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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Also Known as X-925
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Olympus FE-4000 versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the FE-4000 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the FE-4000 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The FE-4000 was brought out 10 months prior to the NEX-3 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the FE-4000 grades against the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Sony NEX-3

 FE-4000 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus FE-4000

 NEX-3 FE-4000 
IntroducedJune 2010July 2009More recent by 10 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Sony NEX-3

 FE-4000 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-4000 comes with external measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus FE-4000 versus Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-4000 versus the NEX-3.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FE-4000 and NEX-3 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4000 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FE-4000 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-3 will show greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older FE-4000 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
55
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-4000
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
17
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
52
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography details
62
lighter than average in class (136g)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
59
good MP (14MP)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
28
rather wide (26mm)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
28
rather wide (26mm)
lighter than average in class (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
27
supports face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus FE-4000Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus FE-4000 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Also referred to as X-925 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-22 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 26-105mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.6-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136g (0.30 lb) 297g (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $130 $0