Olympus E-400 vs Sony NEX-3N

Here is a complete overview of the Olympus E-400 and Sony NEX-3N, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-400 (10MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the E-400 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The E-400 was introduced 7 years earlier than the NEX-3N and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-400 grades versus the NEX-3N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-400 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-400 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-400 features physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-400 and Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-400 vs the NEX-3N.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and NEX-3N is 77 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by reading technical specs. The graphic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-400 and NEX-3N.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-400 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-3N will offer greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-400 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.