Olympus E-30 vs Sony NEX-3

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-30 versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-30 was revealed 14 months before the NEX-3 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-30 matches up vs the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-30 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers outer measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-30 versus Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-30 versus the NEX-3.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and NEX-3 is 60 and 89 respectively.

Often, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and NEX-3.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-30 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-3 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.