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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(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 April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus TG-3
  • New Model is Olympus TG-5
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-4 versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-4 was launched 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the TG-4 grades versus the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-4 NEX-3 
LaunchedApril 2015June 2010More recent by 60 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-4

 NEX-3 TG-4 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony NEX-3

 TG-4 NEX-3 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-4 has outer measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-4 versus Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-4 and the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-4 and NEX-3 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over specs. The visual underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-4 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-4 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus TG-4 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The fresher TG-4 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
47
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery power (380 CIPA)
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
52
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
74
good battery power (380 per charge)
environment proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
59
good megapixels (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
62
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
environment proof
good battery power (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-4
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
34
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (247g)
27
comes with face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-04-13 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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) 297g (0.65 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $379 $0