Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-3: A Hands-On Comparison for Photographers in 2024

Choosing the right camera can feel overwhelming given the sheer number of models on the market, especially when comparing cameras from different classes and generations. Today, I’ll take you through an in-depth comparison of the Olympus FE-5020 - a compact fixed-lens camera from 2009 designed for simplicity - and the Sony NEX-3, an entry-level mirrorless from 2010 that introduced many to the world of interchangeable lenses and more advanced imaging circuitry.

Both these models have their own appeal depending on your priorities, skill level, and shooting style. Having personally tested and used hundreds of cameras across styles and situations, I will walk you through key attributes such as image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, versatility, and suitability across several photography genres.

Let’s jump in.

Breaking Down The Cameras: Size, Build & Ergonomics

At first glance, these two cameras cater to entirely different users. The Olympus FE-5020 is a compact point-and-shoot with a fixed lens and ultra-portable form factor. In contrast, the Sony NEX-3 is a mirrorless system camera with interchangeable lenses and a larger sensor, designed for enthusiasts stepping up from compacts or DSLRs.

The Olympus FE-5020 is pocket-friendly and light, while the Sony NEX-3 demands more space but offers greater control.

• Olympus FE-5020: Weighing just 137 grams and measuring 93 x 56 x 25 mm, the FE-5020 is extremely portable. Its fixed lens eliminates lens changes, making it a grab-and-go solution ideal for casual or travel use. However, this simplicity comes with trade-offs - controls are minimal, ergonomics are basic, and the camera lacks advanced customization.

• Sony NEX-3: At 297 grams and 117 x 62 x 33 mm, the NEX-3 is significantly bulkier - though for a mirrorless, still reasonably compact. It sports a rangefinder-style body with a more substantial grip, enabling better handling for extended shoots. The bigger size correlates with extra features such as a tilting screen and interchangeable lens mount for creative flexibility.

If pocket portability is your priority, Olympus is the straightforward pick. But if a more immersive shooting experience with greater customization appeals, the Sony offers room to grow.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: Small Sensor vs APS-C

Arguably the most crucial determinant of image quality is the camera sensor. Here the two diverge profoundly:

Sony’s APS-C sensor dwarfs the Olympus’ 1/2.3-in CCD, hugely impacting quality and low light capability.

• Olympus FE-5020: Equipped with a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor boasting 12 megapixels, it’s typical of compact cameras from its era. Sensor area measures approx. 28 mm². Low native ISO (64-1600) limits performance under dim conditions, and CCD tech tends to consume more power and produce more noise than modern CMOS sensors. No RAW file support compounds limitations for serious post-processing.

• Sony NEX-3: Uses a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm) at 14 megapixels, with an area around 365 mm² - over 13 times larger than Olympus’. This size advantage translates to superior dynamic range, lower noise at high ISO, and noticeably better color depth. The NEX-3 supports RAW capture, critical for professionals or enthusiasts wanting maximal image control.

Sensor size directly impacts a camera’s ability to produce clean, detailed images with natural color and dynamic range - areas where the Sony NEX-3 holds a commanding lead.

Controls, Screen & User Interface: Intuitive vs Basic

How you interact with a camera defines your shooting flow and satisfaction:

Sony’s control-rich design contrasts with Olympus’ simplified button array.

• Olympus FE-5020: Offers a 2.7-inch fixed, low-res LCD screen at 230k dots without touchscreen capabilities. There’s no viewfinder, no manual exposure controls, and no image stabilization. The menu is straightforward but very limited, with no custom white balance or exposure modes. It features a 12-second self-timer and basic flash modes for novice users.

• Sony NEX-3: Sports a larger 3-inch tilting LCD with a sharp 920k-dot TFT Xtra Fine display, significantly improving live view framing and usability from odd angles. Manual focus, shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes are available, plus customizable white balance, ISO selection, and exposure compensation. It also supports face detection autofocus and more sophisticated autofocusing modes.

Sony’s tilting, higher-res screen grants a more flexible, clearer composition experience.

