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Olympus Tough-3000

 
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also referred to as mju Tough 3000
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31

Olympus Tough-3000 summary

Olympus Tough-3000 is Olympus's Waterproof camera initially launched on January of 2010. It has got a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 3968 x 2976. The camera is referred to as "mju Tough 3000" in other regions.

The Tough-3000 is positioned #64 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras and over all #1084 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please try our Smart camera filter to see camera rankings based on your personal factors.

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The following is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Olympus Tough-3000 family

The Olympus Tough-3000 is part of a family of products. You can view the detailed list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Tough-TG-6 front thumbnailOlympus TG-6
Tough-3000 vs TG-6
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2019
Olympus-Tough-TG-5 front thumbnailOlympus TG-5
Tough-3000 vs TG-5
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2017
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Olympus-Tough-TG-4 front thumbnailOlympus TG-4
Tough-3000 vs TG-4
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-860 front thumbnailOlympus TG-860
Tough-3000 vs TG-860
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Olympus-Tough-TG-3 front thumbnailOlympus TG-3
Tough-3000 vs TG-3
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-TG-850-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-850 iHS
Tough-3000 vs TG-850 iHS
21-105mm
F3.5-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Olympus-Tough-TG-2-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-2 iHS
Tough-3000 vs TG-2 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-630-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-630 iHS
Tough-3000 vs TG-630 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-TG-830-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-830 iHS
Tough-3000 vs TG-830 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Tough-TG-1-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-1 iHS
Tough-3000 vs TG-1 iHS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-820-iHS front thumbnailOlympus TG-820 iHS
Tough-3000 vs TG-820 iHS
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Olympus-TG-320 front thumbnailOlympus TG-320
Tough-3000 vs TG-320
28-102mm
F3.5-5.1
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-TG-810 front thumbnailOlympus TG-810
Tough-3000 vs TG-810
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-310 front thumbnailOlympus TG-310
Tough-3000 vs TG-310
28-102mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-TG-610 front thumbnailOlympus TG-610
Tough-3000 vs TG-610
28-140mm
F3.9-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-Stylus-Tough-3000 front thumbnailOlympus Tough-300028-102mm
F3.5-5.1
12MP1/2.3"2010

Olympus Tough-3000 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of pluses and minuses of the Olympus Tough-3000 based on factors which are generally regarded as necessary in a camera.

comes with HDMI support
environment proof
flash built-in
good minimum ISO (64)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
in built zoom lens (28-102mm 3.6 x zoom)
offers tracking focus
relatively wide (28mm)
cannot use external flash
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have headphone jack
doesn't have microphone jack
doesn't have Timelapse function
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed screen
lacks phase detect auto focus
lacks RAW format
low resolution screen (230 thousand dot)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
no aperture priority mode
no shutter priority
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sluggish at full zoom (f5.1)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Olympus Tough-3000 Sensor information

The Olympus Tough-3000 is run by the TruePic III processor chip. The sensor size in the Olympus Tough-3000 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 3968 x 2976 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 12MP and provides a native ISO range of 64 - 1600. Sadly, RAW files are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The graphic underneath shows the Tough-3000's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The Tough-3000 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is pointed out in green.

Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 sensor size Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus Tough-3000 dimensions

Olympus Tough-3000 weighs about 0.35 lbs (159 grams / 5.61 oz) and the overall size of the camera is 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9"). The weight of average Waterproof camera is 195 grams so the Olympus Tough-3000 is less heavy than other competitors.

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Down below is a picture of the Olympus Tough-3000 with a soft drink to help you have a feel for its size.

Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 dimensions scale

The top view under will highlight the button layout on the Tough-3000.

Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 topview buttons dials

Olympus Tough-3000 Lens information

The Tough-3000 provides a fixed lens with a focal range of 28-102mm making it a 3.6 x zoom which may not be very good however it is likely to be useful in a few situations.

