Clicky

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced May 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-4
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-6
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-F3
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-C3, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The TG-5 was introduced 5 years after the NEX-C3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-5 grades versus the NEX-C3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Sony NEX-C3

 TG-5 NEX-C3 
IntroducedMay 2017August 2011More modern by 70 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus TG-5

 NEX-C3 TG-5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-C3

 TG-5 NEX-C3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-5 features outside dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-5 against the NEX-C3.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-5 and NEX-C3 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The image here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-5 and NEX-C3.

All in all, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-5 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-C3 will produce greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more modern TG-5 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Portrait photography camera
39
has manual focus
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-5
Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
heavier than average (250 grams)
79
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (225g)
lack of image stabilization
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography details
46
high fps (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery (340 shots)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
53
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (400 CIPA)
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography information
68
good battery (340 per charge)
weather sealing
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average (250 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
71
good battery power (400 shots)
lighter than competition in class (225g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography factors
57
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery (340 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging info
34
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
heavier than average (250g)
27
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus TG-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus Tough TG-5Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-5 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2017-05-17 2011-08-22
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - 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 speed 20.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 225g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1083
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 400 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $449 $343