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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 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
  • Released March 2014
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-4
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced May 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A35
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was unveiled 23 months after the A37 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the TG-3 matches up against the A37 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A37

 TG-3 A37 
AnnouncedMarch 2014May 2012Newer by 23 months
Screen dimension3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Olympus TG-3

 A37 TG-3 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A37

 TG-3 A37 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-3 features outside dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A37 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 vs the A37.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and A37 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and A37.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The TG-3 has the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field harder. The fresher TG-3 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A37 as a Portrait photography camera
37
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography info
Sony A37 Street photography info
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than others in class (247g)
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography features
Sony A37 Sports photography features
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (330 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography details
Sony A37 Travel photography details
74
better than average battery (330 per charge)
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247g)
display is not selfie friendly
54
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
terrible battery (500 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography information
Sony A37 Landscape photography information
56
decently wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment sealing
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
64
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.6 inches)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A37 as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
heavier than others in class (247g)
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A37
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony SLT-A37
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-03-31 2012-05-16
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 2.6 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 pounds) 506g (1.12 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 799
Other
Battery life 330 images 500 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $522