• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Olympus TG-3 advantages over Sony A6500

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Thinner
    31 mm vs 53 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    247g vs 453g
    Lighter weight

Sony A6500 advantages over Olympus TG-3

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.92 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 154k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    231 vs 100 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Comfortable, premium body with good controls; Touch-screen for subject selection; Hybrid image stabilization system; Excellent image quality; Better high ISO JPEGs than the A6300; Extremely fast 11.1 fps burst capture; Very deep buffers for raw and JPEG alike; 4K video capture with no pixel binning

  • Pricey for an APS-C camera; JPEG colors aren't the most accurate; Very slow buffer clearing; Laggy touch-pad AF function; Poorly-placed movie button; No headphone jack; Mediocre battery life

The Competition

Compared to Pentax WG-3

Olympus TG-3
Pentax WG-3
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Manual focus
Sony A6500
Pentax WG-3
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Thinner

Compared to Ricoh WG-5 GPS

Olympus TG-3
Ricoh WG-5 GPS
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $297
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Manual focus
  • Shoots 60p video
Sony A6500
Ricoh WG-5 GPS
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $297
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Olympus TG-4

Olympus TG-3
Olympus TG-4
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • $452
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Manual focus
Sony A6500
Olympus TG-4
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $452
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Olympus TG-3
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A6500
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Higher max flash sync
  • More dots on screen

Compared to Sony A6300

Olympus TG-3
Sony A6300
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $848
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A6500
Sony A6300
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $848
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
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