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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Revealed May 2017
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Updated by Olympus TG-6
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-5 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-5 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The TG-5 was introduced 7 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the TG-5 scores vs the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony NEX-3

 TG-5 NEX-3 
RevealedMay 2017June 2010More recent by 85 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus TG-5

 NEX-3 TG-5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-3

 TG-5 NEX-3 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus TG-5 comes with external measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the TG-5 against the NEX-3.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-5 and NEX-3 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out specs. The photograph below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-5 and NEX-3.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-5 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-3 will show greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent TG-5 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
39
focusing manually
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography info
Sony NEX-3 Street photography info
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (250 grams)
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography information
46
max fps high (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
52
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-5
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
68
better than average battery life (340 shots)
environment proof
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (250g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
59
MP count good (14MP)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
57
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition in class (250g)
27
supports face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2017-05-17 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII 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 area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 297g (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 340 photos 330 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $449 $0