Olympus TG-3 Review

Name: Olympus Tough TG-3
Brand: Olympus

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Main Features

16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

5.0fps continuous shooting

and FHD at 30fps Video Recording

Built-in Wireless

Built-in GPS

247g. 112 x 66 x 31 mm

Weather-sealed Body

Replaced by Olympus TG-4

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Olympus TG-3 Overview

First introduced in March 2014, Olympus Tough TG-3 is a 16.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, weather-sealed body and 4.0x zoom 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 lens. Olympus later replaced TG-3 with TG-4. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these cameras:
Compare Olympus Tough TG-3 vs Olympus TG-4

Olympus TG-3 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Recommended Accessories
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Olympus TG-3 is a member of Olympus's TG-X series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

Olympus TG-X Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Dimensions	Weight
Olympus TG-6 Compare	May 2019	12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	113 x 66 x 32mm	253g
Olympus TG-5 Compare	May 2017	12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	113 x 66 x 32mm	250g
Olympus TG-4 Compare	April 2015	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	112 x 66 x 31mm	247g
Olympus TG-3	March 2014	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	112 x 66 x 31mm	247g
Olympus TG-2 iHS Compare	June 2013	12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	111 x 67 x 29mm	230g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
Olympus TG-6 vs TG-5 vs TG-4 vs TG-3 vs TG-2 iHS

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Olympus TG-3 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus TG-3 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Water Proof down to 15m

Shock Proof up to 2.1m

Crush Proof up to 100kgf

Freeze Proof down to -10C

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

Image Stabilization

Full HD Video

Built-in GPS

Face Detection Focusing

Long Battery Life (330 shots)

247g Light Body

Manual Exposure

Environmental Sealing

36MB Internal Storage

Timelapse Recording

25mm Wide Angle Lens

Fast 2.00 Lens at Wide

Focus Bracketing

Focus Stacking

Remote control with a smartphone

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CONs

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

No Manual Focusing

Slow Lens at Tele: f4.90

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Olympus TG-3 Physical Specs

Olympus TG-3 weighs 247 g (0.54 lb / 8.71 oz) and has external dimensions of 112 x 66 x 31 mm (4.41 x 2.6 x 1.22″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Olympus TG-3 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 31mm, it has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Olympus TG-3

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Olympus TG-3

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Olympus TG-3 with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Olympus TG-3 Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus TG-3, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Olympus TG-3 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Olympus TG-3 with its main competitors:

Olympus TG-3 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs TG-3	Thickness	vs TG-3
Olympus TG-6 Compare	253g	6g heavier	32mm	1mm thicker
Olympus TG-4 Compare	247g	equal weight	31mm	equal thickness
OM System TG-7 Compare	253g	6g heavier	33mm	2mm thicker
Olympus TG-5 Compare	250g	3g heavier	32mm	1mm thicker
Olympus TG-1 iHS Compare	230g	17g lighter	30mm	1mm thinner
Olympus TG-2 iHS Compare	230g	17g lighter	29mm	2mm thinner
Olympus TG-860 Compare	224g	23g lighter	28mm	3mm thinner
Olympus TG-310 Compare	155g	92g lighter	23mm	8mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Olympus TG-3 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof)

Olympus TG-3 Lens

Olympus TG-3 features a 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 4× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 25mm, and 100mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

TG-3

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

TG-3

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Providing a max aperture of f2.00 at 25mm, this lens is remarkably fast on wide end, but only moderately fast at the tele end with max aperture of f4.90.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

TG-3

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

TG-3

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

TG-3 is equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Olympus TG-3 Sensor and Photography Features

Olympus TG-3 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features TruePic VII processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. TG-3 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 but unfortunately, Olympus TG-3 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II in the same price range.

Olympus TG-3 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Canon SX740 HS with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus TG-3 vs Canon SX740 HS or take a look at Highest resolution Waterproof cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Olympus TG-3's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Olympus TG-3 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Olympus TG-3 LCD

Olympus TG-3 has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Unfortunately Olympus Tough TG-3 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Waterproof Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

TG-3 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder.

Olympus TG-3 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Olympus TG-3 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n with remote control) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our TG-3. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect TG-3 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Olympus TG-3 Battery

Olympus TG-3 is powered by LI-92B battery which provides a battery life of 330 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 256 shots, Olympus TG-3 has a good battery life for its class.

