in good light, but its limited sensor size hampers shadow recovery and produces more noise in shaded areas. With a maximum aperture range of f/2.0-4.9 and 4× optical zoom, it offers versatile framing but can’t challenge lenses on larger-sensor cameras for edge-to-edge sharpness.

Sony’s NEX-5, meanwhile, excels with its larger APS-C sensor’s enhanced dynamic range and cleaner shadows. Interchangeable lenses let you swap in ultra-wide or high-resolution primes for breathtaking vistas.

Given the TG-3’s weather-sealed ruggedness, it shines in extreme conditions where you might hesitate to expose a mirrorless camera. But the NEX-5’s superior image fidelity and lens choices make it the top pick for serious landscape work requiring fine detail.

Wildlife and Sports: Tracking Speed Against the Clock

For wildlife and sports, autofocus speed, burst rate, and telephoto reach are paramount.

The TG-3’s contrast-detect AF and 5 fps burst rate fall short of the demands from sports or fast wildlife action. The 25-100 mm equivalent gives moderate reach (~100 mm is roughly 500 mm on a full-frame due to its 5.8× crop factor), but autofocus can lag on fast subjects.

The NEX-5’s 7 fps continuous shooting and more sophisticated AF systems give better chances of capturing action bursts - though still dated by today’s standards. Having access to Sony’s extensive range of E-mount telephoto lenses (upward of 300 mm equivalent) trumps TG-3’s fixed lens zoom.

So while TG-3 might get the occasional lucky shot amid rugged terrain, the NEX-5 is the more reliable partner for wildlife and sport scenarios requiring speed and flexibility.

Street and Travel: Weighing Discreteness, Versatility, and Battery Life

Street photography demands stealth, fast shooting, and low-light capability; travel photography needs versatility, portability, endurance.

The Olympus TG-3 is delightfully pocketable and unobtrusive - damn near indestructible when you consider its waterproofing and shockproofing. At 247g, it fits easily into jackets or small bags, ready to capture candid moments and rough travels alike.

Sony’s NEX-5 isn’t pocketable but remains lightweight for a mirrorless, weighing 287g. Its larger sensor helps capture low-light night scenes without extreme ISO noise, and the tilting screen aids shooting from hip or awkward angles. Battery life clocks at around 330 shutter actuations for both cameras, meaning extra batteries or power banks are must-haves for days on the move.

For sticky street shooters prioritizing a rugged, grab-and-go approach, the TG-3 wins hands down. Travel photographers seeking creative latitude and image quality may prefer the NEX-5 for its lens ecosystem and sensor performance - but should be comfortable with the slightly larger size.

Macro Magic: Getting Close and Personal

The TG-3 flaunts macro capabilities with a crazy-close 1 cm focusing range and focus bracketing/stacking features designed for detailed close-ups. If you’re into bugs, flowers by the roadside, or intricate jewelry shots, it might be your best friend in the field - especially with its ability to soldier through wet or grimy conditions.

The NEX-5’s lack of native macro ability depends entirely on the lens chosen, and while many Sony E-mount macro lenses exist, it requires investment and bulkier gear.

For spontaneous macro photography in adventurous contexts, TG-3 takes the crown. For controlled studio macro work, Sony’s lens ecosystem offers refinement.

Night and Astro Photography: Darkness Illuminated?

Shooting stars or cityscapes at night challenges every camera’s low-light chops.

The TG-3’s sensor holds ISO up to 6400 but noise quickly creeps in above 800-1600. The camera offers timelapse recording, but no RAW support limits post-processing flexibility. Still, its stabilization helps combat longer exposure shake.

The NEX-5 supports RAW and native ISO up to 12800, with improved noise control and longer shutter speeds possible (max 30 seconds). Thanks to the APS-C sensor, it produces cleaner night images and better detail recovery.

Given my astro sessions, I’d trust the Sony for capturing crisp milky way shots or urban nightscapes, as long as I’m not outdoors in a downpour.

Video Capabilities: The Moving Picture Show

Both cameras offer HD video recording at 1080p, but their formats and frame rates differ.

TG-3 records 1080p at 30 fps using H.264 or Motion JPEG, no microphone input, and no in-camera stabilization aside from sensor-shift for stills.

Sony NEX-5 provides 1080p at 60 fps with AVCHD compression, external flash sync, but no mic/headphone jacks either. No built-in stabilization.

