Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony NEX-3N

Following is a extended review of the Olympus FE-4030 and Sony NEX-3N, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the FE-4030 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very well matched but the FE-4030 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The FE-4030 was released 4 years prior to the NEX-3N which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-4030 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the FE-4030 scores versus the NEX-3N in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-4030 & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-4030 Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-4030 has external measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus FE-4030 and Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the FE-4030 compared to the NEX-3N.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-4030 and NEX-3N is 95 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4030 and NEX-3N.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FE-4030 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony NEX-3N will give more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged FE-4030 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.