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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M1
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 III
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M1 II and Sony NEX-C3, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 II was announced 5 years after the NEX-C3 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-M1 II scores vs the NEX-C3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Sony NEX-C3

 E-M1 II NEX-C3 
IntroducedSeptember 2016August 2011Newer by 62 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k920kClearer display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 NEX-C3 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Sony NEX-C3

 E-M1 II NEX-C3 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 II provides external measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") and a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has proportions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 II and Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 II against the NEX-C3.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 II and NEX-C3 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specs. The pic below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 II and NEX-C3.

All in all, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 II using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 II will give you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger E-M1 II should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
76
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography highlights
78
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (574 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
80
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography details
75
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery life (350 per charge)
53
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (400 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
72
lighter than competition in class (574g)
weather proof
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
low battery life (350 CIPA)
71
good battery (400 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (225 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography info
76
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low battery life (350 shots)
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone support
lighter than competition in class (574g)
27
lighter than competitors (225g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IISony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2016-09-19 2011-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format MOV, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 gr (1.27 pounds) 225 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 73
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 12.2
DXO Low light score 1312 1083
Other
Battery life 350 photos 400 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $1,700 $343