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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
25
Overall
31

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus TG-3 and Sony W230, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was revealed 5 years later than the W230 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the TG-3 matches up vs the W230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony W230

 TG-3 W230 
RevealedMarch 2014February 2009More recent by 63 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Olympus TG-3

 W230 TG-3 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony W230

 TG-3 W230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-3 enjoys outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-3 and Sony W230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 and the W230.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and W230 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and W230.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus TG-3 to offer you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer TG-3 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography info
Sony W230 Portrait photography info
37
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography highlights
Sony W230 Street photography highlights
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than others in class (247g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Sony W230
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery power (330 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
Travel photography with Sony W230
74
great battery power (330 per charge)
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
56
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather proof
great battery power (330 CIPA)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
37
has manual focus
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging info
Sony W230 Vlogging info
34
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
heavier than others in class (247g)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony W230
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-03-31 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 lbs) 156 grams (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $350 $180