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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A55
  • Newer Model is Sony A58
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A57, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty close but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was brought out 19 months later than the A57 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-3 scores vs the A57 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A57

 TG-3 A57 
IntroducedMarch 2014September 2012More recent by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus TG-3

 A57 TG-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A57

 TG-3 A57 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-3 has got external dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-3 versus Sony A57 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-3 and the A57.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by researching specs. The photograph below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and A57.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The TG-3 uses the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh trickier. The younger TG-3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A57 Portrait photography factors
37
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography highlights
Sony A57 Street photography highlights
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Sony A57
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery power (330 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography features
Sony A57 Travel photography features
74
good battery power (330 per charge)
weather sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
67
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography features
Sony A57 Landscape photography features
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
good battery power (330 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging advice
Sony A57 Vlogging advice
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
heavier than others in class (247g)
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A57
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony SLT-A57
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-03-31 2012-09-13
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT-LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 330 images 550 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $1,000