For casual shooters wanting simplicity, Olympus’ minimal controls suffice. Enthusiasts or professionals will appreciate the Sony’s richer interface and options that facilitate creative control.

Autofocus & Performance: Passive Contrast vs Hybrid

Focusing accuracy and speed are a deciding factor especially for action or wildlife shots.

• Olympus FE-5020: Employs simple contrast-detection AF with a single focus point and no tracking, face detection, or continuous AF. It supports only single-shot autofocus - no continuous autofocus or tracking is available. This can lead to hunting focus in low light or fast-moving scenes.

• Sony NEX-3: Uses a more advanced 25-area contrast-detection AF system with face detection and options for single and continuous autofocus modes. Though it lacks phase detection, the contrast system is speedy and accurate for its time.

• Burst shooting speeds also reflect their use cases: the Sony shoots up to 7 fps, suitable for action photography; Olympus does not specify continuous shooting capability, limiting it to single shots.

For portraits, wildlife, or sports, Sony’s AF system excels with reliable eye and face detection, while Olympus’s fixed-lens camera is best reserved for simpler shooting situations.

Lens Flexibility & Compatibility: Fixed vs Interchangeable

• Olympus FE-5020: Fixed 24-120 mm equivalent zoom lens with max aperture f/3.3-5.8. Decent versatility for everyday shooting but restricted creative options. Macro focus down to 1 cm enables good close-ups. No image stabilization limits sharpness handheld.

• Sony NEX-3: Uses Sony E-mount lenses, offering an impressive lineup of 121 native lenses spanning primes, zooms, macros, and specialty optics. The APS-C crop sensor broadens focal length reach by a factor of 1.5x, making it very attractive for creative work across genres. No in-body stabilization, though many lenses offer optical stabilization.

Lens choice is a key advantage for the Sony NEX-3, empowering photographers to adapt the camera to various tasks - from macro to telephoto wildlife shots.

Battery Life & Storage

• Olympus FE-5020: Powered by Olympus LI-42B lithium-ion battery. Official battery life specs are unavailable, but compact cameras of this era typically lasted a few hundred shots. Storage options include xD-Picture Card and microSD.

• Sony NEX-3: Uses the Sony NPFW50 battery offering 330 shots per charge, respectable for a mirrorless. Supports widely available SD cards and Memory Stick formats, convenient for most photographers.

The Sony’s better battery endurance and mainstream media support make it more reliable for prolonged outings.

Video & Connectivity: Basic vs Usable

• Olympus FE-5020: Captures video at 640x480 (VGA) resolution at 30fps with Motion JPEG codec - very basic and low-res. No audio input or HDMI output; wireless connectivity is absent.

• Sony NEX-3: Offers 720p HD video at 30fps with MPEG-4 encoding, a step up from Olympus’s standard definition footage. HDMI output is included for external display. Wireless connectivity supported via Eye-Fi cards (a niche but useful feature at the time). No built-in microphone or headphone jacks.

Video shooters will find the Sony camera’s capabilities substantially more useful, albeit still entry-level by modern standards.

Real-World Use Cases: How They Handle Photography Types

I put both cameras through scenarios typical for photographers today to see how they hold up.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus FE-5020: Limited by fixed aperture lens and lack of face/eye detection AF, portraits lack subject lock and creamy bokeh. Colors are typical of small sensor compacts - adequate but not rich.

• Sony NEX-3: The large sensor and access to fast primes allow lovely background separation and sharp subject focus using face detection AF. Manual exposure control helps nail skin tones.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus FE-5020: Modest sensor dynamic range and resolution (12 MP) limit detail capture especially in high contrast scenes. No weather sealing reduces field durability.

• Sony NEX-3: Strong 14 MP APS-C sensor offers much better dynamic range, excellent for bright and shadowed areas. Wide choice of lens options includes ultra-wides ideal for landscape. However, no weather sealing is a downside.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Olympus FE-5020: Slow AF, modest zoom, and no burst mode hamper action shooting.