Battery Life Comparison in Waterproof Cameras

Olympus TG-3

Min

Average

Max

Olympus TG-4 with its 380 shots is the model with longest battery life among Waterproof cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus TG-3 vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Waterproof cameras list.

Olympus TG-3 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Olympus TG-6 Compare	3840 x 2160	340shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus TG-4 Compare	1920 x 1080	380shots	Yes	No	No
OM System TG-7 Compare	3840 x 2160	330shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus TG-5 Compare	3840 x 2160	340shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus TG-1 iHS Compare	1920 x 1080	350shots	No	No	No
Olympus TG-2 iHS Compare	1920 x 1080	350shots	No	No	No
Olympus TG-860 Compare	1920 x 1080	300shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus TG-310 Compare	1280 x 720	150shots	No	No	No

Olympus TG-3 Video Features

With Olympus TG-3, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30p fps and save in H.264 and Motion JPEG formats. Full HD resolution of Olympus TG-3 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Olympus Tough TG-3 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Olympus TG-3 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Nikon Coolpix P7100 in a similar price range.

Olympus TG-3 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Olympus TG-3 can shoot continuously at max speed of 5 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately TG-3 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Olympus TG-3 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

Olympus TG-3 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Focus Stacking

Macro shooters will love Olympus TG-3's Focus Stacking feature. In this mode, TG-3 automatically composites multiple shots taken at different focal positions using focus bracketing to create a single image with maximum depth of field.

What type of Photography is Olympus TG-3 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Olympus TG-3 in 5 different photography areas.

Olympus TG-3 for Portrait Photography

Olympus TG-3 has a score of 37 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTG-3.

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability

No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-3 for Portrait Photography

Olympus TG-3 for Street Photography

Olympus TG-3 has a score of 71 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Waterproof Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage

Small Body
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3 sensor

Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-3 for Street Photography

Olympus TG-3 for Sports Photography

Olympus TG-3 has a score of 27 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTG-3.

Environmental Sealings
Wireless Connection
Manual Exposure Mode
Image Stabilization
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Focus Points

Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
100 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-3 for Sports Photography

Olympus TG-3 for Daily Photography

Olympus TG-3 has a score of 62 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Waterproof Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
247g
Environmental Sealings

4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-3 for Daily Photography

Olympus TG-3 for Landscape Photography

Olympus TG-3 has a score of 25 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTG-3.

Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings

Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3 sensor

Read the details of how we scored Olympus TG-3 for Landscape Photography

Olympus TG-3 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Olympus TG-3 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus TG-3 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Olympus TG-3

Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Olympus TG-3 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Olympus TG-3 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare the Olympus TG-3 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Olympus TG-3's price range.

Olympus TG-3 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Olympus TG-3 has an Overall Score of 55/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Olympus Tough TG-3 is ranked #39 out of 632 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Waterproof), and ranked #462 out of 1276 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#462 out of 1276 in Top Ranking Cameras
#39 out of 632 in Top Ranking Waterproof Cameras
#6 out of 77 in Top Ranking Waterproof Cameras
#58 out of 741 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#71 out of 77 in Lightest Waterproof Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(247g)
#170 out of 920 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Olympus TG-3

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Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus TG-3

Does the Olympus TG-3 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Olympus TG-3 have RAW support?
Does the Olympus TG-3 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Olympus TG-3 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Olympus TG-3?
What is the Sensor Size of Olympus TG-3?
is the Olympus TG-3 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Olympus TG-3 have Touch Screen?
Does the Olympus TG-3 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus TG-3?
What is the Weight of Olympus TG-3?
What are the Dimensions of Olympus TG-3?

Olympus Tough TG-3 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Olympus
Model	Olympus Tough TG-3
Successor Model	Olympus TG-4
Announced	2014-03-31
Body Type	Compact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Number of Lenses
Lens Focal Range	25-100 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F2.0-4.9
Macro Focus Range	1cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	TFT-LCD
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	460k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	4s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Max Continuous Shooting	5.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	n/a
Flash Modes	Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
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Sensor
Sensor Type	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	1/2.3-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	16 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4608 x 3456
Max Native ISO	6,400
Min Native ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	247g
Physical Dimensions	112 x 66 x 31mm
Battery Life	330 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	LI-92B
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	Built-in
Storage Type	SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage Slots	1
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