Clicky

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5R
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-3 versus Sony NEX-5T, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and NEX-5T (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5T (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-3 was brought out 6 years before the NEX-5T and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-3 scores against the NEX-5T in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony NEX-5T

 E-3 NEX-5T 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5T over the Olympus E-3

 NEX-5T E-3 
ReleasedAugust 2013February 2008More recent by 67 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony NEX-5T

 E-3 NEX-5T 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has physical dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5T has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 versus Sony NEX-5T in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-3 vs the NEX-5T.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and NEX-5T is 56 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at specs. The graphic here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and NEX-5T.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-3 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-5T will give you more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5T
57
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Street photography highlights
70
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Sports photography camera
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
69
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5T Travel photography advice
55
weather proof
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
77
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Landscape photography camera
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
small screen (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging advice
18
no video recording
73
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony NEX-5T
 Olympus E-3Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-02-20 2013-08-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 99
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 890 grams (1.96 pounds) 276 grams (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 13.0
DXO Low light rating 571 1015
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $670 $400