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Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
93
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Nikon 1 S2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs

Nikon 1 S2
(Full Review)
  • 14.2MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 190g - 101 x 61 x 29mm
  • Announced May 2014
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 S1
Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
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Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Nikon 1 S2 versus Olympus E-P3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. The resolution of the 1 S2 (14.2MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is fairly close but the 1 S2 (1") and E-P3 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The 1 S2 was unveiled 2 years after the E-P3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the 1 S2 scores versus the E-P3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S2 over the Olympus E-P3

 1 S2 E-P3 
AnnouncedMay 2014August 2011Newer by 34 months

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Nikon 1 S2

 E-P3 1 S2 
Display resolution614k460kClearer display (+154k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 S2 and Olympus E-P3

 1 S2 E-P3 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 S2 comes with outer dimensions of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Olympus E-P3 has sizing of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

See the Nikon 1 S2 versus Olympus E-P3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the 1 S2 versus the E-P3.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 1 S2 and E-P3 is 93 and 86 respectively.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 S2 and E-P3.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 S2 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Nikon 1 S2 will render more detail having an extra 2.2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent 1 S2 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 S2
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
59
you can focus manually
MP count good (14.2MP)
good sensor size (1")
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Street photography factors
Olympus E-P3 Street photography factors
70
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (190 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
59
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames/s)
MP count good (14.2 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
no image stabilization
not so great battery (270 shots)
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Travel photography information
Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
66
lighter than competition (190 grams)
MP count good (14.2 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (270 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
60
comes with touch to focus
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (14.2 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery (270 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 S2
Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
33
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (190 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Nikon 1 S2 vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 S2 and Olympus E-P3
 Nikon 1 S2Olympus PEN E-P3
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 S2 Olympus PEN E-P3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-05-21 2011-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4A TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 13.1 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 115.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14.2MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Max resolution 4592 x 3072 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 171 35
Cross type focus points 73 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 200)
Flash modes Fill, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/ slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190g (0.42 lbs) 369g (0.81 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 51
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life 270 shots 330 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL22 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $450 $0