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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 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 A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A900
  • Later Model is Sony A99 II
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-3 was brought out 16 months after the A99 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the TG-3 scores against the A99 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A99

 TG-3 A99 
RevealedMarch 2014December 2012Newer by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus TG-3

 A99 TG-3 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A99

 TG-3 A99 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-3 provides exterior measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 compared to the A99.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-3 and A99 is 90 and 57 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking technical specs. The image underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and A99.

As you have seen, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-3 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A99 will give you extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher TG-3 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography information
Sony A99 Portrait photography information
37
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
81
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography information
Sony A99 Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than average (247 grams)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Sony A99
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery (330 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
Travel photography with Sony A99
74
great battery (330 CIPA)
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
environment proofing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A99 Landscape photography factors
56
pretty wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
great battery (330 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging info
Sony A99 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than average (247g)
76
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic socket
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A99
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony SLT-A99
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Launched 2014-03-31 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT-LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 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
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 grams (0.54 lbs) 812 grams (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 330 shots 500 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots One Two
Cost at release $350 $1,998