• Sony NEX-3: Continuous autofocus and 7 fps burst make it a decent entry-level action camera paired with tele lenses.

Street & Travel Photography

• Olympus FE-5020: Its size and light weight make it discreet and convenient for casual street snaps or travel hikes.

• Sony NEX-3: Larger but still portable mirrorless with tilting screen aids composition, though lens swaps may be less practical on the go.

Macro & Close-Up Photography

• Olympus FE-5020: Close focusing of 1 cm is excellent for macro without extra lenses.

• Sony NEX-3: Requires macro lens but with broader options; focus precision is better thanks to AF points.

Night & Astro Photography

• Olympus FE-5020: Noise quickly degrades images beyond ISO 400.

• Sony NEX-3: High ISO up to 12800 and better sensor make low-light and night scenes far more useable.

Professional Use & Workflow Integration

• Olympus FE-5020: No RAW support or customization makes it unsuitable for professional workflows.

• Sony NEX-3: Supports RAW files and manual controls, helpful for serious enthusiasts or professional backup bodies.

Image Quality Showcase

To bring the discussion to life, here are sample images taken from both cameras under various lighting and subject matter.

Olympus FE 5020 front Olympus FE 5020 screen back Sony NEX 3 front Sony NEX 3 screen back

Summing Up Performance: How They Stack Up

Based on standardized evaluation rubrics and my own lab and field tests, the Sony NEX-3 clearly outperforms the Olympus in nearly all technical categories:

Genre-Specific Analysis: Which Cameras Shine In Each Field?

These weighted scores illustrate how each camera performs relative to its target markets:

• Olympus FE-5020 best suits casual, travel, and simple macro photography.
• Sony NEX-3 excels in portrait, landscape, low light, and entry-level professional photography.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Olympus FE-5020

Pros:

• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Simple operation for beginners
• Close focusing macro capability (1cm)
• Affordable price point (~$160)

Cons:

• Small sensor yields noisy images in low light
• No RAW support, limited creative control
• No image stabilization or advanced autofocus
• Basic video quality and no connectivity

Sony NEX-3

Pros:

• Large APS-C sensor with excellent image quality
• Wide lens ecosystem (Sony E mount)
• Manual controls and RAW shooting for professionals
• Face detection autofocus and good burst speed
• Video at 720p HD, HDMI output

Cons:

• Larger and heavier than compact cameras
• No in-body stabilization (lens-dependent)
• No weather sealing
• No touchscreen or headphone jack

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

• Buy the Olympus FE-5020 if:
  You want an extremely compact, easy-to-use camera for casual shooting, travel, and simple macro photography on a budget. You prioritize portability and quick image sharing over image quality and professional features.

• Buy the Sony NEX-3 if:
  You’re stepping into mirrorless photography and want a versatile camera to experiment with manual controls, interchangeable lenses, and better image quality. It’s ideal for portrait, landscape, low-light, and video enthusiasts on a modest budget who seek a camera that grows with their skills.

Final Thoughts: Choosing Beyond Specs

While the Olympus FE-5020 holds nostalgic value as a no-fuss ultra-compact, its dated sensor and feature limitations make it best suited for very casual users or collectors. The Sony NEX-3, despite being over a decade old itself, remains more relevant thanks to its sensor size, manual controls, lens flexibility, and image quality.

When purchasing a camera today, think about your intended genre, required control level, and long-term use. As I found testing these models under diverse conditions, the Sony NEX-3 allows more creative freedom and superior results, justifying its greater bulk and cost.

If portability and ease of use win your day, Olympus offers a simple point-and-shoot experience perfect for snapshots. But if you want a serious introduction to interchangeable lens photography with good image quality and more control, the NEX-3 is still a strong contender.

Happy shooting!

This comparison is based on extensive hands-on testing and review methodologies developed over 15 years in the field. By focusing on real-world performance coupled with technical analysis, I’m confident this guide helps you choose the best camera to fit your needs today.