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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Other Name is X-935
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the FE-5020 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively close but the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The FE-5020 was manufactured 10 months earlier than the NEX-3 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the FE-5020 matches up versus the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Sony NEX-3

 FE-5020 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus FE-5020

 NEX-3 FE-5020 
ReleasedJune 2010July 2009More recent by 10 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony NEX-3

 FE-5020 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-5020 offers exterior dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 137 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") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the FE-5020 versus the NEX-3.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5020 and NEX-3 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5020 and NEX-3.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FE-5020 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-3 will render more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older FE-5020 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography factors
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Street photography info
Sony NEX-3 Street photography info
60
weather sealing
lighter than competition (137 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
24
weather sealing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (137g)
weather sealing
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
59
resolution is good (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography features
31
really wide (24mm)
weather sealing
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (24mm)
lighter than competition (137g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
27
offers face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus FE-5020Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus FE-5020 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Also called X-935 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-07-22 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.10 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 137 gr (0.30 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $160 $0