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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-4
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A6500, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

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The TG-3 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the A6500 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the TG-3 scores versus the A6500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A6500

 TG-3 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus TG-3

 A6500 TG-3 
AnnouncedOctober 2016March 2014Fresher by 30 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A6500

 TG-3 A6500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-3 enjoys outside dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A6500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-3 compared to the A6500.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-3 and A6500 is 90 and 81 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specs. The visual underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and A6500.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The TG-3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A6500 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older TG-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Portrait photography camera
37
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
80
manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than average in class (247 grams)
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography advice
Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery life (330 per charge)
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
77
silent mode (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography factors
Sony A6500 Travel photography factors
74
great battery life (330 shots)
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average in class (247g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
74
environment proofing
has bluetooth
has touch focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-3
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
56
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
great battery life (330 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
79
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery life (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging highlights
Sony A6500 Vlogging highlights
34
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no mic support
heavier than average in class (247g)
39
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A6500
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Waterproof Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-03-31 2016-10-06
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
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 surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 425
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 247g (0.54 lbs) 453g (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 330 images 350 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $350 $1,298