At it's widest 28mm, the lens will have an aperture of f3.5 and that's somewhat sluggish and not good in low light occasions and you will likely find it hard to capture good bokeh. You would also need to increase your ISO leading to noisy pictures. At the long end, 102mm comes at f5.1 making it very sluggish and you may have to go with slow shutter speeds.

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Olympus Tough-3000 Connectivity

The Tough-3000 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras which include NFC or Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily send pictures and in some cases alter settings without connecting straight with the camera.

A few apps also allow a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external screen. A good number of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack through the USB socket.

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Olympus Tough-3000 Video information

The highest possible video resolution in the Olympus Tough-3000 is 1280 x 720 and it can save in MPEG-4 format. 720p is terrible by today's requirements. You really should aim for at least 1080p resolution for video recording. The body does not offer a mic or headphone port so you have got zero control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to purchase an alternative model should you need good audio in your video clips.

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Olympus Tough-3000 Weather Sealing

Olympus Tough-3000 has got environment proofing which makes it a good pick to use for rough environments. This is particularly useful in case you are uncertain about the elements you might face for outdoor photography.

Olympus Tough-3000 Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus Tough-3000 has got a 2.7 inch fixed display with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Sadly the display is not a touch screen.

Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 screen and viewfinder TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

The View Finder specs regarding Olympus Tough-3000 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are very handy for sunny outdoor situations which can make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.

Olympus Tough-3000 Shutter information

Olympus Tough-3000 continuous shooting rate is 1.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Olympus Tough-3000 Flash and Hot shoe information

Olympus Tough-3000 boasts just built in flash lacking external flash support.

Olympus Tough-3000 Autofocus information

Olympus Tough-3000 boasts only Contrast Detect AF and is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster & accurate than Contrast Detect autofocusing.

It also includes Tracking AF for moving subjects. Olympus Tough-3000 does not have manual focus. Manual focus ability is good for low light or you require more accurate focus control.

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Olympus Tough-3000 Battery life

The average Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 features the best (380) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Below is a collection of Waterproof cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Olympus Tough-3000 for specific forms of photography

The following bar chart presents a outline of the Olympus Tough-3000 for specific forms of photography. To see more, check out the specific section underneath.

Olympus Tough-3000 Portrait photography information

The Olympus Tough-3000 has a points total of 21 which is really bad, and means the camera is not really very good to use for portrait photography. Shooting portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support together with the option to use off-camera lighting.

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lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Street photography with Olympus Tough-3000

Coming in at a above average score of 62, the Olympus Tough-3000 is a fine pick to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography details

A really bad sports photography points total of 36 means the Olympus Tough-3000 is not really very good for shooting sports. A camera really should have very good autofocus and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus

Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography info

Weight is extremely critical in picking a camera for travel. In general, the Olympus Tough-3000 gets a above average 61 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent option for your travels.

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weather proofing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)

Olympus Tough-3000 Landscape photography factors

When you are planning to choose a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most vital factor will be image quality. The Olympus Tough-3000 and it's really bad rating of 35 for a landscape camera is not really very good compared to it's competitors.

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rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode

Olympus Tough-3000 Vlogging advice

A vlogging camera should really have a moving screen, microphone port and ideally IBIS. Considering all the details, the Olympus Tough-3000 is not really very good as a vlog camera as it receives a really bad rating of 28.

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really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port

Olympus Tough-3000 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the Tough-3000, here is a selection of the highest scored cameras which fall into the class of Waterproof.

The graph underneath shows you an overview of the Tough-3000 versus it's top ranking rivals mentioned earlier.

There are more cameras you might take a look at as alternative options. To go through a detailed comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Olympus
Model
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
Also referred to as
mju Tough 3000
Class
Waterproof
Introduced
2010-01-07
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor Chip
TruePic III
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
3968 x 2976
RAW data
Highest native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
64
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
28-102mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.5-5.1
Macro focus range
2cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Range of display
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
2.7 inch
Display resolution
230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
4s
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed
1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
4.00 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
159 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions
96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots
1
Cost at release
$0