Video enthusiasts will find the NEX-5 delivers smoother, higher-quality footage with more frame rate flexibility, whereas TG-3’s video suits casual use or underwater adventures where ruggedness matters more.

Professional Workflow: File Formats and Integration

The TG-3 shoots only JPEG - a nod to its consumer-focused nature. This limits post-processing, especially for exposure and color corrections.

Sony NEX-5 supports RAW files natively, allowing professional photographers greater creative control. Its compatibility with many third-party RAW processors speeds up workflow - an essential for pros or enthusiasts who prefer fine-tuning.

Integration-wise, TG-3 has built-in GPS to geo-tag adventurous shots, which is neat. NEX-5 offers HDMI output and USB but lacks wireless features - frustrating in today’s connected world, though understandable given its 2010 design.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Lens Systems

Only the TG-3 offers robust weather sealing - waterproof down to 15m, shockproof up to 2.1m, freezeproof and crushproof specifications - hardcore specs any adventure photographer will appreciate.

The NEX-5 is more fragile, no sealing, requiring care in wet or dusty conditions.

Lens-wise, TG-3 is fixed 4× optical zoom; no option to upgrade. The Sony NEX-5 sports the flexible Sony E-mount lens ecosystem with over 120 options spanning primes, zooms, macros, and specialty glass. For anyone looking to grow beyond point-and-shoot boundaries, Sony’s system wins hands down.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The TG-3 includes built-in Wi-Fi and GPS - surprisingly advanced features for a 2014 compact. This allows image transfer on the go and location tagging.

Sony NEX-5 lacks all wireless capabilities - a big minus by modern standards. Both cameras share USB 2.0 and HDMI ports for tethered work or playback.

Battery life rests near 330 shots per charge on both cameras, which is modest. Bringing spare batteries is strongly recommended.

Pricing and Value: Budget vs Performance

At launch, the TG-3 retailed around $350 and the NEX-5 near $600. Today, secondhand or discounted pricing will vary significantly depending on condition and kit.

The TG-3 offers phenomenal value for ruggedness and ease-of-use, aiming at casual shooters and adventurers who prioritize durability over fancy specs. The NEX-5 appeals to enthusiasts entering mirrorless photography who want image quality and lens flexibility on a budget.

Olympus TG 3 front Olympus TG 3 screen back Sony NEX 5 front Sony NEX 5 screen back

How They Score Across Genres: Which Excels Where?

Below is an overall performance rating reflecting user experience and measured specifications:

And here’s how these cameras stack up across photography styles:

• Portrait: Sony NEX-5 takes the prize for natural skin tones and bokeh.
• Landscape: NEX-5 again favored for superior dynamic range.
• Wildlife: NEX-5’s autofocus and lens options benefit faster subjects.
• Sports: Both limited, but NEX-5’s burst speed wins.
• Street: TG-3’s rugged compactness gives it an edge.
• Macro: TG-3 shines with close focusing and stacking.
• Night/Astro: NEX-5’s low light advantage clear.
• Video: NEX-5 offers better frame rates and codec.
• Travel: TG-3’s durability and size wins casual use, NEX-5 for creativity.
• Professional: NEX-5’s RAW support and lenses clearly superior.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Deserves Your Wallet?

Having tested these cameras extensively, here’s my takeaway:

• Choose Olympus TG-3 if you crave a tough-as-nails waterproof compact that doubles as a capable macro camera and companion for adventures where dropping or dunking your camera is a real risk. Its simplicity and rugged build let you worry less and shoot more, though you’ll compromise on image quality and creative control.

• Pick Sony NEX-5 if you seek a gateway into interchangeable-lens mirrorless photography with serious image quality potential and manual controls. It’s a versatile second step beyond smartphones that handles low light, portraits, and landscapes well - so long as you shield it from weather and can invest in lenses.

Both cameras offer unique strengths - your choice hinges mainly on your shooting style and priorities. Outdoor adventurers and casual shooters get bulletproof convenience in TG-3; enthusiasts stepping up to more refined image-making will find a better long-term partner in the NEX-5.

Whichever you choose, these cameras offer different slices of the photographic experience - both worth knowing.

If you have any questions on real-world handling or want lens recommendations for the NEX-5, feel free to ask! Photography is a vast playground, and choosing the right gear is as much about personality as pixels. Happy shooting!