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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Announced February 2020
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 III was announced 9 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-M1 III matches up against the NEX-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Sony NEX-3

 E-M1 III NEX-3 
ReleasedFebruary 2020June 2010Fresher by 118 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-3 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 NEX-3 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony NEX-3

 E-M1 III NEX-3 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 III offers outside dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-M1 III vs the NEX-3.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 III and NEX-3 is 67 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The visual below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 III and NEX-3.

All in all, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-M1 III will deliver extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 III provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
77
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Street photography highlights
78
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch focus
environment proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (60.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
52
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
79
environment proof
supports bluetooth
supports touch focus
good MP (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
59
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography advice
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging info
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
79
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
27
supports face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2020-02-11 2010-06-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic IX Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 25
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 60.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 grams (1.28 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 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 420 images 330 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two 1
Price at release $1,800 $0